New Experiences #4 - #7
As January came to a close and the cold began to bite, the realisation hit that one of my resolutions could, for the first time, last until February half term at the very least. I therefore began my week feeling positively energetic and had soon excitedly thrown myself into not one experience but four. I therefore ended the week feeling positively knackered.
New Experience #4: Playing The Hero In A Pantomime
Having had weekly rehearsals since October, it was curtains up for the annual pantomime at Christchurch Llanedeyrn as Treasure Island took to the stage with plenty of swashbuckling and knee-slapping. I have been in a pantomime before but playing the lead role, Jim Hawkins, was a totally different challenge, simply because I had considerably more lines and directions to remember. We had four performances over the week and despite some slight hiccups, such as my plastic sword snapping during the fight scene and my counterpart Long John Silver falling off the stage, it was a real success.
Due to the nature of pantomime, I felt very relaxed on and off stage and dabbled with some ad-libbing as my confidence with the script grew over the week. My highlight was seeing the different reaction of each audience; unsurprisingly the child-dominated matinee enjoyed the slapstick moments, whilst older audiences often laughed at places we never expected.
Rating: It has to be 5/5; even though I’m sad it’s all over and has to be put behind me... pah, behind me! Oh yes I did...
New Experience #5: An Early Morning Swim
So, after the opening night of Treasure Island, there I was at Maindy at 6.20am the next morning queuing for a swim. Yes queuing, queuing with all the super fit/super mad of Cardiff who think that the crack of dawn is a good time to don the goggles. I was there with my mate Gareth, who is a very good swimmer but falls best into the super mad category, and we managed 70 lengths before walking home for breakfast. A refreshing start to the day but not something I’d repeat in a hurry.
Rating: I’d say 2/5 for this one; I’ll have a lie in next time.
New Experience #6: A Delve Into Anime
Anime, i.e. Japanese animated cartoons, were something I’d never previously watched and so my Japan-loving friend Siobhan offered to lend me two of her favourites; the modern hit Spirited Away and classic Grave of the Fireflies, both from Studio Ghibli. The differences between the two films were blatant, with the latter a harrowing war tragedy made in 1988 and the former a kooky, fantasy adventure which has become the highest grossing film in Japanese history.
Interestingly, I enjoyed Grave of the Fireflies more as it was based in a real setting, Japan in WWII, and I felt greater attachment to the orphaned characters. Spirited Away lived up to its reputation as exciting and highly inventive and really was a feast for the eyes. Although it took me a while to adjust to the overall drawing style, I noticed that certain animation elements, such as the creation of shadows, are far more realistic and effective in anime films. On a more general level, the films reminded me to explore other cultures’ methods and practices more often and I hope to incorporate that into another new experience soon.
Rating: 4/5
New Experience #7: Chilli Hot Chocolate In A Yurt
One yurt with a teasingly difficult to close door. One chilli hot chocolate. Four good friends. New Experience 7 - only in Milgi on City Road.
Rating: 4/5 ‘cos the beverage wasn’t quite hot enough temperature wise (but the yurt was truly cinematic).
Click here for more of tommy b's New Experiences
TheSproutDirect.co.uk Swimming
Info Sport & Leisure Visual Arts
Info Sport & Leisure Water Sports Swimming and Lifesaving
Info Sport & Leisure Performing Arts Acting, Drama and Theatre
TheSproutDirect.co.uk Royal Welsh College Of Music And Drama - Young Actors Studio
Related Articles:
IMAGE: New by chrisinplymouth
1 Comment – Postiwch sylw
Tyezer
Rhoddwyd sylw 52 mis yn ôl - 7th February 2012 - 09:59am
The panto one is a pretty cool experience. I used to do loads of panto, but never got the hero role. I once played the front of a pantomime cow called Daisy. I would love to do it again one day, but it actually consumes your life for the time you do it, as I'm sure you found out!