HELLAS
Now Playing: Elena Paparizou - OK
Let me state for the record - I LOVE GREECE.

I arrived in Athens (after a lovely night in London with Shane, and then a crazy day of coffees with various fab ladies in London) at evil o'clock in the morning, and made my way to Menandrou Street, site of the Amaryllis Inn hotel that I've stayed in so often. Just up the road is the Hotel Appia, which is as convenient, but far far cheaper. That's where I stayed this time round.

Somebody mentioned to me recently the adage that acting is a whore's profession, which made it seem very ironic to me that all of the streets named after the major ancient dramatists in Athens (Euripidou, Sofokleou, etc) are the epicentre of the red-light district. Menandrou, like the playwright it's named after, is less interesting...

I slept for an insane portion of my first few days in Athens, and did precious little else (apart from devouring my airport read, entitled "The Rule of Four", which was part Da Vinci Code, part Secret History. Not bad, but strictly for holidays.

Then, Saturday morning, I met lovely Fryni and Pavlina and we drove down to Epidaurus. Hurrah!! It was funny to arrive back at the hotel (where nothing has changed) and realise that it's been another year already. Having done various odd jobs, and had a quick snooze, I headed for the ancient theatre with Gregory, to see "Oedipus Rex".

I have NEVER seen the place so full. Rather than telling you about the production, I can (haha!) refer you to my review of it, which was published in an Athenian cultural magazine called "anti", that's probably on the news stands in Athens until next week, when the new issue is due. Or until it's sold out...

And for good measure, here's a photo of me, in the theatre...


Next issue - the summer course, part one... the students arrive...

The Cookbook
Now Playing: Missy Elliot - Lose Control
Ironic that Missy should call her new album "The Cookbook", given that her relationship with food has been the focus of so much media attention.

Can we expect diet tips on this cd? Perhaps workout tips or cardio advice from her various muscular collaborators?!

Or, perhaps, the whole effort will be a large serving of soul food, which - for me, at least - would leave a very bad taste in the mouth...

Ten Days in Tokyo
Now Playing: When Hollywood Goes Black and Tan - Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings
Well, this was a long time coming...

And it'll be a little longer :P

Just putting this in to remind myself to actually WRITE this blog. I even took notes on it, so I'll have to do it, eventually...

OPA!
Now Playing: Elena Paparizou - MY NUMBER ONE
It's a sad thing that I missed the Eurovision this year. For anyone reading this who doesn't know what the Eurovision is, a) shame on you, and b) it's a now 50 year old song competition staged every year.

Ireland are the undisputed champions of Eurovision, having won it more than anyone else (including a stint in the 90s where we won it 4 times in 5 years...) The way it works is that the country who wins one year hosts the contest the following year. It's all very exciting, particularly the voting, which takes place after a (usually locally-flavoured) interval act that follows the performances of all the songs. Interval acts that stand out include the original Riverdance (yes! Eurovision spawned Riverdance!!) and Israeli transsexual Dana International performing the Hebrew Sabbath Prayer as a techno dance number....

Ireland's entry this year was awful, by the sound of it, and so we were booted out in the preliminaries (there are now so many countries in Europe that they have to have preliminaries to avoid an endless contest). Greece have been gearing up to win it for years, and this year, THEY DID IT. Elena Paparizou is just fabulous, and I'm so happy she won. Opa!

In a hilarious aside, the official cd includes a bonus track - the Australian entry. Australia were disqualified from the competition, on the grounds that they are not a European country....

:D
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: Madonna - Now I'm Following You.
To my stalker...
Catch me if you can!

Steel Magnolias
Mood:  lyrical
Now Playing: Madonna's American Life Album - Keeps Getting Better
Intervention

I got to save my baby
Because he makes me cry
I got to make him happy
I got to teach him how to fly

I want to take him higher
Way up like a bird in the sky
I got to calm him down now
I want to save his life

Sometimes it's such a pleasure
Sometimes I wanna tear it all down
It's easy to be lazy
And hard to go away from the crowd

I know the road looks lonely
But that's just Satan's game
And either way my baby
We'll never be the same

In the blink of an eye everything could change
Say hello to your life, now you're living
This is it from now on
It's a brand new day
It was time to wake up from this dream

Ups and Downs...
Now Playing: Stoned - Dido
Isn't it funny how people move on up and down cycles?

At rehearsal tonight for Steel Magnolias, I was reduced to tears. It's so sad, and there's a lot of drama underpinning the performances in this show. It's going to be excellent, and (I hope) quite cathartic for the ladies involved.

I've been very anxious for the past fortnight or so, up to High Do, but I'm calming down a tiny bit now. Going to go out dancing on Saturday night with friends.

Last Saturday was Ninagawa's Medea. It was absolutely fascinating, but extremely disappointing. I liked very little about it, but I have tons of things I can say and write about it. So that's good - something to keep me busy.

On the recommendation of a friend, I have been listening to Dido and Coldplay recently. Dido is just wonderful. Coldplay are a little too sad, but I like "Clocks".

I want to go to the cinema again. There's really late shows on in Tokyo, perfect for busy people like me - maybe I'll see another one soon, I hope!

I'll be waaaaaaaaaaaaaiting for youuuuu.....
Mood:  cool
Now Playing: Celine Dion - To Love You More...
I didn't know this, but apparently Celine's lovely song "To Love You More" was a Number 1 hit in Japan because it was used as the theme to a TV romantic drama here. Go figure...

I'll be waiting for you,
Here inside my heart
I'm the one who wants to love you more...
(Beats chest violently...)

It's really embarrassing, but I used to love this song so much... All the drama! She was wonderful at it...

And now I know why she's always accompanied by a Japanese violinist when she sings it...!

Mood:  sharp
Now Playing: Crazy for You
Swaying room as the music starts
Strangers making the most of the dark
Two by two their bodies become one

I see you through the smoky air
Can't you feel the weight of my stare
You're so close but still a world away
What I'm dying to say, is that

I'm crazy for you
Touch me once and you'll know it's true
I never wanted anyone like this
It's all brand new, you'll feel it in my kiss
I'm crazy for you, crazy for you

Trying hard to control my heart
I walk over to where you are
Eye to eye we need no words at all

Slowly now we begin to move
Every breath I'm deeper into you
Soon we two are standing still in time
If you read my mind, you'll see

I'm crazy for you
Touch me once and you'll know it's true
I never wanted anyone like this
It's all brand new, you'll feel it in my kiss
I'm crazy for you, crazy for you

It's all brand new, I'm crazy for you
And you know it's true
I'm crazy, crazy for you

English Grammar
Mood:  mischievious
Now Playing: Hairspray - the Musical
Paco is hilarious.