I Promised Photographs...

of our Pantomime Red Riding Hoodie written by Sarah Harrison.

 

An updated version of the traditional tale, let me introduce Red Riding Hoodie, the young girl who doesn't visit her Grandma as often as she should.

 

 

Not that her Grandma appears unduly bothered!

 

Especially when preparing medallions of hand reared, corn fed, pea hen in a rosemary jus...

 

Of course there was a big bad wolf... (who turned out to be not so bad after all)

 

Who encounters the lusty gamekeeper Jed, also on his way to visit Granny Gruntlepants in her cottage in the woods.

 

Naturally there was a local hostelry where various characters gathered, overseen by the buxom barmaid Jemima Jugs...

 

 

 

Although Jemima only had eyes for Blackfaced Bert, the charcoal burner and Red Riding Hoodie's Dad.

 

You'll be pleased to know that everything worked out for the best, there was a double wedding and everyone lived happily ever after...

 

And although it really has been the most tremendous fun and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself it will be good to get back to some sort of normality this week, although I'm not entirely sure that my life ever feels that normal!

 

p.s.  Have you spotted me yet? (I'll give you a clue... I wasn't playing the wolf)

Since Last Week...

Thank you all kindly for your good wishes and as indeed "all things do pass" there was an improvement as the week went on.

• I managed to finish off several of these embroidered button samples. I hold my hands up and say these are not my own original idea but I have made enough embroidered buttons in the past and have seen enough examples from numerous different people that I felt it would be okay to use them for a class I am teaching at Textiles in Focus in Cottenham on Friday. I would have said hurry up and book your place but fortuantely for me both classes are full. However it is still worth going to this fabulous three day show if you are are within travelling distance so maybe see you there.

• I had a trial run of my next round of the Cambridge Bake Off which is to cook and decorate a chocolate cake of my own choosing in two and half hours in the kitchens of the Cambridge Cookery School. I managed it, just, in my own kitchen and my tasters approved ( I haven't actually tasted it myself) but I was disappointed with certain aspects... like all those darn chocolate ribbons broke! So I do feel I need a couple more trial runs... but I'm not sure I can face it...

• Because after making the cake I came over feeling rather peculiar and then spent the next 48 hours shivering and aching in my bed trying desperately not to panic at the thought of our forthcoming pantomime... no such thing as understudies in AmDram! I was convinced I had flu. Fortunately whatever it was, came as quickly as it went... although it has left me with with no stomach for chocolate!
 
• So although I was still feeling somewhat wobbly yesterday, Gill and I rearranged our trip that we were meant to have last week and we went into London to see the Isabella Blow exhibition which was far better than I had expected and worth seeing for the amazing Philip Treacy hats if nothing else, although being a huge fan of Alexander McQueen I loved the dresses too. I found the exhibition quite a moving tribute to someone who on the surface seemed to be leading a charmed life but in reality was obviously very unhappy

 
• And now the rest of the week which is going to be dominated by our Pantomime with technical and dress rehearsals today and tomorrow and first performance on Thursday. Still feeling a tad wobbly which doesn't bode well for a week spent on these heels... Wish me luck but please don't say "break a leg"

 

I promise more photos later in the week!

Ain't Nothing Like a Dame

Pantomime is a peculiarly British form of theatrical entertainment. It is a musical comedy that includes songs, dancing, slapstick humour and cross dressing with a story loosely based on a popular fairy story, that is traditionally performed around Christmas time.

 

 

Modern pantomime follows a pretty tried and tested formula. The leading juvenile male character - the principle boy - is always played by a girl in tights and there is always an older woman called the Dame, played by a man in drag. There is usually a fairy of some description plus a baddie who always gets defeated and turns good in the end. There are often explosions and chases and the whole thing relies heavily on audience participation with plenty of calling out and singing along.

 

Our village Amateur Dramatic society nearly always stages a pantomime in February and this year is no exception. We are lucky enough to have had a pantomime specially written for us by local author Sarah Harrison, who is also directing the show. It is a fabulous adaptation of the Little Red Riding Hood story called "Red Riding Hoodie" and is packed full of music and mayhem.

As usual I have been involved in helping with the costumes and have been having great fun putting together an outfit for our dame... Red Riding Hoodie's Grandma of course! A great chance to go mad with plenty of colour and oversize frills and bows.

 

But more unusually for me, this year I am actually in the pantomime. It's not the first time (I've been known to play the priciple boy in the days when I didn't mind showing off my legs) but it has been quite a while...I play the local barmaid...

 

... and I'm having so much fun! Off to another rehearsal tonight... only a couple of weeks to go!

 

 

 

 

Ain't Nothing Like a Dame

I'm always slightly in awe of those people who can take a charity shop item or something old and unworn from their wardrobe and with a few snips here and a deft touch there, turn it into something totally new. A talent that I never felt I've had... but then recently I discovered I've been doing this for years without realising it.

This gruesome collection of dresses (not from my wardrobe I hasten to add) were just what I needed to turn my ideas, sketched out here...

Into a totally new and gorgeous gown for this beautiful "lady"

Not to mention this little seafaring number

My brief was to make just two dresses for our lovely Dame, but when I knew there was a line that referred to his (her?) "Liz Burley" dress I just knew I had to do it...

Three brand new outfits from cast offs and collected bits and pieces. Not sure I'm going to be turning this newly discovered talent to my own outfits though! And those "Pavlovas"...

I did warn you that they were a bit dodgy didn't I... not so sure about Rudolph either!

Our village Pantomime opens tonight for four performances and judging by the dress rehearsal it's going to go down a storm. Well done to all involved!

****

And now another book... are you getting tired of them yet because there are still 46 to go! Thanks to all you lovely people out there I have got 41 sold/pre-ordered so I'm very near my target of 50. As a result, from today I'm going to stop taking any more advance orders so that I can still put one or two in my shop... I rather like the idea of them being up for grabs! However, my original estimate of £500 to hire the telephone box looks rather conservative and is more likely to be double that so there may be another release in future... depends how soon I get tired of them as they are rather dominating my life at the moment. But for now I'm enjoying every one... this is book number four...

A pre-order so already sold, it was quite a challenge. From a Mum to her 15 year old son to say "I love you". So nothing soppy or romantic. I opted for graffiti...

The matchbox is covered in a graffiti version of the recipients name and the book has it's own graffiti message, enhanced with machine embroidery.

And inside a rather mad looking pop-out Mum (because I know what it feels like to be the mother of boys) with a special message

Which I hope says it all.

I'm off to Missenden Abbey tomorrow for a weekend of teaching but I will be back next week with more books... and maybe one or two for the shop... watch this space!