Circus on Stage, Circus on TV, Circus on the Dancefloor

[dotinthesky]

There is one scene in Nights at the Circus, close to the end, when a giant two-sided mirror spins on stage while smoke spills underneath it, strobe lights flicker from the sides and spotlights run over the faces in the audience. It can make you want to reach for the paper bag; it can make you feel so queasy that not even a tuna & cheese melt from Liverpool's Weatherspoons can calm your stomach, nor a coca-cola bottle at the launch party for the label defDrive set you straight.

But I don't regret seeing Nights at the Circus. It was like the best of Angela Carter's short stories; it had a cute guy in wet underwear, an abusive clown, tigers, singing, buckets on fire, and a pig sooooo cute you just wanted to "roll her in chocolate and call her a truffle." And Kevin got to meet two of my co-workers, and we got to see something at the Lyric Hammersmith for the first time, and I let myself be seduced by the music, and we weren't too harsh on what we saw as the play's weak points.

It was a mistake, however, to go to defDrive's party at the Great Eastern Hotel. We arrived late, I couldn't drink (because of my antibiotics), and the smell of pot drove me into sad paranoia. Half an hour of standing by a column, jackets on, watching skinny gay men dancing to piercing dance music, then the last tube home, a walk through the desolate office buildings by Paddington's canal, pissing on the stones because I couldn't wait until home, and the happy news on arrival that Chantelle had won Celebrity Big Brother.

Davina: Chantelle, please don't change.
Chantelle: I won't change. I don't even know how to change! I'm just little old me.

And a nation's heart goes bust.

Comments

[naturalbornkaos.livejournal.com]

I'd really like to see "Nights at the Circus" actually. I hate the book with a passion but that's largely because of Angela Carter's none-more-purple prose. I actually like the story and can it imagine it looking rather beautiful on stage...

I haven't watched Celebrity Big Brother although I briefly caught the ending, where Chantelle won and thought it was kind of ironic, given she wasn't a celebrity...

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I was sucked into CBB straight away so I'm kinda relieved it's over and I can get on with my life. I'm very happy with how it ended too. She even made it to The Guardian's front page! That must be a first for the show.

I think you and kixie would like the play (I actually thought of you two last night while watching it.) There's a lot of physical humour, and the music is very good (I can even see the both of you wanting to buy the soundtrack.) ;-)

[dj-alexander.livejournal.com]

I thought her, hands over mouth "Oh my god!" approach to winning was a little cheesy.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Nothing wrong with a little cheese. ;-)

[damiella.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I read Carter's novel a while ago and really enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for all things circus-related and I wish I could see this show! Shame it probably won't make it across the pond.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Who knows? The History Boys, a production from the National Theatre, is going to New York... you never know.

[octoberxswimmer.livejournal.com]

Chantelle and Celebrity Big Brother!

Would you like to be friends? I enjoy your thoughts and references.

Are you currently watching this season of Celebrity Big Brother?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Sure, i'll add you right now. How did you find my journal, by the way?

I haven't been watching this Big Brother because I was on holiday in Canada when it started. I always tend to get sucked in, my life revolving around the show, so I decided this year not to watch it and see what happens. Turns out I'm not missing it very much, despite all the controversy on the papers.

[octoberxswimmer.livejournal.com]

I discovered you through Oatmeal Texas.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Cool. I look forward to reading your journal and getting to know you. :-)