Thu - No time for exercise in the morning as I took the car in for service at 7:30. I walked back to the office through old Manama. Its a grotty, rundown, rabbit warren of narrow air conditioner dripping alleys, but I did come across some old style house balconies, juxtapositioned with the new towers.
It took 35 mins to walk back in the aternoon, so all in all my exercise for the day was an hour's walking. Poker fund raising for Dive Club at Terry's house, I almost swept the table at one point, but then steadily lost the lot.
Wed - Spin/pump in morning as I am going to see Mike Franklin in "Jeffery Barnard is Unwell" tonight at the British Club. Mike usually sings in the basses next to me, and is a dead cert for the part!
I was the only bloke in the class, but See worked me into a sweat.
The review in todays' Gulf Daily News was terrible - I hope that Mike has learned his line overnight!
Play falls flat on its face
By Les Horton, Posted on » Wednesday, March 24, 2010
| 
JEFFREY Bernard would have walked out the second the curtain went up last night, simply because the bar closed for the performance. Ironic really, given that this was the stage chronicle of the downfall of a fatally addicted drunk.
I am searching for kind words about a production that would be beyond the skills of many professionals, let alone an amateur theatre group. This is not a whodunnit or a farce, where the flaws can be easily hidden amidst twists in the plot or the slapstick. This is a one-man show of more than two-and-a-half hours, punctuated only by cameo appearances by the supporting cast.
Bernard would no doubt have raised a glass to Mike Franklin for trying to bring him back from the grave and so do I, but I am sorry, the role is just too much for him. Repeated stumbling over the words, audible prompts from off-stage and frequent disappearances from view, most likely for a glance at the script, spoiled what should have been a performance packed with incisive wit.
There were some excellent moments and all credit to Mike - and the audience - for sticking out to the end what was a tortuous performance, with little better from the supporting cast.
It simply didn't work either on stage or off, with awkward seating around dinner tables at which barely a handful of the audience members actually dined.
Last night was billed as theatre only, but ticket-holders turned up to find an optional buffet laid on for extra cash - a surprise to most, judging from the remarks within my earshot.
I have been to Manama Theatre Club productions before and thoroughly enjoyed them, but this one fell flat on its face, just as Bernard no doubt did with alarming regularity. |
Just before I left at 7pm, I managed to fit in a short swim.
Well the play, it wasn't as bad as the review. Mike seemed to know his lines, but they weren't very funny or witty and the cameo walk-ins were laboured.
Tue - Easy 20 mins swim in the morning. Managed to squeeze in going to the compound gym for a BodyDoctor workout before starting African Sanctus rehearsals in evening.
Mon - Spin/Abs at Ritz in evening. As my right knee is still creaking after skiing I didn't go as hard as usual, and kept the sweating under control, but the abs were a struggle.
Sun - As I was so underwelmed at work, I came home in time to toss the bike in the back of the car and drive down to the F1 MacDonalds, and do 32k to beach and up Banyan Tree hill. It was very windy (20knots) so I was either slogging along at 15kph or screaming at 40. Finished as sun was going down. Made a nice change to start the evening. Tried alternate routes to drive there, its actually quicker and more restful to go slower via villages and Hamad than to use the highway all the way.
Sat - Work up late with a muzzy head form the concert party last night, so just waddled around the villa till 4:30 when it was into DJ and off to ...
It was the best concert yet, we were crisp and together. I even thought I was good, though I detected 3 very minor mistakes in my personal performance. I can't decide which is my favorite section, they are all awesome. Praise from Alistair:
"Oh, choir! Why do I leave you till last? Because you were and are, the most significant part of this and every Manama Singers concert. Did I forget to acknowledge you in the heat of the moment, during the bows? It wasn’t intentional and to me, all the final applause was for you. The balance, nuance, detail, diction and commitment were all there. I could not have asked for more and I genuinely feel that you surpassed yourselves. Yours was a performance made in heaven. I do not exaggerate. It was extraordinary."
Fri - Up and out of house at 6:20. Awali, F1, up Banyan Tree, to Camel roundabout, Zallaq and back for 9:15. 65k. SE winds so nicer coming back for a change.
Then 10 till 4pm at British School for final Mozart rehearsal. Its soundng very good, lets hope we keep it up for the concert tomorrow.
