…was pretty good actually. I’d vetted my audience especially with my amazing sales patter. “Come see shMOZle, it’s a play about existentialism within a sketch-show about a double-act one of whom doesn’t exist and I play both characters at the same time. It was voted ‘tenth must see free fringe show’, but then again some audiences hate it and on Wednesday 98% walked out, but then again it got a FOUR STAR review from Three Weeks, but then again you might hate it, or you might not. On your head be it! If you hate it, don’t blame me”. Slick eh? 

Even though I had a dicky tum-tum, yup an “eight poo morning”, as soon as the Imodium had kicked in my energy was back and I kicked some ass and really went into serious pantomime mode. Really nice audience today, well pockets, got really nice applause and laughs at the right bits, so overall I’m very happy with the show.

Left my comments slips out, and here’s today little gems, about my FOUR STAR show. Did I mention I’ve got a FOUR STAR show? And was voted “Tenth must see free-fringe show” by Fringe Review? Oh just please stop talking about it. Tut.

Slip one: “Didn’t enjoy the format. Did well to remember all your cues, but relied on forced laughter and applause too much rather than actually making us laugh for real. Sorry. x”

Fair enough. Some good points which I’d agree with, the show doesn’t contain enough of me, the real me, not ShMOZle. And the fake laughter was an unnatural cue I’d engineered just in case no-one laughed, and to be honest some days they don’t. Now here’s the doozy comment.

Slip two: “truly aweful (sic), format doesn’t work, found it painful, it’s like terrible kids TV but with swearing. save any reputation you have and stop now”.

Epic. Scathing or what? But to be honest I agree with her/him. If I create this kind of division amongst my audiences in a sketch-show just post-lunch, then I’m doing something wrong. Making a name for yourself is fine, hell I can do that by punching someone in the face, but it’s not a long term career option. I’ve definitely got “something” here, I just need to learn how to use it properly and how to develop “myself” as a performer and not just a writer. I think having spent so many years writing things then storing them in a drawer I’m still thinking I can have it my own way, but now that I’m “out” and “on display” I need to change my tact, without losing my “self”.

More later… if I have any reputation left?

Mxxx