Welcome to John Owen Smith’s log

John Owen Smith Home Page – Log for 2006 – Log for 2007 – Log for 2008 – Log for 2009 – Log for 2010 – Log for 2011 – Contact me

30th January 2012

Yesterday I said to Dil: 'This is a day you only get once every four years!' You see, I'm a month out already. Is it really only just over a month since Christmas? It seems like forever.

Just finished writing the first draft of next year's pantomime: it's Aladdin. I always find the best time to write pantos is just after running one – oh yes it is! The right (or write) juices seem to be flowing. It's already decided that Tina will direct this one – quite like old times, when I never would direct the first production of one of my own scripts. I've become more confident since, but it will still be interesting to see what someone else makes of it.

I've been asked to speak for just 8 minutes on Flora Thompson on 1st July. My normal talk is 45 minutes, so it will be an exercise in reduction – hopefully not Reductio ad absurdum! For once I must write out what I have to say and time it, rather than just rabbitting on until I get to the end of my story. Good education, but less fun. I wonder if I can do it without hesitation, repetition or deviation?

23rd January 2012

The panto is over for this year – and it went well. Sighs of relief all round! Well, there was the small matter of the same scene repeated in both acts on Friday night, but we'll gloss over that – the audience didn't even notice, which shows the notable ability of our cast to cover up for each other! As Director, I was given a gift at the end and, seeing it was the Nutcracker, what more appropriate than – a Nutcracker? Not just that, but a Drosselmeyer Nutcracker! Here it is on the right, and it really works. Thank you cast, for that and for the performances. It was a happy show. See here for pictures.

16th January 2012

Forgive the missing week. Blame the panto – we were 'full on' at the time. Happily my nervousness of 2nd Jan wasn't justified – it didn't crack my nuts, and we've just had a really good weekend of performances. Three more performances to come this weekend, and I'm feeling far happier about it. We had Angus take a set of cast photos – here's mine on the right. Black hat and black shirt against a black background – hmm – but at least you can see my face. (And remind me, I must do something about that cracked, discoloured front tooth!)

2nd January 2012

We were straight back to pantomime rehearsals on 27th Dec, as soon as Christmas was over. I'm sure the show will be 'alright on the night' (we go up on Friday 13th!) but at the moment I'm more nervous about it than I was this time last year. Not sure why. Watch this space to see how well it goes.

Continued …

You are very welcome to contact me about anything in the weblogs, or not in the weblogs – but be prepared for your words to appear on-line along with mine!