Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts

Monday, 27 July 2009

A Family Affair with Samuel West

I went to see charity show called A Family Affair last night starring Timothy West, Prunella Scales and their son Samuel West, at the Oxford Playhouse. It was the first time I had seen them all together and it was truly spectacular. They each read from black folders, excerpts from plays etc. But the highlight of the evening personally for me was to see Sam performing a scene from Hamlet with his parents. I've always regretted not seeing Sam do Hamlet when he did the original show back in 2001. And now I have made my peace. From what I saw last night has convinced me more than ever that Sam could quite easily do Hamlet again. I mean if Mark Rylance and David Tennant can do it...then so could Sam! lol ;)

It was such a wonderful evening which raised lots of money for a good cause and I was really sad to see it end.

Here's another more detailed review...
A Family Affair

∗ wants to start a "Sam please do Hamlet again" petition ∗

Wednesday, 10 June 2009

Harold Pinter A Celebration...(Review)


Images from the programme


On Sunday 7 June 2009 at the National Theatre, I attended the memorial event for the legendary playwright, Harold Pinter who sadly passed away on Christmas Eve 2008. The stage was set as black with two rows of silver chairs which ran along two sides of a black square performance area. All the actors who took part in the show were seated on the chairs throughout, and took turns to deliver their pieces. Samuel West was on in the the second half. It was lovely to see him again, although from where us mere mortals were seated it would of taken the use of binoculars to see any of the actors faces properly! There was sadness as well as a lot of comedy and my favourite being "Mac" The evening finished after 2.5hrs with a big b&w picture of Harold Pinter appearing on the back of the stage area and the actors slowly leaving. Walking away with their heads bowed. That was very moving.

The evenings performances were...

Death, 1997.....Stephen Rea

Voices in the Tunnel.....Henry Woolf

From Celebration, 1999
Waiter.....................Jude Law
Lambert.................Henry Goodman
Julie........................Susan Wooldridge
Matt.......................Andy De La Tour
Prue........................Lindsay Duncan

Poems to A, Part 1
Paris, 1975.............Colin Firth
I Know the Place...Penelope Wilton
To Antonia, 1987...Kenneth Cranham

Apart from That, 2006
Gene........................Jeremy Irons
Lake.........................Indira Varma

From the Caretaker, 1959....David Bradley

The Black and White, 1959
First Old Woman....Eileen Atkins
Second Old Woman..Sheila Hancock

From Mac, 1966.....Douglas Hodge

From Old Times, 1970
Deeley......................Alan Rickman
Anna.........................Lindsay Duncan
Kate..........................Gina McKee

From The Homecoming, 1964.....Kenneth Cranham

From The Lover, 1962
Richard......................Jude Law
Sarah..........................Indira Varma

Arthur Wellard, 1981........Samuel West

Tess, 2000.........................Penelope Wilton

From The Birthday Party, 1957
Stanley.......................Kenneth Cranham
Goldberg....................Henry Goodman
McCann......................Lloyd Hutchinson

From Mac, 1966.................Douglas Hodge

From The Homecoming, 1964.....Lia Williams

From No Mans Land, 1974..........Andy De La Tour

Political Poems
The Bombs, 2003...........................................Roger Lloyd Pack
The Disappeared, 1998..................................Janie Dee
I shall Tear Off My Terrible Cap, 1951.......Harry Burton
Cricket at Night, 1995....................................Jeremy Irons
After Lunch, 2002..........................................Lindsay Duncan

Weather Forecast, 2003................................David Bradley

Meeting, 2002.................................................Gina McKee
From Betrayal, 1978
Emma...............................Janie Dee
Robert..............................Michael Sheen

From The Caretaker, 1959....Colin Firth

Poems to A, Part 2
It is here, 1990..................Jude Law
To My Wife, 2004.............Lia Williams
Poem (To A), 2007...........Jeremy Irons

From his Nobel Prize address, 2005...........Students From LAMDA

From Celebration..............Stephen Rea

Samuel West on Acting, Directing and Family Heritage

© theatreland.tv


Sam West

A great video and very amusing...

..Sam West talks to his old mate Clemency Burton-Hill..

And nice to see Sam interested in Family History too! :)

Wednesday, 29 April 2009

Grand Designs Live - in London

Grand Designs Live London sponsored by British Gas at ExCeL London
NOW OPEN...

25 April to 4th May 2009, open daily 10am - 6pm

The award winning event for design and inspiration for your home has returned to ExCeL London and we will be open for ten days between 25 April and 4 May.


I've been a couple of times to the show this week and I highly recommend it to anyone, although most things for sale are outrageously expensive. But if you like Design like me then it's still worth taking a look and attending a few seminars!

Tuesday, 31 March 2009

Some Olde Kiddie Pix

© m4sure

Just found these adorable pictures of me as a small kid many years ago...


In my Grandparent's garden (I still have the plastic fish)


My 1st ever bike. (remember being terrified of it at 1st)

I wont tell you what year(s) these pictures were taken. But I will give you a small clue. I am 10 days younger than Samuel West. Now go work it out! haha! ;)

Friday, 20 March 2009

Little Herbert

© m4sure

I was looking at my old picture files today and I came across this adorable photo of my maternal grandfather as a small child. It is his branch of my family that I am doing research on at the moment. There is mystery, and a tragic turn of events as well. Herbert was the same grandfather who later served in the Eighth Army during WW2 in North Africa and the middle east. He was one of the "desert rats" there as well...

Little Herbert...

Tuesday, 17 March 2009

Happy St Patrick's Day

In honour of my 8th Irish genes (on my maternal x2 side)...




Might get out my family research stuff later to count how many Donnelly's there are. Believe me there are a lot! lol ;P

Thursday, 12 March 2009

The Marx Bros in Duck Soup



HAHAHAAAAAA-A-A-A!

Wednesday, 11 March 2009

The Legendary Marx Brothers



Been watching a couple of the Marx Brother's movies today. Have one of their box sets. Was in fits of laughter at some of their antics. They were so talented in their own crazy way. My favourite film by far at the mo is 'Duck Soup'. I've liked the Marx Brothers since I was a kid with my favourite being Harpo. And even though these films are really old, they're still extremely fun to watch. My favourite quotes by Groucho so far include... "Go and never darken my towels again!" Classic.


Here's another pic I like...



Harpo and those scissors! That mischievous look on his face when he snips everything in sight is just so hilarious.

My Family Research Mystery Deepens

I've been doing my family history for many many years. And having investigated most of my branches up to a point, I'm now kind of stuck. I don't seem to understand how to use Parish Registers. It's like being asked to read a passage of Latin, it just makes no sense. I know I will at some point have to drag my *** down to the National Archives here in London and ask them. One family line in particular there's a family mystery and a bit of scandal which involves some wealthy Freemason ancestors, secret families, some disinheriting, and resulted with one of my great grandmothers killing herself when her child was removed from her by in-laws. The plot could be something straight out of a Catherine Cookson story. Maybe I should write a book about it. Just need to do a bit more investigating first. The TV Genealogist Nick Barratt gave me some good advice so I will try his suggestions, and kick start my quest for the truth. I owe it to my genes.

Tuesday, 10 March 2009

The Dog, The Cat...and The Rat

∗ This has got to be one of the most adorable videos I've seen in a long time ∗



This is a video of a homeless man in Santa Barbara, California USA and his pets. They work State Street every week for donations. The animals are pretty well fed and are mellow. They are a family. The man who owns them rigged up a harness for his cat so she wouldn't have to walk so much (like the dog and himself). At some juncture the rat came along, and as no one wanted to eat anyone else, the rat started riding with the cat and, often, on the cat! The dog, will stand all day and let you talk to him and admire him for a few chin scratches. The Mayor of Santa Barbara filmed this clip and sent it out as a holiday card.

Thursday, 5 March 2009

The Sea of Galilee 1942

One of my Granddad's was a member of the Eighth Army "The Desert Rats" during WWII in North Africa & the Middle East. As well as acquiring a few medals along the way including a mention in dispatches, he also spent part of his time taking some spectacular pictures of the places he visited. Here's a few images he took in black & white while at Galilee in 1942.


All the following images & labels © H.C Perrott (1910-1979)...


Galilee


Road by Galilee



Sea of Galilee


Sunset on the sea of Galilee

More info...
Eighth Army

Wednesday, 11 February 2009

A Family Reunion Video



∗ it could of done with some more Harry pix but it's still very good ∗

Tuesday, 10 February 2009

Dr Who 1963 Theme Music Video

∗ Can't believe this version is 3 years older than me ∗

Who Do You Think You Are Live

Family History Show...
27 Feb - 1 Mar 2009, Olympia London

∗ I'll be going all 3 days ∗

Monday, 9 February 2009

US President Woodrow Wilson


More info...
28th President of the United States

I've discovered that I'm related to this President through my stepmum and half brother's branch of the family through Wilson's maternal line who came from Carlisle in Cumbria...my hometown. lol