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Saturday, May 05, 2012

As a flag-waving member of the cultural elite, Amelie can often be seen supporting high profile arts festivals, and hob-nobbing with fellow culture-vultures, showbiz luvvies, and movers and shakers...


Although she'll ignore Patsy Palmer at every opportunity...


I think it's a class thing. She'll blank an EastEnders actress from Tower Hamlets, but the moment a political leader with a PhD walks past, her head turns...


That's Caroline Lucas in the background. Not the lady with the sack of apples, but the woman in black walking past her.

So clearly Amelie's more Green than Bethnal Green, but if you really want to catch her attention, you need a veteran actress from a showbusiness dynasty...


Or failing that, an old woman in a headscarf. Even the addition of a red thunderbolt doesn't really make her stand out.

So you'll have to take my word for it: that's Vanessa Redgrave. Acting isn't all about glamour, you know. Sometimes you have to trudge through the streets of Brighton on a freezing cold day in May, just to put food on the table. She's probably wishing she was back at Dale Farm.

Anyhoo, today was the start of the 2012 Brighton Festival, and needless to say, I'm not one to miss out on a free event, so I took Amelie into town this morning to watch the traditional festival curtain-raiser: the Children's Parade. Although the age limit was clearly raised this year to allow Vanessa to take part.

The theme of the 2012 parade was 'The Story of Stories', a clear and narrow definition, which basically allowed the kids to dress up as anything they wanted. We had hippos, dragons, Shakespeare, Hansel & Gretel, a few Egyptians, a Samba band, a horse with wings, Alice in Wonderland, and this...


I didn't quite get the full story with that one. I think it's about throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

In addition, there was a retelling of The Three Little Pigs, featuring a straw house, a Big Bad Wolf, and a load of children with placards. I thought it was a demonstration about local policing. In the end, I went off in a huff before they brought the house down.

All in all, it was a decent parade, but one which was let down by a few important elements. In a very literal sense. The weather was freezing. Quite honestly, I haven't been so cold since we rode the Frostbite Express last September. By the time the 45th school paraded past, Amelie looked like a Smurf, and I could no longer feel my fingers. We had to leave early while we still had circulation to our feet. Another five minutes and I'd have stolen Vanessa Redgrave's headscarf just to wrap around my face.

We're heading back to the festival tomorrow, but this time things should be a lot warmer. Not only is our next event indoors, but we've got the hottest ticket in town...


It's like Shakespeare for the under-nines. And I couldn't be more excited. Although the tickets say 'ADULTS UNACCOMPANIED BY A CHILD WILL NOT BE ADMITTED', so if Amelie refuses to go, I'm in trouble.

12 comments:

Phil's Mum said...

Happy birthday for tomorrow, Am.  That 18 months passed quickly!

Phil said...

She's wearing clothes for age 5-6, so that counts.

Jon the Theatre said...

Phil, clearly that is Patsy Palmer outside the Jon Theatre, but as for your other two Red & Green claims to fame the jury is still out. I am thinking that 'story of stories' picture outside the Childrens Clinic Charity is highlighting that 'A watched pot never boils with two children in it'

Beckie said...

Phil, I hesistate to tell you this, considering what happened last time, but Lloyd Cole is playing at the Ropetackle in Shoreham on Saturday 14 July.
Beckie

Beckie said...

ps - his son Will Cole will be with him on guitar.  He's the spit of his Dad.  One for Lisa not to miss.
Beckie

Phil's Mum said...

What DID happen last time, Beckie?  Did Lisa go and have a baby, so missed Lloyd Cole?

Eastenders' Fan said...

The one fact that CAN'T be right is that that is Patsy Palmer.  Sadly, she's in prison again (in Norfolk).

Beckie said...

No, nothing so interesting, Phil bought tickets and then forgot to go.

EastEnders Fan said...

The one fact that CAN'T be right is that that is Patsy Palmer.  Sadly, she's in prison again (in Norfolk).

Phil's Mum said...

Oh yes, Beckie, I do remember that terrible occasion!

Lisa said...

Thanks for the info, Beckie. If I went into labour during the gig - I could ask Lloyd to be Godfather. I'm formulating a plan already.

Lisa said...

Thanks for the info, Beckie. If I went into labour during the gig - I could ask Lloyd to be Godfather. I'm formulating a plan already.