Jim Bywater

THE TEMPEST

2007-03-19T19:24:20Z

Look, this is my opinion - right?
Bill Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST is like the Windows Millenium computer operating system. Y'know - "We've spent all this money developing the next generation of our OS we had better publish it. I know it's not brilliant but we've got to recoup".
I think THE TEMPEST is 'work-in-progress'. Shakespeare observed what was going on in society at large, devised a poetic setting in which to 'paint the picture' and discovered that there was no plot to speak of - simply a set of elements which were either in flux, or were constants.
NOTHING HAPPENS!!! There is no action - no physical state-of-things that is attacked, defended or changed. There is no struggle through which the 'combatants' learn something about themselves and each other.
To my mind it's a description of the way God, (whoever she is) was working in the time between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Like Prospero, she was changing her attitude (or mind) from 'An eye for an eye' to 'Peace and Reconcilliation'. THE TEMPEST is set in Prospero's cell on an island; it could be set in Nelson Mandella's cell on Robin Island.
Maybe Shakespeare's intention was to develop a trilogy - the first part, "Prospero's Fall", set in Milan. The second part, "Prospero's Return", set on his island. The third part, "Prospero's Second Fall"back in Milan. It would be like a collection of "ROCKY" movies in which Prospero is the winner every time but against terrible odds. I wonder if Stallone would be interested? This idea's copyrighted, by the way. How do you spell that - copywrighted?

An actor's life for me?????

2007-03-19T18:38:46Z

Long time, no see. What have I been up to? Well, I played Dame Trott - full name, Dame Tilly Buttermilk Full Fat Egg Custard Fromage Frais Gold Top Devon Knows How They Make It So Creamy I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Gorgonzola Dolcellata Double Gloucester Trott. Cheesy, I know. This, in JACK AND THE BEANSTALK at the Queen's Theatre in Hornchurch.
During the final two weeks at Hornchurch I began work on CHASING THE MOMENT, by Jack Shepherd, at the Arcola theatre, Dalston. I played Harry Mossman, the drugged up bass player. In the final week of 'MOMENT' I began rehearsals back at Hornchurch playing Trinculo in THE TEMPEST. Though I say it myself, I got very good reviews in all three productions.
Of course, none of the national press could be arsed to get off their butts and haul themselves over to Hornchurch. However, there are two weeks left of THE TEMPEST so you never know, they might make the effort - though I doubt it.
Whilst rehearsing at the Arcola my agent phoned to say that he was leaving the business and moving to South Africa. So now I am agentless. I have written to six agents and had a reply from one who was going to come to one of the performances. Unfortunately, the performance had to be cancelled because a cast member, Tom Silburn, developed appendicitis and had to be rushed to hospital. As yet, no other agent has had the good grace to reply.
There can only be two reasons for this.
1 - the business is so chocker with prospective clients that the agents don't have to make an effort to find people for their books and,
2 - I'm too old for them to find me enough work to justify working for me.
It can't be because I am inexperienced because I've been doing this job since 1968. And it can't be because I'm useless, because I'm not - for some reason, I'm very good. Maybe, someone is trying to tell me something.
Can you, dear reader, recommend an agent? If you can, pop the name in the 'Comments' section.
Today, with my mate Jack, I played golf in a blizzard. Couldn't see where the ball went, but - excellent!

Long time - no see.

2006-11-09T23:20:27Z

Appologies for my absence. Lots been going on - not all of any consequence. I'll try to get it all down.
Last significant entry - 28 June 2006. Since then, er, er....... I'll just refer to my diary/calendar, 'ang on.....
Well, there are only four or five things to report, apart from Saddams demise, of course.
Firstly, me and the missis had ten days in Tuscany, right at the height of a heat wave that even the Tuscans described as 'too hot'. We went to the first night of Puccini's 'Tosca' at Torre del Largo where Puccini had lived and worked. It was big, it was posh and it was disappointing. The sound was crap, the lighting was crap and the direction left a lot to be desired. During the interval we met the lighting designer of The Producers, in London's West End and he, an opera buff, confirmed that it was less than good. And, on top of that, we discovered that we had to pay to go on the beach - that is, unless we wished to associate with the 'Great Unwashed' on the pathetically small public beach. So, if we fancied a couple of hours by the sea at about 3 o'clock it would cost us £8. Nuff said. We found two or three excellent restaurants. The one that I remember easily is called 'Lo Studio' in Pietrasanta. A menu of local dishes deliciously prepared and entertainingly presented and served. The Mother cooks and the family - of clowns - wait on table. There was an exciting and intriguing atmosphere in this ex artist's studio. Delightful.
THEN, Beth found that she was accepted onto the popular music degree course at Goldsmith's University. Since then she's actually read a book. Ooooooh!
At the back-end of August I worked, as an actor, on the last show to be produced at the Southwark Playhouse before they moved to the arches under London Bridge Station prior to an eventual move to their own building at the Elephant and Castle. So, I appeared in the show that closed the Southwark Playhouse! That's one for the C.V.
THEN I redirected 'Missing Dan Nolan' at the Queen's Theatre for another schools tour featuring a cast of actors which had each been trained at E15 drama school. They were all v. good so the E15 must be doing something right.
THEN we arrive at NOW!
I'm still at the Queen's Theatre til mid January. I'm Dame Tilly Buttermilk Full Fat Egg Custard Fromage Frais Gold Top Devon Knows How They Make It So Creamy I Can't Believe it's not Butter Gorgonzola Dollcelatta Double Gloucester Trott BA. I'm one of the Wensleydale Trotts. Mother of Jack Trott - he of Jack and the Beanstalk by Nicholas Pegg. Don't try to come on Boxing Day - I've just bought the last twenty tickets. It's a family affair.

Hello again

2006-10-13T09:55:00Z

Sorry I've been away for so long. But, I'm only back temporarily - to run a check on my net access. See you in a mo.
Hello again, again. Well, that seems to be working. I can get any website I like except btYahoo or my emails. Curiourser and curiouser.........

National Theatre Studio

2006-06-28T21:38:50Z

I've just taken part in my first workshop. The RNT are developing Michael Morpurgo's Story 'War Horse' for presentation in 2007. There are some brilliant life sized horse puppets and shadow puppets and fascinating use of video and computer graphics. It promises to be a theatrical extravaganza with content. Hope I'm not giving too much away.
Last Friday we went to see Stephen Berkoff in 'Massage', wot he wrote. He played a masseuse, resplendent with middle aged spread and a panto performance. Not brilliant - when he could have been. A disappointment!

Birthdays, etc.....

2006-06-28T21:11:00Z

Nowthen! 13th June, Zoe gives birth at 1.46pm to a 7lb 3oz girl (un-named as yet). She went the whole way but not the direction she had planned. She had the birth pool, the check-ups, everything was on track but she ended up with the epidural and cesaerian procedure. However, she's got herself a little stonker, (looks like me); she'll probably end up calling her something like Perambulator or Ig! Ideas on a s.a.e. to........
Then, on the 15th Clarence and Deborah gave birth to Tao Nina Ruby Dee, (how come they got four names and Zoe can't get one???). She was born at 7.15 am. All are doing well.
On the 21st Phill Straker was 50 and his wife threw a party at a pub and presented him with a Porsche Boxster - poser! Great party.

It's been quite busy.......

2006-06-27T20:20:50Z

It's been quite busy since last we spoke. First I attended the anniversary of the cocktail when I got merrily tiddly on exotic booze at the Café de Paris and dangled a python just so's I could be close to the woman it belonged to. Then I went to see Clarence Smith at the Soho Theatre in a play, the title of which escapes me. Then I took part, as an actor, in the New Writers Showcase at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch. Next day Jeni and I went to Mike Robertson's The Pot Kiln Restaurant out near Newbury where we sampled his smoked venison (absolutely delicious!) the local mild and bitter from the micro brewery in his back yard and, a taster meal from his menu in the restaurant that satisfied all the buds in the gob which were, by the way, refreshed regularly with a delicious claret at £90 a pop - unforgettable. This was followed shortly afterwards with an afternoon at the Hackney Empire watching a London Arts Festival in which a dance group from the East End presented a piece which had been choreographed by, our friend, the lovely Bonnie Oddie.
Then on 3rd June we attended gorgeous Ella Grice's 18th birthday party down in Playden, East Sussex. We ate, drank, played TIPPIT (rules of the game given on request) and left 'cos Paul MacCartney didn't turn up - don't know why, he only lives down the road. I've also had a couple of golf lessons and my game's improved. I won't say any more 'cos it might unimprove.
On the 10th June I attended the opening of Phill and Chrissie Straker's new premises of their company Sax.co.uk. We were entertained with wine and music. Six of the countries top sax players performed non stop. They were all members of the acclaimed group called Sax Appeal whose members include, Jools Holland's man Derek Nash, Simon Bates and surprise guest, Pete King, co-founder of Ronnie Scotts. The actual store was opened by Courtney Pine who described the store as "A temple to the Saxophone." We had a brief chat, Courtney and me, over a ham and tomato sandwhich in the canteen before I took my place behind the bar whilst Courtney signed autographs and the shop wall. Quite interesting really.

Pure Vanity.

2006-05-10T17:27:31Z

Have a butchers...

Just another super piccie, love.

Holocaust Story

2006-05-10T14:50:01Z

I have just done a photo session for the film called The Cap.

Final shot of storyteller, Roman, in the film The Cap by Matt Woolley.

A prisoner loses his hat. It is a capital offence. He takes the hat from another prisoner. The other prisoner is shot at morning parade - no questions, no ceremony. The short film deals with Roman's reasoning and lack of guilt for the action he took to save his own life.

It never rains, eh?

2006-05-02T17:02:57Z

After a lull.....I spend four days getting my Steinberg MI4 system to work - one click on the correct parameter option and, WHOOF, it all comes to life. 10th April:- Jeni's at work , not normal for Mondays, so I park my car in the garage where she would normally park, (she's got a soft top - doesn't want the vinyl to rot). That night we get heavy, wet snow. A tree falls over with the weight of snow, right where my car would have been parked. Simultaneously, a friend asks me to record a voice-over for a film he's made at college. I need to clear the 'dead' tree but there's too much to do. I do four hours making sure that the procedure for audio recording is clear and in my head. Then I clear the tree. Three days later we record the voice-over and all goes well. Everything rounded off with a pub lunch, old fashioned English roast beef, and creme brullé. So now I can hardly walk or lift me pint. But me mate comes back from filming in Canada and we're back on the golf course. I don't do too well this round - 57 on a nine-holer. However, we talk about my latest contribution to our book, wot we are writin'. Result, I have to dismantle a section that was built on pure blood and sweat, but, I think he's right and so I'm clear where I'm going next. Three days later we're back on the course at Seaford Head, playing a round with an 'homo trouvé', a bailiff for the electricity board who lives in Eastbourne. I make the longest drive of the game, knock one out of a bunker from forty yards with me lob wedge to within two feet of the hole, and I do the back nine in 48. COME ON! You see, it's not all shit.

Spliced!

2006-04-17T17:43:36Z

Congratulations Neil and Louise. Neil Gore is now Mr. ands Mrs. Gore and Alexander Gore. They did it on Sunday 16th April at the Limpley Stoke Hotel near Bath. Me and my wife, Jeni, drove down Saturday morning - a very pleasant journey. We found the hotel very easily, booked in, had a walk about then went off to Hinton Charterhouse to The Stag Inn, a splendid hostlery owned and run by the family of Wendy Parkin, a friend of mine. The meal was cooked by Christopher, Wendy's brother, (an enormous and delicious - lamb shank for me, halibut for Jeni) . Wine, snuff, cigars, coffee and good conversation rounded off the occasion. So if you're ever in the area you'd better book - it was heaving.
The aforementioned Wendy was present in The Stag with Jane, alias, Pellican. Another Jane arrived with Neil Carter, her husband. He had been at Rose Bruford's with my eldest daughter, Hanna. From there it became a torrent of past aquaintences, bizarre coincidences, new associations and new discovered common ground.
But first I had to race back to Our house so that I could cook Easter Sunday lunch, along with Brian Turner, on Great Food Live, which, though I say it myself, was absolutely delicious. Then I had to dash back to Limpley Stoke for the wedding.

The whole event was rounded off with a knees up. Wendy cracked the whip as MD; Neil Gore 'called' two barn-type dances (I can't remember quite what he called them); Neil C., played piano (a two-legged grand piano 'cos a leg fell off when we moved it. Two beer crates solved the problem). Jane sang, along with Wendy, who also played guitar; Jimmy played drums (I'll insert his surname later); three musical demons were in attendance - banjo, guitar and harmonicas. To my shame I can't trust my memory of their names. Again, I'll insert them later. Emily, on voice and William, on electric violin gave us a song from Return to the Forbidden Planet. However, the most memorable memory - yours truly was allowed to play bass: RESULT!

Sasha Done It, At Last!

2006-04-07T11:17:57Z

Well done, Sasha! She's now a mother of a little, 7lb baby girl called Edie. Presents and money to be sent to the home address. If you don't know it, I'm not telling you. Papa Jamie will be smiling all over his face, I reckon. We're waiting, now, for Zoe and Deborah to produce their's and then breeding season will be over. God, it's like being a shepherd. Apparently, you can tell when a sheep is going to give birth 'cos it starts licking it's lips with anxiety. Not many people know that. So, if your woman is pregnant and her time is due, watch her lips!

Venice

2006-04-04T15:54:34Z

We went to Venice. It was extremely pleasant - extremely. We had a list of eateries to visit. We managed three of them and had two synchronicitous experiences. Experience 1: At the end of an evening in 'alle Teniere' Jeni noticed a diner at another table who she thought she knew. It turned out to be Valentino Montecello who's written a book about food and wine in opera. She had interviewed him about his book. Experience 2: We last saw a friend of ours called 'Hovis' 18yrs ago at a party, our wedding, actually. On day three we were walking to our hotel when I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Hovis. He was taking a group of art enthusiasts on a tour of Venetian art spots. He recommended two more eateries - which were very good - then came back to Blighty. Weird or what?! Good points:- coffee, grappa, pasta and scenery - bad points:- can't think of any at the moment. We walked for miles. The best moment was when Jeni suddenly realised that there were no cars! We spent three days listing the consequences of this fact, the most exciting one being that everybody drank at a party 'cos no-one was driving home.
Anyway, when WE got home nobody had given birth but Sasha's waters have broken.

27 March 2006

2006-03-27T18:30:16Z

Off to Venice tomorrow. Looking forward to it. We are armed with three travel books, an email of recommended eateries and drinkeries from a Venetian, Enrico Fantasia, who lives in Dublin. The eldest, Hanna, is driving us to the airport. When we get back, Sasha will probably have been delivered of her daughter. And, all being well, my middle daughter, Zoe, won't have been delivered of her offspring (sex unknown). With any luck, the Steinberg MI4 System will have been delivered so that the youngest daughter, Beth, can write some hit tunes and buy me a motor bike. We live in hopes. See you later.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2006-03-24T18:56:25Z

CONGRATULATIONS!! It's my missis' birthday. I bought a card and a present and all that and everything so I'm not in the dog-house. Out for a nosh tonight with James, son of Clarence, Beth, daughter of me and the wiff and, Annie - tall, blonde, glamour-puss who knocks up a mean champagne cocktail and cordon bleu supper table.