Trigger Happy

Greetings, Acting Fans, welcome to this down-to-the-wire Wednesday blog that will eventually get around to H&H Beeswax. I'm afraid my approach has been a bit lackadaisical this week as I've got a bit of a pre-[The Holiday Festival Which Shall Not Yet Be Named] holiday which started with a weekend in Liverpool at the Cosmic Trigger play and Find The Others event.
I was one of the many who stumped up a bit of cash via crowdfunding to help fund the production celebrating the life and work of the late Robert Anton Wilson, the late countercultural author and thinker, get made. Having not been to Liverpool since I went on an art gallery trip some time ago, I thought I'd do the full weekend and not just the play.
I'm happy to say that the play was a lovely shambles that told the story effectively, funnily and in a way that was a great tribute to Wilson and to the other major figure the play was dedicated to, Ken Campbell. You may not have heard of Ken Campbell but he is a fascinating figure from british theatre (and he was almost Doctor Who once, you know - he lost out to Sylvester McCoy, who could be considered something of a protege - he was in Ken's roadshow before that) who himself organised the production of a dramatisation of another of Robert Anton Wilson's works 'The Illuminatus Trilogy' as a play of epic length.
Back down to earth after the weekend, I have been in a bit of a recovery mode but H&H has never been far from my mind. Some of what I saw over the weekend has caused an idea or two to percolate and reassured me that H&H are just about the right kind of shambolic themselves. Despite my rather relaxed attitude this week (& a Tuesday [The Holiday Festival Which Shall Not Yet Be Named]-shopping trip with my parents) and thanks to Vern being unexpectedly free, we have managed to knock our heads together today and get the H&H creative machine ticking over but I'll let m'learned colleague fill you in on that at the weekend.

TTFN

Christopher Haigh

Cuckoos In Flight

Yes, it's midweek once again, Acting Fans, and that means, if you are TRUE Acting Fans, you still have THREE chances to catch the Colossal Acting Talent hinself treading the boards at The Actor's Workshop as The Chief in 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest'.

Despite taking to the stage for the first time Tuesday night this week (and a work meeting for yours truly) we managed a meet-up at our usual locale and, after our usual meandering, we've only gone and come up with an Actor's Log idea that, well, it actually supercedes what we were going to do originally and jumps to the front of the filming schedule and it's all down to me watching a bit of mid-morning telly with my parents. Mum & Dad have a daytime TV programme they watch fairly regularly and, well, Mum turned to me and said, 'You should do a H&H version'. After talking it over with Vern over our coffees, we realised she was right - so thank you, Mum! Now all we have to do is get on with it. First though, we're going to let Vern get his board-treading out of the way. So do please remember to support your local actors! Ah, go on!

TTFN

Christopher Haigh

One Of Our Cast Is Missing

Hello Acting Fans, fellow bloggers and People of the Internet, Once again apologies we hope there was no offence with us missing a post on Wednesday but, between Chris' shift patterns and my Press Call (and a 40 minute wait for a bus after an annoying late shift Wednesday night that left Chris not in the mood to throw something together, when he didn't have anything new to add because), we weren't able to meet-up until Thursday.

Yes, I had to do a press release for the play wot I am in 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' and I knew I had to change one's appearance for the play but wasn't expecting to have to do it this soon to be ready for the Press Call too! What have I done? Well, you see those Native Americans are very particularly about hair, and where it is, or isn't. So now where I did have some hair, now there isn't any. I know it was a shock to me too! As while getting ready it dawned on me the show is now NEXT WEEK! Wow! That's come around fast indeed. I can feel my terrexcitement rising as I type! You can probably see some of it in my shorn face here:

Who IS that Unmasked Man?

So this Thursday (THE DAY OF THOOOOOOR! *Ahem* 10/07/14) we got a meet-up in and once again talked about our usual around the house stuff first, And gotthen on to H&H business we got a quick idea for an Actor's Log that will have to be done quick. Which involves (& was inspired by) my current appearance and it may also tie in to some others we have planned too. We also sketched another couple of ideas out for future development and, being pretty organised this time, we mapped out this apologetic blog post.

Well, that was it this time other than still trying to work out a way to sneak up on the ever more elusive episode 6 of series 1. I promise we shall get it done. We shall indeed. You have my word as an ACTOR!

I thinks that's all for now... So I'll see you in the Future!!! As I head off into...ACTING!!!!

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

I Want My Independence

Hello Acting Fans, fellow bloggers and people of the Internet, it is once again Friday and it's the fourth of July where we in the UK celebrate no longer having to put up with a bunch of barmy puritans we managed to get shot of (yes, yes, Independence day if you must put it like that). More importantly, of course, it is time once again for another up date on the H&H front so, what have we been doing?
Erm......erm...well, after the meeting on Wednesday, where we sorted out a few things and planned our next shoot, we...ah...haven't had time for a 2nd meet up.

In the meantime I have been combing through the Vlogs that we have written down at the moment, to see which one we are going to shoot next and there are one or two we can do. But I cannot tell you any more as of yet, as it might ruin the surprise when they come out. Yes, anything else would be [SPOILERS].

Other than that I have been learning my line for my appearance in the up and coming Actor's Workshop production of 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest'. It's getting every closer to being on. *Looks at calendar* In two weeks in fact! EEP! So, yep, I'd best get to it! And, yes, as the Chief I do actually have some lines, mainly in the 2nd act. The first act is harder though and that's the part with no lines! Though I've literally nothing to say, I still have to be on stage during it and I have to listen. I've also recorded narration dialogue that will be played during the play. I am excited. I am terrified. I am terrexcited! I am excerrified!

That's it for this week, oh, and please do pop over to the H&H channel to watch the new H&H Vlog, or any of the others in fact - they are all there waiting for you to view them there! I leave you with a meaningful tune for our colonial cousins...

See you in the Future!

TTFN

Cuckoo’s Flown

Photo from Danielle In Brazil

Bad news, everyone. The play that I was due to star in for the Studio Group at the Actors Workshop has been cancelled, with some of the some the cast members dropping out due to other commitments. So no more cuckoos for me.
Just goes to show how mercurial this Acting profession can be however, on the plus side, I will now have more time to devote to working on the production of H&H:Actors At Large.

And what are we going to be working next for H&H I hear you screaming and your monitors (Well, you are in my head and, in my head, I can make you do anything I want. ANYTHING.) As of tomorrow (That’s Thursday the 5th April, 2012) we will start editing the Pilot and finish off editing a few other short sequences. Oooh, What can they be? Once again, you’ll just have to wait and see what they are. And after the edit it's back to prep and planning the next episodes.

Stay with us now we are almost there. And yes the BIG surprise coming very, very soon.

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

Exit! Stage Left, Even!

Good News, Acting fans!  As a jobbing actor (well, trying *Chris's note: Vern can be a REALLY Trying actor*) I have managed to get a part in the upcoming Studio Group at the Actors Workshop production. What play is it, and whom do I play I hear you ask?

Well in 1962 American counter-cultural icon Ken Kesey brought out a book inspired by his time working the graveyard shift as an orderly at a mental health facility, a powerful and moving critique of the power structures of modern society.

Yes, I'm appearing in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, though in a touching gesture to the careers of other young up-and-coming actors I shan't be playing Randle P. McMurphy, I am in fact lending the support of my colossal acting talent by playing the pivotal role of "Chief" Bromden, a part I have performed once before about 14 years ago.

And it’s been about 10 years since I have been in the theatre.*Gulp*

So how will this effect Harcourt and Haigh? Well, not much actually as the rehearsals are at night but we'll be having fun with it soon in H&H. Yep, [SPOILERS].
The performances will be in May and the actual dates are TBC, fret not - we'll keep you posted, Acting fans.

P.S. - This is still not the Big Thing, that remains yet yet to come.

TEEHEEH TEEHEE.

Vernon Harcourt