ALL IS REVEALED ON THE APRON FRONT

Mentioned way back in March that I had an exciting costume idea for my Edinburgh Fringe show which I was keeping under wraps for a while. It is actually alluded to in my Fringe Guide entry so I think it’s time to come clean and explain. Was trying to think how I could signify the nudity in the Adam and Eve scenes without asking the actors to undress and remembered that you can get aprons with nude figures on. Did an internet search and found not only those but a wealth of novelty aprons which would lend themselves to costuming a whole range of characters. In fact, this had a big influence on shaping the script, both in determining which characters from history and mythology earned a place and in fuelling playful banter between the two core characters. So Tarzan & Jane, St George, Ape-man and Napoleon all sailed into the cast list because there were tailor-made costumes available for them. For others I had to be a bit more ingenious and engage in some judicious lateral thinking so, for example, Juliet appears in white lingerie and Lady Macbeth in black bra and briefs, Macbeth in a kilt, Anthony as a Roman soldier and Cleopatra sports a kinky slave apron. I am particularly pleased with the scene in which Jesus goes into the wilderness to fast, dressed as Santa. I hope no one will find it blasphemous, I don’t think it is – just funny. The idea is that the actors take off an apron as a scene ends, revealing another underneath (hence my March 1st references to wigs and knickers) and thus moving seamlessly into the next character. Have recently taken delivery of numerous aprons from various sources. Just did another count and there are now 34 in the props box and still a few more to come. They won’t be wearing them all at once, they get to go off stage and restock occasionally. Even so, common sense tells me that nearly 40 costume changes in a 50 minute show is way too many. We’ll find out when we start rehearsals. I also have another 60 duplicate aprons to try and sell at £10 each on an “as seen in Venus and Mars and Other Myths of Mr and Ms” basis. I had to buy some of them in bulk so as to get them at wholesale price. All in all, I have spent over £800 on aprons but have the potential to get £600 back from sales. Apron anyone?

LONE NUTTER NO MORE!

I’ve been rather quiet on here lately but there’s lots to report, the most important news (apart from the fact that I did actually finish the script) being that I have a cast! I carefully avoided this topic when I didn’t have any actors because I didn’t want people to think I was just some lone nutter with a fantasy about doing a show in Edinburgh that wasn’t actually going to come to fruition. If that were so, it would be a very expensive fantasy as I have already poured nearly £5,000 into the project. This includes flat rental, the first two instalments for the venue, audition space, Fringe Guide entry and the few costumes and props I have bought so far. My two actors are Susannah Bond who will be playing Venus in her many forms and Will Mitchell as the many faces of Mars. Both have done shows in Edinburgh before so have a pretty good idea what they are letting themselves in for. The first read through went well and I am optimistic that the three of us will work well together and they will be able to turn my crazy fantasy into a reality. The Fringe Guide came out this week and my entry is all present and correct on page 237, nestling comfortably between The Vagina Monologues and The Virginia Monologues (Ironside not Woolf). The Fringe Guide can be viewed in page by page form on line this year too on the Edinburgh Fringe website.