Is it wrong to have traditions after 3 visits?

I was in Bradford last night. For the first time since Good Friday 2005, when we memorably sat in the Love Apple and wrote a ‘Happy Easter’ card for Jesus*. I got lost on my way in, and couldn’t find the car park**. I guess you could say I don’t go there a lot, and I’m clearly very transparent, as when I mentioned at work that I was off to Bradford, my boss immediately asked ‘are you going to the Alhambra?’ The city centre looked as unfinished as it had over two years ago.

Infrequent as my visits are, there are traditions to be followed. The Love Apple is the pre-theatre venue of choice, although it was sadly lacking in actors last night, and could only offer members of a band setting up for a Halloween gig. There was a bit of high pitched squealing though, as Corinne and I bonded over a Stephen Fry book on poetry while eating the hummus.

Post show, we headed to the Sir Titus Salt. Yes, it is a Wetherspoon’s, but it’s a Wetherspoon’s in a converted swimming baths, and also has memories. Of actors, who also weren’t very impressed with Bradford, Last night it also had a rowdy crowd from the University of Bradford (‘has Bradford even got a university?’) but thankfully they moved on, so we were generally able to discuss the production in peace.

As for Comedy of Errors, well, that was so good it’s a whole separate post.

*As in JCS, We're really not that odd.

**I also got lost on the way out, and began to despair of ever finding my way back onto the M62

Staples

No, not the sort that hold pages together! As I stopped at the petrol station tonight I pondered on a lifestyle where I don't actually have time to do any 'real' shopping mid-week, and therefore end up either in the petrol station mini market, or in a quick supermarket dash, buying my essential supplies, which are bread, wine, and cat food, which is a bit like the last supper really, (and, let's face it, I've seen quite a few of those*) if Jesus had had a cat**. That shopping list caters for everyone after a day at work, I think. The girls eat, I eat, and I get to drink wine.

I frequently find myself having to go out for emergency cat food supplies. For reference, even the shop at York Railway Station sells cat food, so there are clearly others like me who get off the train, and realise that they need to stock up.

*Even if, at times, Jesus's body was a naan bread (with apologies to anyone not familiar with JCS)
**well, we don't know he didn't have one, do we?!

Blackpool (aka the one with all the footnotes)

I've been to Blackpool twice. Once on a freezing day at the beginning of March, as part of the now legendary 'Radio Tour'. I think that was the day I became manager of our ficticious 'girl band'. And we didn't see much of Blackpool apart from an old man's pub, a very scary roundabout, and the radio station. The second time was last year, as part of our JCS* touring. This time it was May, but for some reason Blackpool still seemed shut, and it rained. A lot. I nearly ruined a new pair of shoes**. I think you can say I wasn't impressed.

So, http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/blackpool/***, the drama series, passed me by. I guess I was aware of it, but the title probably put me off, and if I had read about it, the comparisons with Dennis Potter**** would also have put me off. But this weekend, I bought the dvd*****, and I love it. Funny, absorbing, quirky, and very well acted.

It explores the seedy side of life, focussing on Ripley Holden, a self made 'jack the lad', owner of an amusement arcade but with ambitions to build Blackpool's first 'casino hotel. I'm not giving anything away here, as you learn all this in the first 5 minutes. The series revolves around Ripley and his dysfunctional family, his neglected wife, Natalie, his daughter, the bizarrely named Shyanne, and his son. And a suspicious death, which the police become involved in. And I say no more, other than to highly recommend it.

Oh, and did I forget to mention, it also stars the lovely David Tennant, as the detective inspector?

And as for an update on the dvd player - it now seems to have no power - I think it's going back to the shop!

*Jesus Christ Superstar (can't think why I'm explaining this)
**don't you just hate it when you go out in new shoes in the rain?!
***unpretty link, as I still don't know how to do the pretty ones
****I feel the same about Potter as I do about Pinter, I just don't get it
*****what, you thought I bought the dvd player because it was on sale?!!

What a feeling!

I have to confess I approached this with some trepidation, after all, it's the sort of show that a theatre snob would normally turn up their nose at, but you have to acknowledge that these one night stand 'musical tribute' shows have their audience, and fill theatres and that can't be a bad thing, can it? Ok, I wouldn't have booked if it hadn't been that one of our JCS boys, Jon Boydon*, was one of the 4 lead vocalists (the others being Noel Sullivan, ex-Hear'say, Zoe Birkett, ex-Pop Idol, Mark 1, and Sinitta, ex-80's 'singer')

Pre-show cocktails, wine and food consumed, we felt fortified enough to take our seats, encouraged by the notice that Sinitta wouldn't be appearing. Her part was taken by the talented Natalie Kennedy (not ex-anything, as far as I could tell). Programme bought - £4 and it didn't even have a list of the songs! - though as Cat pointed out, it did say 'Souvenir Programme', which means colour photos and a blatant rip off.

It was a good show, and I have to admit being pleasantly surprised, partucularly by Noel Sullivan, who was very good in the comedy songs. The audience were a little slow to get up and dance in the first half, although there were a couple of mini mexican waves of people getting to their feet, but were up and dancing in the second half. Jon was in good voice, and there were so many little bits that just reminded me of JCS**.

I loved Aquarius, the songs from Dirty Dancing, Moulin Rouge, and the Queen songs from 'We Will Rock You', though I still have absolutely no desire to see that show. By the time it got to the concluding Abba Medley, and the Footloose encore we were dancing in the aisles. A little bit of schmoozing later we were back in Plonkers wine bar, though it must be said the standard of clientele had gone down since the last time we were there.

*Judas
**There was also a very poignant reminder of the Christmas concert, when they sang 'Seasons of Love', but it wasn't as good.