Jane and I went to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Lyceum which proved to be a night of pure energy. Jason Donovan played Dr Frank ‘n Furter ( with a surprisingly good voice) and The Head Of Steam pub was nose to nipple with Yorkshire brutes dressed as transvestites before kick off time.
The energy was electric , great fun ,and a panacea for Jane as things for her has been somewhat rough recently.
The Lyceum , wisely , let the audience rule the evening, and although I would have been happy with just one half of the musical, it was worth the visit for the real fans’ reactions.
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Today I met my old neighbour and friend John for breakfast and a gossip in the Hillsborough Coach house cafe ( v v impressed) then had a full roast dinner in Banner Cross’s Turnip and Thyme with Mike, Bev and daughter Maisie, which was Warm and normal and funny and comfortable
There’s nothing like meeting old friends, and I even coped with zigzagging across Sheffield in Bluebell , braving the congested roads and remembering with some nostalgia , a city I knew well.
These guys have kept me afloat , for years
We finished our long lunch around 3 pm and after big hugs, I was on my way home through Broomhill , chasing the day westward as the light faded into evening
My dad took me to see The Rocky Horror Show when I was a teen, that was many many years ago. I loved it, it was brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI’m glad I’ve seen it. I won’t want to again lol
Deletehttps://pitcherlist.com/ppp-570-every-athletics-starting-pitcher-for-2025/#comment-72390
DeleteSounds just the ticket, John, a lovely start to Advent and Christmas xx
ReplyDeleteYes it’s a nice grown up weekend
DeleteThe show sounds like it was just what you and Jane needed. I love your last line, "chasing the day westward as the light faded into evening". So evocative. One for the book! xx
ReplyDeleteI smiled when I thought of it looking at the western sky like Elphaba
DeleteThat sounds like a perfect day to me.
ReplyDeleteThe perfect show for the total experience, lots of laughs, audience participation and that great community spirit that is the best theatrical experience. And then catching up with old friends for good food and spirit. Says it all about the Christmas spirit, really. And a good time was had by all. Just as it should be.
ReplyDeleteYes I must admit it felt remarkable like Christmas
DeleteI’d like to hear some of the backstory of your friends in Yorkshire
ReplyDeleteLee
Ok
DeleteBev was a friend of Nu ‘s ( they were in the same nursing cohort) I met her and her to be hubby Mike in 1989 when I met Nu
Jane was an old girlfriend from my early days in Sheffield , she was a nurse but works in the university
John, I met in 1996 when I moved into the house next door
You dated women John ! ?
DeleteLee
It was a phase lol
DeleteGood to stay in contact with old friends..it grounds us somehow
DeleteSounds a wonderfully delightful weekend!
ReplyDeleteStay safe & well, John dear.
Oh, I love Rocky Horror and all of the silliness of audience participation.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly had a happy and heartwarming weekend in Sheffield and should be flying high for days hereafter. Just a step to the right, you know!
Hugs!
Sounds like a good/busy time. I've never seen The Rocky Horror Picture show in it's entirety, maybe one day. Or maybe I'm too old now:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great day. Time with friends; enjoying a good show and then a nice meal is just the ticket.
ReplyDeleteWow! You are packing in the fun times, John! Good for you! xo
ReplyDeleteYou are packing SO much into your holiday time, glad you are enjoying it. It means we are too.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! About a month ago there was a local viewing of TRHPS - I hadn't seen it in years - and the guest was the actress who played Magenta. It was a treat to hear how she got the job.
ReplyDeleteJohn, I wonder if you have any views on the assisted dying debate which is currently raging in the UK (though more specifically England and Wales)?
ReplyDeleteIf it feels too much like work when you are on holidays I can wait.
Did you do the time warp? I bet you did!
ReplyDeleteI think 'Turnip and Thyme' should employ a new signwriter. That one is awful.
ReplyDeleteYou are having the best start to Christmas! I too love your final sentence.
ReplyDeleteThat has to be the most unsexy Dr. Frank I've ever seen. (I was a regular visitor to the RHS in the 70s) As it's Christmas, perhaps he was going for the pantomime dame look?
ReplyDeleteI've seen 'Rocky Horror' a few times on the stage and I always feel that no Frank 'n Furters I've yet seen come anywhere even close to Tim Curry's perfection on film. Maybe 'as-good-as' is still out there.
ReplyDeleteWith Jason D. I can never get out of my mind his forceful assertion in court suing 'The Face' magazine (Gosh! All of 32 years ago!) that he definitely was NOT gay - because he liked surfing! - though he enormously regrets that episode of his life.
I find it hard to imagine him giving a convincing portrayal of the role but I'm willing to be convinced thay he achieves it. Certainly the show itsrelf is timeless - and deservedly so!
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DeleteZiggy Byfield was our Frank in the 70s and I've seen Tim McEnery in the role, but no one beats Tim Curry.
DeleteI would never of guessed it was Donovan Raymondo , never in a million years
DeleteJust in this picture he's totally unrecognisable - and doesn't look all that comfy in drag either! (So no surprise there!)
DeleteWow. I remember walking past the Waverly Theater in Greenwich Village in the ’70s when Rocky Horror’s midnight showing was getting underway. It never gets old.
ReplyDelete"Turnip and Thyme" is just down the road from us though I have never been in myself. My daughter says it was very good when she visited. I didn't know about the Coach House Cafe - must try it some time.
ReplyDeleteNice roasts YP I liked it
DeleteSounds like an absolutely refreshing weekend.
ReplyDelete☺️😛🙂
DeleteGosh you are a busy, busy boy at the moment. It sounds like you are enjoying every moment of it. xx
ReplyDelete🙂
DeleteI always like it when you mention familiar parts of the city I love.
ReplyDeleteI do too , and driving around most of it on Sunday was a gift
DeleteTo dance the Time warp is one of life's great pleasures ❣️ Kath x
ReplyDeletelol, xx
DeleteWe saw JD in Rocky Horror when he did it donkeys years ago. I can remember saying I'm not sure he'll be able to deal with the hecklers. After he shouted oh do f*** off you sad c**ksucker. He was ok 🤣
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