MS in Murder on Air, 16th October 2009

[byslantedlight]

Oh, I do want to be back in Windsor watching this again, but instead I'm here at home with happy memories...

Cos yeay - yesterday found me driving all the way around London and checking into a hotel in Windsor, so that I could meet up with angel_ci5 and greengerbil and go and see MS - wheeeeee! - starring with Jenny Seagrove in Murder on Air! Which yes, I saw last year too - okay, I saw twice last year *g* - but see, that means that I can read what I wrote then and compare it to this time, and... *g*

Right - so! No plain-clothes-MS sightings this time, straight to dinner and the Theatre Royal, where angel_ci5 had managed to get two brilliant seats - three rows from the stage, and right in the middle, so that MS was standing right in front of us! greengerbil was in the Royal Stalls, so we did squee with her at interval and afterwards! Oh, and there was an extra fun thing this year too, because MS's son Luke was also in the play and it was interesting seeing them working together - though actually they didn't interact much.

It's kind of head-twisty though, because the premise of Murder on Air is that it's a play of a series of radio stars performing three Agatha Christie radio plays - so they're all dressed up in their evening best, as radio stars did back then (1953-ish, because one of the lead-in "interviews" that played at one point was an interview with Hillary about climbing Everest). So, the radio stars (played by MS, JS et al.) come on stage - but how much are they acting the radio stars, and how much are they just being themselves? It's so hard to know! When they first came on, two dogs came with them - JS's dogs, I'm told (are these them? is that the spaniel? I'm rubbish at recognising dogs, but I bet our Angel will remember!) - and were shooed off with pats and good-natured laughter, and the radio stars all took their coats off and got themselves settled in their studio...

...and then the radio plays began! This is basically what they looked like again:

(Pic being taken from a post last year, in a here's-one-I-prepared-earlier kind of way... *g*)

Only MS didn't have his beard, which I actually thought was quite a shame - he looks rather good with a beard these days (and I'm not a fan of beards, as y'know...) to the point that I think I prefer him with one... His fringe was flopping on his forehead in the same way though... *g* He did wear the same costume - I remembered noticing that his trousers had the satin seams last time!

He didn't seem (to me) to be connecting with the audience as much as last year, which I thought was a shame too - maybe the novelty was over a bit, after playing it all week. Last year, when someone spoke a line about MS's character having a fine head of black hair still, despite his age, MS looked up at us to sort of share the joke (which I wrote about last year), but he didn't do that this year. I must have subconsciously remembered it though, because I looked at MS waiting for him to react this time - and he didn't, waaah! But this year he seemed a bit distant, and very much on stage, and barely looked at the audience at all - didn't even, perhaps.

He also plays Hercule Poirot in the second radio play, and I remember that at both performances last year he got quite a laugh when his (so far unnamed though clearly Belgian accented) character finally answered the telephone with "Yes, this is 'ercule Poirot" - and it did get a laugh this time too, but it didn't seem quite so surprised and amused as last year, I thought...

Otherwise... there was a bit of interaction with JS again, various tapping in time to the music being played, and he swirled her around in a brief waltz at one point, as either himself or the personna of his "radio star" (how d'you know which?!). Oh, and there was a moment when the actress who sings was warbling away when JS sort of pulled a face at MS, while his back was to us, but with an amused smile on her face, and when he turned around he was smiling too - "radio star" or MS/JS?! And also why?! in either case?

Hmmn, what else... Luke had a fun radio star character, kind of mischievous and getting messed up and being unable to join in when they were supposed to be playing percussion instruments for a musical segment... He and MS chatted briefly at the beginning, but didn't really interact after that, I don't think...

My second favourite character was still the sound effects guy played by Jared Ashe, whose timing was brilliant and who could also play the piano!

(Another pic from last year, though an official one from the flyer this time!)

And just... I'd forgotten how fab it all was, and how brilliant everyone's timing was, and... oh, and when the three lads (okay, Anthony Houghton, Adrian Metcalfe and Luke Shaw!) were trains by huffing and blowing onto the microphones it was ace, and Elizabeth Price's radio star was ever so actress-y, and... yeah, it was all just jolly good indeed!

Oh, here's a review of it, from Wednesday's performance, by the looks - and well deserved kudos it gets too! *g*

Well done that MS, and all those other actors, and what have I forgotten to tell about... bound to be something... Erm... *g*

Comments

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

Sounds kewler than a kewl thing! I missed it last year and thought for one brief minute I'd get to see it this time around -- no such luck, sadly . . .

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh it was (even as I'm wincing at the whole k-e-w-l thing... *g* - where is that from?!)

He's in Horses Tails tomorrow night too - bet there's still tickets... don't suppose...? London trip? *g*

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

Hee! I have a nasty feeling I picked it up from an American friend *g*.

I'm over at mum's tomorrow, so no chance of a London escape then :o(

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, definite :(

[angel-ci5.livejournal.com]

Hee! An excellent, comprehensive review! *g*

I'm rubbish at recognising dogs, but I bet our Angel will remember!
Funnily enough... *g* That's a different spaniel in that link, here's who we saw: Millie and Kizzy.

The audience was a lot more vocal at today's show... there was a lot more laughter, especially the Poirot bit! And there was a lot more chatting/whispering between MS and JS too.

ETA Oh and they had collections boxes out for The Horse Refuge after the show too.

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

Jenny Seagrove's spaniel in the link looks quite mad, I bet it couldn't be trusted on stage. The dogs coming on at the start sounds delightful.

Your icon!!! That's the second pic I've seen recently of LC with that dog - can you tell me any more about it where I could find the photo?

[angel-ci5.livejournal.com]

It's from a magazine interview, iirc, something like Woman's Own or one of those, I think... the pooch is Cointreau, isn't he gorgeous!

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

Dog and man both!

Thanks very much.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Ooh - I actually got an Unsafe Site warning from Norton at both of your links - some old Trojan virus called "Download" or summat attached to it somehow? It still showed me the pics though, so hopefully that just means it saw it and wouldn't give it the time of day - but thought I'd let you know!

Oooh for a more vocal audience - maybe yesterday's lot were just Friday-night tired! And ooh, more chattering/whispering...

I really wonder how full Horses Tales will be tomorrow... *g*

[angel-ci5.livejournal.com]

I actually got an Unsafe Site warning from Norton at both of your links
Ooh, that's weird, I only linked them to my LJ scrapbook...?

Yes, I really hope it's a full house for Horses' Tales.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hmmn - maybe it was just Norton being over-cautious... It all seems to be okay, anyway! *g*

Tonight! *vbg*

[angel-ci5.livejournal.com]

Wheee! Tonight! *g*

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for this! Really enjoyed reading your report.

Shame that last year's rapport with the audience seemed to be lacking this time, although maybe that was down to the audience rather than the performers. It can make a big difference to a show.

One of the members of Martin's Place remarked that Luke had lost a lot of weight since the days of JJD, and that he looked a lot like MS now. What did you think?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Sounds like maybe it was down to the audience, from Angel's comment above - she reckons they were more lively at today's matinee!

Hmmn, I'm not sure about Luke losing weight - but I might not be able to tell since I've only seen him in JJD and then here, and tv does all sorts of things to people, doesn't it... I did actually watch him quite carefully, trying to see if I recognised similarities with MS, and to be honest I came to the conclusion that he must take more after his mum! But then I'm notoriously lousy at matching faces like that, so... I wouldn't say alot like though, to be honest... I'd better pop over and see what those reports reckon! *g*

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

That sounds such a good entertainment, thanks for sharing it. Wondering what MS looks like without a beard now.

And Everest was also conquered. *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh it was fab... He looks (to me) pretty much as he did in JJD, actually. The publicity pic is definitely a much younger version of him, I have to say! JS looked older than her pic too - though still with a figure to die for!

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

I was envious of you all last year...and I'm envious of you all this year! *g* Thank you for sharing it with us, as much as is possible. I love the photos and the descriptions. I find it fascinating how plays do change from night to night (and year to year) based on audiences and just the way the night works out. I'm glad it was still fab, even if MS was a bit more withdrawn from the audience. Cool that Luke was there as well!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

It was fab seeing him on stage - and I'd forgotten how much fun the play and the Company were too, especially with all the sound effects! I was desperate to be able to take pics for posting, but of course you can't - I couldn't even bring myself to take one of the theatre with the posters outside!

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

How good was that! Sounds like a top night was had.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

It was jolly good indeed... *vbg*

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing such a fab night out. I'd have loved to have seen the dogs wandering onto the stage too, bless. It sounds like a really fun evening.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hee - any time... it was fun! You'll have to get up to one of these performances sometime!