Monday August 6th, 2012
We had a great show this morning. Our show goes up at 11:20 A.M. and we had our largest audience ever. Lots of nice comments afterwards, and we made a really nice connection with some Irish folks who are here doing a show about Liza Minelli, called "Somewhere Under the Rainbow". Sharon Sexton is the star and she's fabulous. Sounds just like Liza and has a terrific singing voice. Her husband Cillian O'Donnachadha, wrote the show for her. They are here on their honeymoon! It's kind of interesting that we're here celebrating our anniversary (30 years), by bringing a Judy Garland show to the Fringe. I told them it was a good omen for both of us.
We found the best ever Scottish bakery, it's on South Clerk Street, and it's called Edinburgh Bakehouse, and we got bran scones for tea there, yesterday. There was a good long line of locals queing up for baked goods, and we took that as a good omen. Like lots of truckers at a roadside restaurant. We bought clotted cream and fresh blueberries at the grocery store, to top the scones and wow, that's a nice supper. If you've never had clotted cream on a scone you don't know what you're missing. It's seriously good. It's just the name that's weird. Usually a clot is not a good thing. We had a delicious supper tonight at a place called the Mosque Kitchen, it's on Nicholson Street, close to where we're staying. Tons of excellent vegetarian dishes and curries. We split the 3 veggie curry meal and added a garlic naan. Yum. Decent food is so important, and we've had really good food here. Since we're performing at the SpaceUK, we are allowed to see any show in any of their 14 venues that hasn't sold out, FOR FREE. What an excellent perk. So far we've seen 4 shows. All good. Flamenco Roots (very good dance duo with a flamenco guitarist), was a favorite. The days go SO fast here. After we do 'The Property Known As Garland' in the morning, it's quick change clothes, and drop off props at our apartment, and then we're off to hand out flyers for Neal's show (21A) and then we run sound and lights for his show, which starts at 2:35 P.M. and it's a good 20 to 25 minute walk from where we stay. By the time 21A is over it's 4 o'clock or later. Neal had a good show today. Probably his best. He's part of the 'Free Fringe' and the venue he's in, has had quite a few problems. Yesterday, for example, the sound system that he uses for his show, did not work. Turns out a DJ had turned it off and then locked the cupboard that houses the controls. Someone in Glasgow had a key, but by the time they arrived, Neal was taking his bow. His show was over. Not having a sound system made doing his show....... difficult. My husband and another (stranger) bystander, read the voiceovers live, and instead of the sound of gunshots, my husband Glenn shouted "bang bang". Glenn is not an actor. He's actually a retired air traffic controller. He now teaches air traffic control in Mpls. He did his best, and of course now he can say he made his European debut as an actor..... but despite his best efforts, the show suffered and Neal had a really rough day. Tomorrow is a day off for him (for 21A) and he really needs it. Since I needed a wi-fi connection to make this post, we had to find a pub. Oh I know, we could have found a coffee shop, buy hey, it's Scotland, and they have GREAT BEER. We're at The Abbey, (on South Clerk Street) and just had a pint of their house cask ale, called The Abbey. It's excellent. stellar. I may have to invent a reason to send another email so we can order another.