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drinks Monday 2 June 08
It's on till 26 May and here's Some things you might want to know about Brighton Fringe 2008
London 04 - The People!
Parties, events, people...
CONTENTS:
Births 2004
Marriages 2004
Deaths 2004
It's Alright For Some Party - 15 Dec 04
Fringe Report Writers Lunch - 11 Dec 04
Beef Casserole in Guinness Recipe
We Could Be Heroes Party - 3 Nov 04
October Gallery Party - 3 Nov 04
Alan Crompton-Batt Memorial Service - 2 Nov 04
Elizabeth Emanuel Party - Tues 22 Sep 04
Erin Christy + Richard Costello Wedding - Sun 22 Aug 04
NewsRevue Guinness World Record Party - Wed 18 August 04
British Embassy Party - Berlin - 10 May 04
Fringe Report Board Party - 24 April 04
Chortle Awards - 23 Feb 04
Fringe Report Awards - Tues 10 Feb 04
OTHER GOSSIP & CONTACT:
Crystal Clean - Edinburgh 04 gossip column
Edinburgh 04 - The People!
email - editor@fringereport.com
Legendary comedy company It's Alright For Some (IAFS) (FR Awards 04 - Best Comedy Company) run by two of Europe's most beautiful women, is 3 years old today. Gorgeous co-founder Zena Barrie lurches in from a previous engagement, but stays generally vertical. Gorgeous co-founder Michelle Flower starts pristine, but her tights come down as evening stumbles towards morning and winter draws on.
Venue Edinburo Castle at the Regents Park (posher) end of Mornington Terrace (the houses have inside lavatories) in seedy but alluring Camden Town used to be a Museum of Curiosities. Tonight it brims with the the sparkling jewels in the crown of London's fringe including:
Gorgeous Zoë Gardner, better known as Victorian prostitute Calamine Lloyd-Haemhorrage in The Congress of Oddities; their The Odditorium, a blend of music-hall, comedy and variety, runs on last Thursdays of the month from January 05 at Lowdown At The Albany.
Zena Barrie looks outrageously beautiful in green sparkly two-piece with matching green triple-tiered necklace, pretty black and silver leg-warmers, gold trainers, knee-length denim pencil skirt. Her lovely dark-brown hair is cut by Zena at Zena, short, very Swing Out Sister, with matching green slide.
Charming and handsome Waen Shepherd aka Gary Le Strange; Gary runs Club Le Strange from 10 Feb 05 at Lowdown At The Albany every second Thursday. Tallest man at the party is sexy Tony Hadley. Tom Hopgood is a Brown Eyed Boy TV comedy talent scout and programme developer; at Ed 04 he had Andrew Clover's Birthday Party, and is currently producing nobleandsilver for their Jan 05 run at Riverside Studios. Here's lovely Tally Parr, FR Awards 04 - Best Producer, adorable, sweet and brilliant The 5065 Lift producer at Ed 04. Hunky and handsome in leather coat (but not otherwise naked) Steve Bennett, editor of Chortle, FR Awards 04 - Best Comedy Publication. Urbane Stephen Evans, (Dutch Elm Conservatoire). Fabulous comic actor Simon Messingham (Kirk and Messingham). Sublime comedy reviewer Susan Turnbull, joint editor (with Sharon Cribbin) of Comedy Lounge. Lovely IAFS lawyer, Ruth Blay. Distinguished Mr Rupert Kingfisher.
Rufus Jones (Dutch Elm Conservatoire) is voted top totty of the evening by an unbiased and anonymous poll of hosts Zena Barrie and Michelle Flower. Lovely and funny comic actor, and searing, explorative writer of the comedy of life's edges, the fabulous Rosie Wilkinson (One Lady Owner, What's Wrong, Alice Lunt's Picnic). Glorious political comedian and hyper-intellectual Robin Ince. Web-designer and lad-about-town Rob Sedgebeer, editor of Not BBC, and designer of Richard Herring.com, Emma Kennedy.com, and TV Dregs.
Writer and director Richard Hurst, whose Bill Hicks: Slight Return stormed Ed 04. Distinguished Pleasance Trustee Piers Torday. Wild man of the fringe outrageous comedian Peter Buckley-Hill. Wonderful, charming and hyper-efficient press officer Penny Sims, who put The Underbelly on the map in Ed 04; tonight, mysteriously, Penny carries a plastic drill.
Sexy actor Paul Putner. Handsome and ebullient comic actor Paul Litchfield, member of The Trap, FR Awards 04 - Best Comedy Group - they have a new show. Multi-talented comedian, hunky Nick Swift (One Lady Owner). Exhuberant intellectual, writer, comedy performer and classics scholar Natalie Haynes. Gorgeous comedy reporter Natalie Hayden writes reviews, interviews and features for Emporium of Mirth (Editor - Lauren Murphy, other reporters include Fiona Wilkie, Joanne Norcup).
Legendary beauty Michelle Flower looks delectable and ultra-Hoxton in gorgeous blue dress below the knee. It's decorated with white cranes - not the Village People YMCA kind, but the birds that as Michelle says 'symbolise fertility' - and white cardigan. Tonight she has matching jewellery, brooch, pendant, and slide in her lovely shoulder-length auburn hair; and jewelled-effect eye-lashes. Michelle models pretty turquoise tights (not for long, see below), and white-leather boots with silk-screened motif of an Essex Girl having a fag.
Comedian Michael Legg. Fabulous trains expert, comic actor and musician, the handsome and gifted Mathew Perret is working on new Perret And Limb material; Mathew has recently become a GNER Frequent Traveller and relished a recent diversion along scenic Hadrian's Wall via Carlisle while fellow-passengers swore. Charming Martyn Donnelly, of the Etcetera Theatre Box Office. Delightful Mark Clements is in Nice Mum at the Etcetera Theatre - the theatre is managed by Zena Barrie and Michelle Flower. Gorgeous Margaret Caybourn-Smith aka Chlamydia Lloyd-Haemhorrage in The Congress of Oddities says their new show The Odditorium is a cross between the old Players Theatre and comedy sketch nights, with a trace of burlesque elements. Fabulous comedy agent
Lisa Toogood (PFD). Gifted Kris Dyer (Nice Mum). Charming Kerry who worked at Pleasance Attic at Ed 04. Delightful Scottish Elvis Keith Thomson.
Kate Darby aka Mrs Waen Shepherd / Mrs Gary Le Strange takes a breather from her day job teaching 5-year-olds - this week she's taking her class to see Aladdin ('Panto this year Michael Barrymore?' / 'No thanks, I've done Aladdin').
The supremely talented and lovely (2004 Chortle Award Winner) Justin Edwards aka Jeremy Lion and
The Consultants member has a night off from performing his London show Jeremy Lion's Happy Christmas.
Breathtakingly funny comedy actress Judith Faultless, (Faultless and Torrance, Flirt Lab, Sweethearts 'n' Bodyparts). Lovely Josie Stuart aka Tillie Blossom in Millie and Tillie - the show's adorable director Cara Jennings is sadly absent. Handsome and delightful John Holmes aka Gonch in Grange Hill. Jo Emery. Jim Woroniecki aka James D'Chapeau - Blaized Carmey's Universal Language of the Animals actor and stand-up - bears gifts (for Zena) of Gold, Lifeline, and other Spandau Ballet singles.
IAFS personnel (Zena and Michelle) simulate aircrew by moving effortlessly among the crowd distributing party bags. Airline imagery is reinforced by the bags' leak-proof quality - possibly for later vomiting. At present they contain lovely things: sweets, paper hats, crackers, and presents - adorable Isabel Robinson gets two toy cows.
Jim Field-Smith, distinguished member of Dutch Elm Conservatoire. Classical pianist and session musician Jeremy Limb (brother to web genius Chris Limb, and they share a famous aunt) is part of Perret And Limb, and The Trap, FR Awards 04 - Best Comedy Group; currently Jeremy is playing piano for the 30-strong London Jewish Male Choir; he's off with them to Florida for 10 days of performances of folk and religious songs. Jeremy says the choir is giving him a prayer-cap for the flight. Hopefully it's not with Syrian Airways.
Divine and fabulous Jemma Freudenberg Morphet aka Millie Brick in Millie and Tillie.
Producer James Seabright. Jakki Moore. Actress, comedy writer and Fringe Report writer the wonderful, elegant and sublime Isabel Robinson is gorgeous in pink ballet top and pleated satin knee-length skirt. Hannah Mackay, director and co-writer of The Congress of Oddities. Fabulous comedy agent Hannah Begbie. Sexy, debonaire and bearded writer Glyn Cannon, whose Gone by Glyn Cannon took Ed 04 with delight.
The lovely, mega-talented Genevieve Swallow FR Awards 04 - Best Actor, bearer from birth of two challenging names, goes for the triple with pussy; she's starring as Puss in Puss In Boots (dads will be queuing round the block for this one) at Jacksons Lane.
PR legend Paul Sullivan (FR Awards 04 - Best PR) can't come because he's watching The Royal Variety Performance with long-standing partner and the show's executive producer Kevin Bishop. Andy Collier, Jonathan Ryland, and Ed Bartlam are all in New York. Handsome dreamboat (says Zena) Ben Willbond is on jury service. Tim Key (Luke and Stella) has split his head open, is feeling woozy, so is absent. John Hopkins (Hopkins & Glover) can't come because he doesn't have the bus-fare 'because of Edinburgh'.
Here is the handsome Ed Morrish (BBC Radio 4). Recording studio boss and producer hunky Drew Horley. Floppy-haired playboy Danny Robins (Danny And Dan, Live Ghost Hunt) arrives late after seeing Kasabian at Brixton Academy. The delightful Dave Marks. Dan Tetsell, co-conspirator in Live Ghost Hunt, Danny And Dan.
Exceedingly handsome - and distinguished in rakishly-intellectual glasses - Dan Mersh, The Trap, FR Awards 04 - Best Comedy Group member and doyen of Gonzo Dog Do Bar Band (who were It's Alright For Some's first ever signing). Harshly, Dan Mersh has earlier broken Zena Barrie's fragile heart by breaking today's breaking news that Erasure's Andy Bell is HIV Positive. Andy Bell was one of then-teenage Zena's (it has to be said, very many) heart-throbs. Dan Mersh gives Zena a present of Brian Wilson's new album Smile.
Worryingly, there's no sign of gossip-writing legend Crystal Clean; there's a rumour she's been seen earlier in the evening in an Old Street bar making flirty eye-contact with huge-black-handlebar-moustached Four Weddings And A Funeral actor James Nesbitt.
Comedy writer and performer, charming Chris Neill (The BBC, Andrew Gilligan, and Me at Ed 04) says the last time he was in this bar was 8 years ago when he sat next to Morrissey in the beer garden and listened to his conversation. Chris Limb (CatMachine), University of Sussex IT stalwart by day, and web designer of It's Alright For Some's site, is unbelievably 40 in Jan 05, details of the 8 Jan 05 party at Wiki Party Website. Chris Limb explains he's designed the IAFS website so that Zena and Michelle can manage its content directly and, crucially, at all hours. Without a breathalyser being part of logging-on, this may be madness.
Gorgeous Michelle Flower's unlimited talents include kitchen expertise. Michelle has made wonderful mince pies and may pass Fringe Report the recipe if the 'Michelle tights story' remains untold (see below). They (mince pies) are devoured, and finished by Peter Buckley-Hill, the bar staff and Dutch Elm Conservatoire.
Lovely Carly Sheen. IAFS's technical director massively-talented Ben Walker is the musical powerhouse behind Live Ghost Hunt, Gonzo Dog Do Bar Band, and The Trap. Legendarily gorgeous comedy writer and performer Ava Vidal looks ever-sophisticated in couture blue jeans, and lovely. Actress and comedy writer, fabulous Alys Torrance (Faultless and Torrance, Flirt Lab, Sweethearts 'n' Bodyparts). The charming Alex Macqueen. Debonaire and stylish Alex Kirk, (One Lady Owner, Kirk and Messingham).
As one bar closes, another stays open. Some (long) time after 11, there's a move up the road to the Etcetera Theatre's home pub the Oxford Arms. Zena Barrie reports next day that Michelle Flower was so drunk she forgot to take any photos. And that Michelle's tights fell down completely on the way home, and she had to hitch them up in a shop doorway. Well, that's the edited version.
Just as the Edinboro Castle begins to close, lovely Janice Phayre arrives from playing in Dogman at Riverside Studios. Pretty and elegant, she's graceful as a tree-top fairy.
John Park - Edinboro Castle Camden - 15 Dec 04 - thanks for additional reporting to Zena Barrie, Isabel Robinson, Michelle Flower - (c) www.fringereport.com 2004
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Fringe Report's legendary team of charming and gifted writers met, ate at length, drank a lot, smoked and tried unsuccessfully to behave - in Chelsea on Saturday 11 December. Alana Price, Cecilia Holmes, Eloise Emanuel, Hils Jago, Isabel Robinson, Johnnie Oddball, Peter Benedict, Rachael Booth, Tim Passmore, Wendy Richmond, John Park were joined by FR Board Member Bruce Dessau and guest of honour Dan Pursey. Invited but wisely finding other things to do were PR legend Paul Sullivan, star PR & producer Paul Savident, and FR's other lovely writers Siobhan Rhodes-Johnson, Jolanta Jagiello, Dr Andrew Doyle, Katie Warren, Kitty Winter, Lucy Scott, Lea Harris, Samantha Darling, Peter Andrews, Greta Russell, Ella Lockwood, Annabelle Joyce, Micheline Sedgwick. And if anyone spots Crystal Clean, please tell us; her mother's worried she's become a fallen woman.
Thanks to Global Treasury News publisher and FR Board member Rupert Keenlyside for kindly providing the wine. Thanks to FR's honorary mum Jackie King for bringing over chairs and a fabulous display of fruit.
Thanks to FR Board member and Green's Restaurant director David Vickerstaff for taking time off preparing for his baby Toby's christening (see Births 04) next day to bring over two enormous tables; and for composing David V's recipe for Beef Casserole In Guinness.
John Park - Worlds End Chelsea - Sat 11 Dec 04 - (c) www.fringereport.com 2004
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You know the feeling. It’s the first night of a new show. The cast and crew go off to an exciting party, most probably with – at the very least - sex, champagne and drugs. You, as the audience, get on the bus home. But not tonight.
Richard Lumsden’s new musical We Could Be Heroes takes its name from one song, and its after-show hospitality from another: You’re such a lovely audience we’d love to take you home. Or at least to a party. Yes, the whole theatre’s invited.
We Could Be Heroes is the last major production at the Bridewell Theatre. The theatre closes down for good in mid-December 04 (the Bridewell will continue as a production company under the artistic direction of adorable Carol Metcalfe). Tonight’s the last big first-night party there, and stops are pulled out. There are fairy-lights lining the pavement all the way to the main road, and uniformed marshals directing the crowd to Percento, next to St Paul's Cathedral.
Richard Lumsden is here, magnificent in grey frock-coat, dashingly good-looking and sexy. Here’s ebullient PR, associate producer, party animal and recklessly handsome Paul Savident; gorgeous set designer Prav Menuhaussen; ShowPairs supremo Gillian Guy; lovely singer Audrey Nugent; debonair sketch performer, dramatist and Time Out reviewer Kieron Quirke. The cast and crew are all here. Production manager hunky David Lam’s the most popular, having bought every one of them a beer back at the theatre. Leading the way in excellently bad behaviour is bass player Mat Elliot, loudly – well, he is a bass player - exploding a glass into fragments on Percento’s hard marble floor.
Beautiful Jemma Carpenter looks relaxed after stage managing tonight’s show; she’s here with mum and dad Heather Carpenter, Michael Carpenter. Adorable Amber Millington insists her job title of production assistant doesn’t mean tea-maker. Here’s handsome director Graham Gill; gorgeous financial journalist Emma Barrett; sexy Seth Wenig (Networks Presentations International), US producer of many Cameron Mackintosh shows. Kate Bawcutt, formerly of Theatregoers Club of Great Britain, is here to keep an eye on tonight’s producer Mathew Ashforde aka her son.
Here’s lovely Almeida Theatre theatre manager and playwright (Ed 04 – About Face) Jinny McCallister; handsome Alistair ‘The Beast’ Harvey, producer of Kiss Me Kate’s current 04 national tour - whose leading lady Julie-Alanah Brighten was his Beauty when they previously acted Beauty and The Beast together at The Dominion; delightful producer Angela Edwards, The Ambassador Theatre Group; sound engineer James Gaster. Here’s legendarily Spotlight’s only Albanian actor and star production flyerer the handsome Agron.
John Park - Percento - Thur 3 Nov 04 - (c) www.fringereport.com 2004
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Tonight London's October Gallery celebrates 25 years of showcasing world artists including Naked Lunch author William S Burroughs. It throws its remarkable building 500 metres north of Holborn open to the public - with art, performance and, helpfully, booze.
There's an iconic photo of Francis Bacon and William S Burroughs by John Minihan among a mass of pictures of the people who've been part of the gallery's first quarter century including Princess Alia Ali Khan.
Here is October Gallery director, gorgeous Chili Hawes; and the sublime Kathelin Gray - Theatre of All Possibilities artistic director - who performs tonight in one of the evening's live theatre events. The gallery's hugely talented staff include Elisabeth Lalouschek (artistic director), Gerard Houghton (special projects), Ros King (rentals manager), Avigail Ochert (education co-ordinator), Susie Gault (press officer).
Many of the artists are here tonight, including Ira Cohen, Paul Friedlander, Robert Hahn, Marie Harding, Emmanuel Taïwo Jegede, Rachid Koraïchi, Elisabeth Lalouschek, Corinna MacNeice, Francesco Rimondi, Julieta Rubio, Laila Shawa, Steina Vasulka, Woody Vasulka, Wijdan, Kenji Yoshida. The gallery's full of many guests, including lovely dancer Kitty Winter - producer, Imagina Dance Theatre (FR Awards 03 - Falling Angel, Rising Ape) - and her proud dad, recklessly handsome Tim Buckley Owen (Editor, Business Information Review).
Absent artists who've helped forge the gallery's identity include El Anatsui, Ablade Glover, Brion Gysin, Frantz Lamothe, Rosella Namok, Thrity Vakil, Gerald Wilde, Aubrey Williams, Xu Zhongmin.
Pictures from the gallery's history include Julian Colwell's photograph of Brion Gysin & Felicity Mason; Val Vilmer's of Aubrey Williams; and Ira Landgarten's photographic study of Ira Cohen & Tambimuttu. There are fine
photo portraits of Gerald Wilde &
Dan Davin; and of gallery director Chili Hawes with Elisabeth Lalouschek.
October Gallery's walls show a fabulous collection of paintings spanning the last 25 years, including Ira Cohen's Astral Projection (colour photograph, 41x51 cm), Jimi Hendrix (silkscreen 30x46 cm); Elisabeth Lalouschek's How Do I Know That I Am Not Part Of Someone Else's Virtual World (2004, pastel on paper, 204x76 cm). Elsewhere in the building there are light works and visual art. The Courtyard space shows Steina & Woody Vasulka's video installation Matrix II (1974).
Steina & Woody Vasulka combine with Kathelin Gray and other Theatre of All Possibilities performers for a theatre piece. It's a blending of subtly
poetic language and interaction between live and virtual actors. The virtual
performers are CGI (computer generated images) - android-like human figures projected onto screens - who
morph from one to another and play cat-and-mouse games with the audience
as well as the live actors.
Works exhibited by the late, legendary and fairly naughty William S Burroughs include: An Old Master (painting, 1988, oil, 50x80 cm); Untitled (painting, 1988, mixed technique, 44x58 cm); and the astonishing sculpture Ten Guage City (1988, 100x40 cm). Standing like a thin tombstone encased in acrylic, it's primary-colour spray-paint on plywood - blasted with a shotgun.
John Park - October Gallery - Thur 3 Nov 04 - Thanks to Kitty Winter for additional reporting - (c) www.fringereport.com 2004
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Alan Crompton-Batt founded modern public relations and died in South Africa age 50 on 21 September 04. A spectacular exponent of life in the fast lane - champagne, gorgeous women, drugs, fast cars (red Cortinas), 24-hour stamina - his memorial service packs The Actors' Church, St Paul's Covent Garden, and features a spectacular crash from the altar by London's leading restaurant critic.
An unconventional service features a Beatles medley on the organ of the magnificently camp St Paul's - row upon row of outrageously Liberace-esque chandeliers - followed by Bruce Springsteen's disturbingly-worded Born To Run booming from the church's (surprisingly gutsy) PA - and some splendidly indiscreet speeches.
The Rev Mark Oakley, Rector of St Paul's, gives an affectionate portrait of Alan Crompton-Batt, describing him as a brightly coloured daub on the canvas of PR. It's a delightful encapsulation of a man who is universally remembered with affection - a chaotic, kind and contradictory man bursting with genius. His pr work was in restaurants, but it's appropriate for the service to take place in a theatrical church, because he was, in every sense, larger than life.
Evening Standard writer Pete Clark recalls with affection life alongside Alan Crompton-Batt (ACB) - parties, rock and roll concerts, restaurants, bars, writing, left-wing politics.
ACB's precarious and risky approach is caught exactly by a former client who speaks at the service. 'You know what it's like when you rock back on a chair, and you're not sure if you're going to fall?' Alan once asked him. 'That's how I feel all the time.'
Evening Standard restaurant critic Fay Maschler wrote a stunning obituary of ACB recently in The Guardian. Today as she delivers an appreciation, she's clearly emotional (not a euphemism for drunk). As she describes Alan's close friend and former wife Elizabeth Crompton-Batt as 'the best thing to happen in his life' she begins to cry.
At the conclusion of her speech, Fay Maschler stumbles, and falls dramatically down the altar steps. She ends up spread horizontally across the nave. Though accidental (and in sobriety), it's a magnificently theatrical finale. It's perfect for the memorial service of a man who occasionally lapsed himself from the vertical - and was a consummate showman.
Restaurateur Robert Earl recalls Alan with colourful aplomb, telling indiscreet and funny stories about ACB's prodigious love-life. It's a protocol departure for a memorial service, but this one's a whole lot more interesting. And, uniquely for a church service, the congregation is edge-of-seat, jaw-droppingly agog.
Restaurateur Nico Ladenis makes a speech in the form of a letter to ACB - it's moving, light, and heartfelt. The sheer number of people from the restaurant business who have remained friends with ACB over 20-odd years despite occasional fallings-out is remarkable. And they're all here.
Novelist Reg Gadney reads William Butler Yeats (1865-1939)'s He Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven with panache, there's a rousing chorus of William Blake's Jerusalem. There's a collection for St Paul's's and Streetsmart, a homeless charity ACB was involved with. Rev Mark Oakley reminds the congregation that Jesus turned water into wine, and blesses all.
It's off to Planet Hollywood, where owner Robert Earl generously organises lunch, and a great deal of champagne. As it's a party in memory of ACB, that has to be Taittinger.
Those attending include Alan Crompton-Batt's mother Yvonne Crompton-Batt; his life-friend and former wife the adorable Elizabeth Crompton-Batt (now married to Harry Handelsman, Manhattan Loft Corporation CEO) - Elizabeth Crompton-Batt PR - and Elizabeth CB's brother, and distinguished photographer father.
Marco Pierre White, restaurateur, friend of ACB, and co-organiser of the event; restaurant consultant Andrew Campbell; handsome and urbane Sir Rocco Forte, Rocco Forte Hotels; writer and broadcaster Rupert Ponsonby, R & R Teamwork Media Relations, & British Guild of Beer Writers; the adorable Sukey Parnell aka actress Sorel Johnson, who worked with ACB and Elizabeth CB; gorgeous Rebecca, Danielle Nay (now Ten Alps Dr Party Managing Director), Fernanda, just three of the legendary Batt-ettes, the select team of beautiful and brilliant women who worked with ACB (others included Tor McEwen; Catherine Fairweather, now
Harpers & Queen Travel Editor; Annabel Heseltine), James Morgan, former ACB-PR account manager for Häagen-Dazs, now Camden café owner and doing a tourism planning degree at Westminster University; lovely Françoise Peretti, Peretti Communications, The Champagne Information Bureau), also former ACB-PR.
Here's the urbane and recklessly handsome
Simon Parker-Bowles, managing director Green's Restaurant;
Paul Levy, The Observer's distinguised restaurant critic who gives a moving speech at the service; Fay Maschler, Evening Standard journalist and doyenne of restaurant critics; Green's Restaurant director and Fringe Report Board member David Vickerstaff; Stephen Morris; Charles Campion, Evening Standard; Tim, who set up Häagen-Dazs in the UK; Pete Clark, Evening Standard; Robert Earl, restaurateur - CEO Planet Hollywood, founder 5151; Nico Ladenis, restaurateur; Simon Hopkinson, food writer, and distinguished former chef, Hilaire, Bibendum; Reg Gadney, novelist; Ian Gowrie-Smith, founder & non-executive chairman SkyePharma plc, founder, Medeva plc; restaurant graphic designer Clifford Rosen, Clifford Rosen Associates; and the lovely
Beth Coventry, restaurateur - The Wells, Golborne House.
Alan Richard Crompton-Batt 23 March 1953 - 21 September 2004
John Park - St Paul's Covent Garden; Planet Hollywood - 2 Nov 04 - (c) www.fringereport.com 2004
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Ebullient and petite, gorgeous Elizabeth Emanuel
's elegant tonight in black trousers and top, with fabulous blonde hair extensions, black peep-toe high heels and very bright red lipstick. Her leading exhibition Evolution
launches with a glittering party at The Muse. Guests include:
Neville Shulman - major film financier and manager of Gladiator, Hannibal, Blade Runner director Ridley Scott. Lovely Olivia Harrison, producer of Concert For George (Harrison). An enormous and infectious laugh indicates the presence of Martin Miller, Millers Antique Guides guru and proprietor of Millers Gin. Here's urbane and dashing music entertainment lawyer Nigel Dewar Gibb.
Fabulous actor Nickolas Grace - Brideshead Revisited (Anthony Blanche), Robin of Sherwood (Sheriff of Nottingham), Daniel Deronda (Vandernoodt), Puckoon (Foggerty). Beautiful Sandra Keenan-Kamen. Legendary film music conductor Marcus Dods - The Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, Elijah Moshinsky's Cymbeline, Alan Bridges's Return of The Soldier, Life of Brian, Death on the Nile. Vivacious blonde-ish theatre director Eloise Emanuel - National Student Drama Festival Ensemble, Isolation Space, Suedette, and Ed 03 Henry V.
Recklessly handsome former BBC Board member and BBC Ventures CEO Roger Flynn - a member of The Magic Circle. It's a wonder Prime Minister Blair's government didn't accuse him of disappearing the weapons of mass distruction. Queens Park Rangers Football Club chairman, Nick Blackburn - ex-Ticketmaster MD now heading ticket agency See, launched in Feb 04, combining Really Useful Theatres' ticketing division with Way Ahead.
Writer and painter Mark McCrum, who gave both Castaway and Robbie Williams - Somebody Someday to the world, and the critically-acclaimed analysis of apartheid South Africa Happy Sad Land. Celebrity Big Brother winner 02 (Les Dennis and Melinda Messenger were 2nd and 3rd) and former Take That member, friendly Mark Owen's in striped jumper and pork-pie hat.
Urbane The Muse owner, Damian Rayne. Artist Louisa Loakes - demure and decidedly impish, ethereally beautiful with fairy-like straw-coloured hair - exhibits tonight, showing black and white photograms on gesso ground, many of dragonflies (review). Gorgeous and statuesque twice-Bond-girl (A View To A Kill, Octopussy), Chariots Of Fire actress and 'Allo 'Allo! (Louise) stalwart Carole Ashby looks glamorous in a pretty and elegant light-coloured dress, topped with fluffy furry coat.
Stylish New Romantic gossip-columnist and diarist Dickon Edwards looks fabulous in suit, bleached-blond hair and exuberant make-up. Sexy and suntanned Tony Drew. Denny Ellis - Diesel U Music Awards Best VJ. Entertainment lawyer Imogen Brewer. PR Jonathan Hill, Huge Entertainment. That charming Irishman who knows absolutely everyone, music producer Stuart Ross (The Cure, Thompson Twins, Seal, Alanis Morissette).
Macedonian-born musician Maya Fiennes, joint composer (with husband Magnus Fiennes - Ralph and Joseph's middle brother) of the score for Stuart Urban's 1997 Preaching to the Perverted - banned in Ireland for its sexual content. Tall slim and blond gossip writer Henry Mellor. Ruggedly handsome Neil William, whose former clothes shop Nothing at 270 Portobello Road remains a legend. His friend, premiere handbag-designer Tamara Fogle retains an interest in the area with a stall in Portobello Market.
Gorgeous blond-haired BBC Country File presenter and brother of Tamara, Ben Fogle
, author of The Teatime Islands, looks relaxed in blue and white trainers, white open-necked shirt, blue jeans and elegant black blazer. Evolution sound designer debonaire Martin Smith. Lovely artist Corinne Charton. Supremely stylish Felix Von Geyer in bold pinstripe charcoal suit arrives with film, video & visual artist French Canadian (with that sexy French accent that drives English lads wild) Noemi Mccomber, whose current film shows in Berlin 2005.
Sexy artist Anne Windsor wears a long figure-hugging black evening dress and stunning tailored black and white jacket. Handsome ex-Royal Ballet dancer, long-time mate and part-manager of Wayne Sleep, and former Chelsea Arts Club Vice-President Andrew Ward looks relaxed in stylish light-blue Ralph Lauren shirt. The Muse club member Oliver Woods. Cameraman Paul da Costa films the event, sometimes from low level. But then, some of the guests are wearing short skirts.
Film producer Matt Snell's dad Peter Snell produced cult classic The Wicker Man; now Matt and Snell Snr - who also produced Sir John Gielgud, Jason Robards, Charlton Heston in Julius Caesar, and Mike Hodges's A Prayer For The Dying - are preparing to shoot the sequel May Day, with Christopher Lee (a young lad at 82) and Vanessa Redgrave and Wicker Man director Robert Hardy. Tousle-haired Chelsea Arts Club habitué, film producer Scott Norveil. His The God Club directed by wheelchair-bound Tim Murray features in The Muse's shorts festival. Scott is directing partially disabled Matt Snell in a documentary about disability and dating. He's also managing sister singer Tara Norveil, who plays Chelsea Arts Club Saturday.
Actress Amanda Ray-King (A Place to Stay, Middleton's Changeling) and director Marcus Thompson (A Place to Stay, Middleton's Changeling, Malevolence) are preparing to film Shooting Bernarda, a film about a film of Lorca's classic The House Of Bernarda Alba. Adorable Fringe Report writer Isabel Robinson, alluring in black cashmere top seductively punctured by elegant butterfly brooch. Debonaire babe-magnet party-conoisseur Guy Adams aka The Independent's Pandora, primed for gossip-detection.
Party organiser producer Alana Pryce stuns in Diane Von Furstenberg signature moss-green wrap dress, her gorgeous brunette hair tied back in the prettiest possible way.
John Park - The Muse - 21 Sep 04. Thanks to Isabel Robinson, Alana Pryce, Martin Smith for additional reporting. (c) www.fringereport.com 2004
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Actors Erin Christy and Richard Costello married today at Frimley Green Methodist Church in a service conducted by the groom's father, Rev Alan Costello.
The reception at the The Manor House Hotel, Newlands Corner, Guildford, was hosted by the bride's brother & sister, and groom's parents, Jenny Costello and Alan Costello.
Among the guests were many actors, including: Chevaun Marsh, Simon Greenhill, Richard Hardwick, Victoria, Kirsten Short, Holly Boothby, Nick Smithers, Emma Manton, Kobina Holdbrook Smith, Alex Gaumond, Johan Persson, Kerry Phelan, Greg Bryan, Emily Rothon, Andy Camichel, Anna Carmichael, Neil Gordon, James Harvey, director Stewart Nicholls, and PR Rachael Booth.
Erin Christy was recently seen in Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Richard Costello received FR Awards 03 - Best Actor.
John Park - Frimley Green Methodist Church & Manor House, Guildford - 22 Aug 04. (c)
www.fringereport.com 2004
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NewsRevue receives the Guinness World Record at parties in London and Edinburgh marking its 25th anniversary. Full details and Edinburgh guests here.
Guests at London's Canal Café Theatre party include: Louis Brownhill. Angela Hodd. Alex Dower, Angela Hodd, Barry Grossman, Bea Holland, Ben Pheazey, Cecilia Holmes, Chad Lelong, Christopher Hale, Ian Harris, James Harris, Jennifer Page, Laura Checkley, Libby Curly, Louis Brownhill, Marc Blakewill, Mark Keegan, Odette Abbott, Paul Jones, Peter Styles, Philip Lunn, Ross McGivern, Rupert Keenlyside, Samantha Sanns, Simon Balcon, Simon Ounsworth, Steven Tagg, Tom Carradine.
John Park - Canal Café - (c) www.fringereport.com 18 Aug 04
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The Berlin Britspotting Film Festival 48-Hour Film Challenge organised by Johnnie Oddball for the British Council climaxes with an awards party at the British Embassy. Full details here.
Those attending include: His Excellency Sir Peter Torry - British Ambassador. Johnnie Oddball (Producer - Dark Hunter) - organiser. Stefan Müller, Stefan Ott, Ingo Schiller - winners.
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The FR Board party happens at Worlds End Chelsea on a balmy summer's Saturday with no bar on the word 'darling'. Full details here.
Those attending include: Samantha Darling, Paul Sullivan, Rohan Acharya, Zena Barrie, Robert Kennedy, Marc Blakewill, Sarah Choppen, Richard Costello, Dr James Harris, Rupert Keenlyside, Alison Trower, Lucy Middleweek, Laurence Dorman, Pete Smith, Alex Dower, Christopher Richardson, Justin Butcher, Ray Gardner, Kitty Winter, Jamie Minoprio, Genevieve Swallow.
John Park - Worlds End - (c) www.fringereport.com - 24 April 04
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The debauched and stylish event that is the annual Chortle Awards are at Ealing Studios hosted by debonaire editor Steve Bennett. Full details here.
Awards go to Waen Shepherd as Gary Le Strange, Adam Hills, Alex Horne, Dara O'Briain,
Justin Edwards as Jeremy Lion, Dave Gorman, Dave Gorman's Googlewhack Adventure, Hannah Chambers of Comedy Cafe Management, Daniel Kitson, The Comedy Store, Amused Moose, XS Malarkey, Komedia, The Glee Club, Comedy Cavern, The Stand. (For full and exact award details please see www.chortle.co.uk)
Jimmy Carr is MC. Presenters include Mackenzie Crook, Danny John Jules, Norman Lovett & Charlie Chuck.
Those attending include:
Paul Sullivan, Matt Blaize, Charlie Chuck, Mackenzie Crook, Danny John Jules, Norman Lovett, Rohan Acharya, Holly Lucas, Andre Vincent, Lisa Thomas, Nick Revell, Kevin Dewsbury, Matt Holt, Lucy Porter, Dara O'Briain, Alison Blower, Steve Oram, Tom Meeten, Julia Williamson, Kate Darby, Arnold Widdowson, Dave Gorman, Ava Vidal, Kim Morgan, Hils Jago, Justin Edwards, Alfie Joey, Howard Read, Reginald D Hunter, Mark Jackson, Philly King, Neil Edmond, Hannah Chambers, Andrew Hugh Jones, Ciaran Murtagh, Greta McMahon, Steve Bennett, John Gordillo, Rob Moore.
John Park - Ealing Studios - (c) www.fringereport.com - 23 Feb 04
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The Fringe Report Awards at the Canal Café Theatre are presented by Neil Mullarkey, Emma Taylor, Will Cantopher and FR editor John Park. Full details here.
Awards go to (full citations here):
Christopher Richardson (Director of The Pleasance Theatre) - Theatre Person of The Year. Shane Danielsen (Artistic Director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival) - Film Person of The Year.
Zena Barrie & Michelle Flower (Directors – It's Alright For Some - Best Comedy Company. Steve Bennett (Editor - Chortle) - Best Comedy Publication. Louis Brownhill - Best Theatre Administrator. Justin Butcher (The Madness of George Dubya, A Weapons Inspector Calls) - Best Political Dramatist. Bruce Dessau - Best Journalist. Laurence Dorman (Young Adam) - Best Designer. Alex Dower
(TV Commercials, Sam ‘n’ Emma, Popcorn, Edinburgh NewsRevue 03) - Best Director. Francesca Fanizzi (The Bridge House) - Best Fringe Pub Manager. Terry Newman (Dulcas's Women, The Life And Times Of A Wonderwoman) - Best Drama Writer. Tally Parr (The Lift) - Best Producer. Martin Reynolds (Edfringe Official Press Office) - Best Press Officer. Paul Sullivan (Paul Sullivan PR) - Best Public Relations. Alison Trower (Mutiny At The Bargehouse, Ethnic Multicultural Media Academy (EMMA) Festival) - Best Events Organiser. Nic Watson - Best Technical Director. Ealing Live! - Jamie Minoprio, Kelly McGolphin, John Gordillo, Rob Moore, Paul King & All Involved - Best Live Comedy Show. Modernista - All Involved - Cast, Crew, Company - Best Film. Mrs Lemon's Lodger - All Involved - Cast, Crew, Company - Best Play. Pasodos (The Tango Spell) - Best Dance. Pete Smith - Best Musical Director. Genevieve Swallow (Dulcas's Women) - Best Actor. Michael Topping & Andrew Simmons – aka Topping & Butch - Best Cabaret. Jeremy Limb, Paul Litchfield, Dan Mersh - aka The Trap (The Trap, Bad Play) - Best Comedy Group. Andy Zaltzman - Best Stand-Up. Brook - Best Fringe Canine. (Full award details here).
Those attending include: Zena Barrie, Will Cantopher, Una Jovicic, Tom Deering, Terry Newman, Tally Parr, Rupert Keenlyside, Rohan Acharya, Richard Osborne, Richard Dragun, Pete Smith, Paul Sullivan, Paul Litchfield, Nic Watson, Neil Mullarkey , Michelle Flower, Michael Topping, Matt Holt, Mark Bilton, Maggie Bourgein, Louis Brownhill, Linda Robertson, Laurence Dorman, Laura Fanizzi, Kim Morgan, Katy Bartrop, Katie Warren, Kate Dineen, Johnnie Oddball, Husam Asi, Hannah Dee, Glyn Cannon, Genevieve Swallow, Gavin Watson, Francesca Fanizzi, Fabio Fanizzi, Emma Taylor, Emma Malin, Emma Douglas, Drew Horley, Denise Bailey, Davina Cox, Dan Mersh, Cristiana Fanizzi, Christopher Richardson, Charmaine Puttnam, Carly Sheen, Angela Austin, Andrew Simmons, Alison Trower, Alex Dower, Alana Pryce.
The welcome speech includes (full details here):
David Vickerstaff, Richard Dragun, Chris Gutteridge, Karen Koren, Hartley Kemp, Charlie Wood, William Burdett-Coutts, The Stand, Tomek Borkowy, Laura Mackenzie Stuart, Paul Gudgin, Sheridan Humphries, Lindsey Taylor, Catherine Bromley, Rachael Booth, Frazer Smith, Ellie McDonald, Wendy Niblock, Fiona Duff, Louise Chantal, Kim Morgan, David Bidmead, Paul Higgins, James Wren, Neil McPherson, Robert McWhir, Tim Sawers, Penny Horner, Alice de Sousa, George Eugeniou, and the 2003/2004 Fringe Report Board: Rohan Acharya, Peter Benedict, Marc Blakewill, Will Cantopher, Sarah Choppen, Jackie Clune, Richard Costello, Stuart Croft, Richard Dragun, Frances du Pille, James Harris, Rupert Keenlyside, Andrew McKay, Lucy Middleweek, Neil Mullarkey, Johnnie Oddball, Katharine Pottinger, Monika Studena, Emma Taylor, Brandon Toropov, Gareth Tunley, David Vickerstaff, Kitty Winter, Dave Wybrow, Sarah-Louise Young.
John Park - Canal Café - (c) www.fringereport.com - Tues 10 Feb 04
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Congratulations to the new parents, and welcome to the new babies: Lise Henderson (aka NewsRevue regular Lise Cervi) and husband Keith Henderson had baby Millie Henderson on Thursday morning 9 December 04. Miss Henderson weighed 8lb 7oz. As delighted mum Lise says, 'Ouch, not able to sit.' Maggie 'Midge' Gordon-Walker (aka Mary Christmas) and Chris Johnston had baby Robin Johnston on 30 October 04. Robin weighed 7lb 6oz. Denise Vickerstaff and (Fringe Report Board member) David Vickerstaff had baby Toby Alistair Vickerstaff about 29 July 04, a brother for Jess, Brett, Ben. Toby was christened on Sunday 12 December 04.
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Congratulations, and every happiness to those who married this year. Actors Erin Christy and Richard Costello married on Sunday 22 August 04 at Frimley Green Methodist Church in a service conducted by the groom's father, Rev Alan Costello. Full details here. Heidi Schabrun and composer/lighting designer Rupert Lally married on Saturday 28 February 04 at Camden Registry Office, with the reception at The Holiday Inn, Camden Lock.
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Condolences to the survivors of those who died this year (who include, in date order, most recent first): Sam Kogan, founder of the School for the Science of Acting, died of cancer on 10 November 04. The funeral was on Wednesday 17 November at the Russian Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral, with burial at Chigwell Cemetery. Sam Kogan leaves a daughter Helen Pierpoint (neé Kogan) and his long-term partner Taissia Pianov. Full details of funeral are here. A very lovely and popular dog, Brooke, died on 27 October 04 at the canine equivalent age of 70. Holder of Fringe Report's Best Fringe Canine Award 04, Brooke was the much-loved canine companion of Pleasance Director Christopher Richardson. More details here (http://www.pleasance.co.uk/brooke.html). Alan Crompton-Batt, founder of modern public relations died in South Africa age 50 on 21 September 04. A memorial service was held at The Actors' Church, St Paul's Covent Garden, with a reception afterwards at Planet Hollywood. Full details of the service are here. Charlie Hartill (1971-2004), computer man of The Pleasance, former president of Cambridge Footlights, and a director of the Festival Fringe for 8 years, died 6 January 04. More details in The Christopher Richardson Interview.
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Related Links & Contact:
Crystal Clean - Edinburgh 04 gossip column
Edinburgh 04 - The People!
email - editor@fringereport.com
(c) www.fringereport.com 2004
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