Partners in crime

Whimsical, the perfect adjective for the adipose (thanks Zeinab). That or marketing opportunity. Plush toy? Squeezy stress reliever? Squeaky for your dog? Only eight months to Christmas… Sorry, must have my cynical head on. I quite liked them really. But are you meant to like the monsters? Makes a change from hiding behind the sofa I suppose.

So leaving aside the fat-eating marshmallow-babies sub-plot, what did I think of the season four opener?

I liked the fact that the trailers didn’t give everything away and the clips we’ve seen built into complete scenes, especially with Donna and Gramps (gotta love Bernard Cribbins) and the lip reading scene. I never was a Donna hater. I liked her in the Christmas episode and I’m glad to see her back.

Loved the scene in the tardis with the Doctor starting to spout off his theory and stopping mid-sentence. Great bit of characterisation in just half a line.

I liked the way David Tennant underplayed the Doctor a little in this episode; not so much teeth nashing, eyes blazing - a bit more inward looking. The way he picked up Donna’s luggage was a nice subtle comedy moment.

“I’ll be health - you be safety”, great line! Wish I could have delivered that one.

Thought the whole “I need a mate”, was a bit heavy handed though. I was hearing “How very dare you?” in my head. But still, now we’ve got that out of the way, maybe we can get on with some real stories.

Was not expecting Rose so soon. That was a nice little teaser at the end of the episode. Also liked the fact that she’s somehow there, but not there. Russell T Davies obviously paid attention to my previous warnings. 

I found I was more fired up in anticipation than I was after the event, but it’s a Doctor in specs episode, and that always scores with me. It may not have been very scary, (no doubt partly due to the timeslot) and I do like a dark Doctor, but we have Steven Moffat episodes to come.

A reasonably generous 7/10.

Der der der dum…der der der dum…

It’s fair to say that last time I mentioned a certain Doctor, I was in a bit of a strop. But time’s a great healer (especially with the Doctor by your side) and well…to cut a long story short, Russell T Davies, you’re just about forgiven. Nine months is too long to hold a grudge (though I still owe Jason Landaur for tying my plaits to the back of my chair). Besides, the glimpses I’ve seen in between series have renewed my optimism. And I never did give up on the Doctor…just fell out with the writer.

So I find myself sitting bolt upright in bed, instead of drifting off to sleep everytime I hear the trailer on TV, and have devoured the Radio Times feature, looking for clues. Yes that’s me, back in full-on fangasm mode again.

I’m quite pleased Donna’s back. It’ll be interesting to have a companion who isn’t making cow-eyes at the Doctor every week (leave that to me…). Besides, when your Grandad’s Bernard Cribbins, how bad can you be?

Appetite whetted by a series of very slick trailers, I can’t wait to make sense of:
Martha channeling Grendel’s mother - dripping and furious
Rose’s return (I’m watching you RTD…don’t you dare do it again…)
Lots of corridor running, this time with a redhead (Mulder and Scully anyone?… No?… Just me then.)
And the Doctor, sweating and terrified. Wow! That one’s on a permanent loop in my mental multiplex. If that’s in the Stephen Moffat double episode (Stephen Moffat double episode!), I might just spontaneously self-combust.

Quite intruiged by another Moffat, Georgia who appears in the Radio Times feature, reminding me of Sally Sparrow in a cute and feisty kind of way. I’ve a feeling that could be the Doctor-lite episode, but I could be wrong.  

I do know that come Saturday, 6.20, I’ll be poised, heart beating der der der dum…der der der dum…

Is imitation really the sincerest form of flattery?

I caught the new Ford TV advert this week.

Not a bad idea I thought, but not as good as the Sound of Honda.

Honda has created some very clever, eye-catching television adverts over recent years. So when I start to watch an advert that’s a bit quirky, I instinctively start to think of Honda. That’s a really powerful bit of brand association. (But I still drive a Mini!)

Familiarity can be a good thing for a brand, but what happens when you start to see the same thing everywhere?

Innocent is a brand that’s really established a strong identity through its tone of voice (which I have to admit I love). But now it has its imitators. Barclays seems to be trying to adopt a more ‘innocent style’ and fellow smoothie makers PJ’s are desperately trying to catch their cheeky, fun, irreverent tone (but not quite getting it IMHO).

So what happens to the Innocent brand if one element of its uniqueness, is no longer so unique? Will their smoothies be diluted by these pale imitations? Or are the other brands just savvy by trying to sparkle in their reflections?<

Our Friends in the North @ Northern Stage

Best known as a landmark TV series, it’s been several years since this story has been performed in its original stage form.

But like the Shakespeare histories that inspired writer Peter Flannery’s script, it retains that ability to hold up a mirror to the themes of politics and friendship, then and now.

Wide in scope, Our Friends in the North tells the story of four friends and their lives through the turbulent times of the 60s and 70s, reflecting the politics of the day. It’s also a story about corruption; about the small deceits that ultimately lead to larger betrayals of values, beliefs and even countries.

The action takes place in a series of short scenes, moving from the back streets of Newcastle to the seedy lanes of Soho and out beyond to the fields of what was then Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).

The play is expertly performed by a large cast who take on multiple roles, including those of scene shifters.

It takes some mental effort to keep up and to piece together these brief glimpses of multiple lives which defy traditional narrative. But the effort is worth it. For, as slowly, inexorably the layers of corruption are revealed, our four friends are altered, changed and drawn apart.

Just as the TV series introduced us to a select band of great actors from the North East and elsewhere, the stage production brings a wealth of talented Geordies back home.

Neil Armstrong (known to many from Byker Grove) is Tosker, married to Mary, played by Sonia Beinroth who also takes on the key female role of Rusty.

Joe Renton plays Nicky, the idealist caught up in local government and dodgy housing deals, and Craig Conway is Geordie, the straight-up canny-lad who falls into the sleazy world of Soho porn barons, drugs and gangsters.

These are four fine, fine performances in a cast full of fine perfomances. They give this piece its heart and soul and centre.

Drumming gorillas and Phil Collins?

It’s the latest advert to cause a buzz in the world of marketing, picked up and posted on YouTube and the subject of much debate and discussion.

First aired in a plum slot on UK TV during the Big Brother final, it depicts a man in a very convincing gorilla suit sitting behind a drumkit and launching into an enthusiastic rendition of the Phil Collins drum solo from In the Air Tonight.

And that’s it. That’s all. No pack shot, no company reference, no strapline, no musical sting, no web address. None of those things that countless textbooks on marketing recommend.

So how do you know what it’s trying to sell? Well there are clues of course. Catch the very start of the ad and you’ll see it’s made by A Glass And A Half Full Productions, and the wall behind the drumming gorilla is a particular shade of purple. I got the association pretty much straightaway, but whether that’s due to the strength of brand association or my over-familiarity with its product – I’ll leave you to decide.

But I wonder how many times “drumming gorilla” was entered as a Google search term before the advert was shown? And how many more afterwards?

Will it sell any more product? Or help restore the feel good factor of a brand that’s taken some knocks? We’ll have to wait and see. But it’s certainly got people talking.

And if you’re still wondering what the heck I’m blathering on about, see for yourself.

Scottish road trip 2007, day two - Battles and burial grounds

After a hearty full Scottish breakfast (thanks Janice), we were well fuelled for a day exploring the Trossachs. Our first stop was the Falls of Falloch a rather spectacular waterfall that runs into Loch Lomond and a chance to enjoy a short walk through the woods.

Arty long exposure shots of the falls completed, we jumped back in the car and made our way to Killin, a pretty little village near Loch Tay, with its own water feature - the Falls of Dochart.

Killin is associated with the legendary Celtic Hero Fingal who, it is thought was buried here - ‘Cill Fhinn’ meaning the burial place of Fingal. It was certainly the site of many clan battles between the MacNabs and the Campbells.

We enjoyed a Sunday morning stroll around its sights and a browse around its well-stocked outdoor shop before heading onto Callandar.  

Scottish road trip 2007 - Heading North

After picking up our hire car and the inlaws we headed north, past the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond to Arrochar. We spent most of the day travelling, but with fine weather and sunshine and the prospect of a week’s worth of exploring and eating to look forward to, the miles passed quickly.

Our stop for the next two nights was the excellent Burnbrae B&B - a real home from home full of thoughtful little touches, spacious rooms and the best breakfasts of the whole trip.  With views over the crystal clear waters of the loch to the mountains, it was an excellent spot to wind down in.  

Zoli by Colum McCann

So I haven’t really been keeping up with my reading list. You knew I wouldn’t, didn’t you?

Anyway, the last book I read was Zoli by Colum McCann. This really caught my eye in the book shop because of its attractive cover illustration by Petra Borner, and also because I’ve previously read and enjoyed This Side of Brightness by the same author.

According to the blurb on the back it’s based loosely on the true story of a Gypsy poet and it’s set in and around Slovakia during the Second World War. 

The Gypsy world is depicted in great detail and the book really comes to life when it focuses on the community and characters. It falls into sharp contrast against the deprivation of the bleak landscape. This is also a story about love and loss, told from different points of view as Zoli’s lover pursues her across Eastern Europe.

Colum McCann is a wonderful writer, full of intelligence. But for some reason I can’t quite put my finger on, I failed to really connect with this book. Zoli remained fleeting and distant, just out of my reach. 

The Penelopiad - a review

I was lucky enough to get tickets to see The Royal Shakepeare Company’s production of The Penelopiad at the Northern Stage in Newcastle recently. It was a wonderful production that reminded me yet again of how much I enjoy live entertainment, be it music or theatre. And I don’t make the effort to go often enough.

Anyhow, here’s my review:  

A contemporary twist on an ancient tale sees Penelope, traditionally the model of wifely devotion and patience, tell the story of her famous husband Odysseus in this production from the Royal Shakespeare Company.

From the moment we’re plunged into the depths of Hades, accompanied by the bark and snarl of its three-headed guardian and the slow drip, drip of the Lethe, this production draws its audience into a world of myth and story.

As Penelope, Penny Downie commands the centre stage, twisting and turning her tale through sorrow and sarcasm, scheming and silence; always keenly aware that our preconceived ideas are just one interpretation of the story.

Her dramatic monologues are mixed with songs and whispers from the tragi-comic chorus of 12 slave girls.

As this is an all female cast, they morph seamlessly between their roles as maids and the men who abuse them with subtle and effective use of movement and body language.

At one end of the scale we have Debhle Crotty who displays a brutal strength and cruelty as Antinous. At the other, Sarah Malin who demonstrates a touchingly believable sensuality as Odysseus.

This is also the story of those who never before had a voice, a face - barely even a name. The maids who keep Penelope company during the long years of her husband’s voyage and fend off her loutish suitors are murdered in a simple, dramatic and brutal climax.

A beautifully conceived production, deceptively simple in its staging that makes deft use of sound, lighting and movement, and lends itself beautifully to this theatre-in-the-round setting.

Its passionate, beating heart remains Penelope herself, vibrant even in death, a defiant, clever and cunning weaver of tales and destinies.

[Review also published on BBC Tyne]

Reading list II - The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is about:

a girl who loves books
the power of words
and Death    

I’m not likely to forget this book. It made me cry.

I loved it.