Grave of Joseph Grimaldi, "King of Clowns"

Joseph Grimaldi: King of Clowns.

Next to the former St James's Anglican Chapel, in the small churchyard, you will find the grave of Joseph Grimaldi. 

His name may be familiar to some, while others will have no idea who he was. Those with coulrophobia will probably be terrified, for Joseph Grimaldi changed the role of the clown, in pantomimes and plays, earning him the title 'King of the Clowns'.

Born in 1778, Joseph Grimaldi came from a family with a long history as entertainers and performers. 

His first appearance on stage was at the age of 3, when his father took him onto the stage at Sadler's Wells Theatre.

As soon as Joseph was old enough he became an actor, working at Drury Lane Theatre and Sadler's Wells Theatre, quickly becoming one of the most popular actors of his day.

In 1806, Joseph Grimaldi was hired for a role in the pantomime 'Harlequin and Mother Goose', at Covent Garden Theatre. It was here that Grimaldi created a new style of clown, a style that we still know today. He used white face paint, with red paint around his lips and on his cheeks and he painted his eyebrows thick and black. To finish the transformation he wore bright, oversized clothes and got up to all sorts of mischief on stage. So good was his performance that he upstaged the Harlequin. The name 'Joey' passed into the modern language to mean a clown.

Joseph Grimaldi worked at Sadler's Wells Theatre for over 40 years, as a performer and part-proprietor. 

In 1823, Joseph was forced to retire due to poor health. His joints were giving him problems and, along with a respiratory condition, he could no longer perform as he wished.

Following the death of his wife he fell into debt and became an alcoholic, which didn't help his depression. He died in 1837, penniless and alone.

He was buried in the churchyard of St James's Anglican Chapel.

Navigator Square (Archway Close)

When you exit Archway station, depending on the exit you use, you will find yourself in a wonderful pedestrianised area.

This wonderful little spot was once part of the main road gyratory system but, in 2017, was turned into this small pedestrian zone, with a cycle lane down its west side, seating and several planted trees.

At its northern end stands the Archway Tavern, which is now easy to reach, as the roads that once separated it from Archway Close have been rerouted.

If you sit on one of the four strategically placed chairs you can feel the vibrations from below, as the trains trundle on their along the line.

There are two concrete structures, just outside the Archway Tavern, which have been planted with flowers and shrubs. These are no ordinary raised flower beds, though, as they are ventilation shafts for the Northern line below.

Every Saturday, from 10:00 - 17:00, the Archway Market takes up residence, with stalls offering books, crochet toys, artworks, jewellery, incense & candles, minerals & crystals, a Vinyl record stall and more. For the foodies there are healthy cakes, jerk chicken, seasonal vegetables, a taco stall and more.

Originally called Archway Close this small area was renamed Navigator Square, not because of any Naval connection, but for the navigators, which was often shortened to "navvies", a term applied to the Irish who came to England to build the canals, in the 19th century. 

As time went on and industry changed the Irish would help to build rail and road systems, but they were still called "navvies".

Following World War II many Irish settled in this part of London, with their families, giving Archway a higher level of Irish families than most parts of London.

Navigator Square is ideally located to much that the area has to offer. From supermarkets to bespoke shops; from fast food chains to trendy restaurants, everything is within walking distance. Highgate Cemetery, Waterlow Park and the eastern reaches of Hampstead Heath are within walking distance, too. There are plenty of bus stops, for those who wish to venture further afield, with buses running in all directions. 

Myddelton Passage Etchings: A unique historical record

On first turning on to Myddelton Passage it looks like a typical London road. Houses along one side stand opposite a brick wall, that, although old, looks rather plain.

It is not until you begin to walk along the path that you will notice etchings in the bricks. Random numbers, initials and letters can soon be seen. Although sporadic, at first, they begin to fill entire areas of the wall.

Could they be some form of code or something else, entirely?

'Collector' by Georgie Fay

'Collector' by Georgie Fay.

Tuesday November 28, 2023.

It was a particularly chilly Tuesday morning as I made my around Bunhill Fields Burial Ground, during my walk from Angel to the City of London then up to Euston. The sun, bright in the morning sky, did nothing to dispel the chill that permeated this enclosed park and burial ground, which I had last visited back in 2018, during another walk, and had long since wanted to revisit the place.

Since my previous visit a new public artwork had been installed, consisting of a metal ring, suspended by ropes from three trees, from which hung sails of original printed art.

Hanging like Tombstones.

With the sun still low in the sky it cast just the right amount of light, dispersed by the surrounding trees, to highlight these unique printed sails.

With no breeze to disturb the piece it seemed to hang like painted tombstones.

Gainsborough Pictures

 

Gainsborough Pictures

Monday, March 28, 2022

Wandering east along the Regent's Canal, from Angel, I soon found myself in Shoreditch Park.

Commemorative Plaque.

To the north of the park are the old Gainsborough Pictures film studios, which were converted to apartments in 2004.

Film Reel sculpture.

There is a sculpture of a film reel, in Shoreditch Park, and a giant sculpture of Alfred Hitchcock's head within the grounds of the apartments, which, unfortunately, I wasn't able to access on this visit.

Bunhill Fields Burial Ground

The grave of Daniel Defoe.

I had long wished to visit Bunhill Fields Burial Ground and Gardens, as, sometimes, these are often overlooked places that many find macabre. 

However, places like this offer a wonderfully peaceful place to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. 

Plus, there are always the graves of important people, mixed in with the ordinary, everyday tombstone. 

Gravestones.

Bunhill Fields contains many graves, but some of the more famous are those of Daniel Defoe and William Blake, the latter of which is just a marker stating that he is buried close by. This is set to change, as his actual burial site has now been found, and a new gravestone will be unveiled, soon.

Review: 'Assassins' by Stephen Sondheim

"Everybody's got the right to some sunshine."

Tuesday 27th March, 2012 - They're Coming

My friend Steve B, and I, headed to the 'Pleasance Theatre', London, to see Stephen Sondheim's, Assassins.

The play explores nine of the twenty-odd attempts on the life of US Presidents, from John Wilkes Booth to John Hinckley, Jr. Instead of focusing on the assassinations, the play strives to understand the assassins, and their reasons for attempting to, and sometimes succeeding to, assassinate US Presidents, climaxing in a 'dreamlike' sequence, in which Lee Harvey Oswald is surrounded by the assassins of the past and future, who convince him that he is the key to connecting them all as one.

"Free Country, means a right to expect, that you'll have an effect."

The play begins with the song 'Everybody's got the right', in which we meet the nine assassins. Each assassin is 'issued' a gun and, after they have been given ammunition, they take aim at the audience as 'Hail to the Chief' is played. At this point John Wilkes Booth excuses himself and a shot rings out, and Booth is heard, off stage, saying 'Sic semper tyrannis.' The scene then changes to that of Booth, with a broken leg, hiding out in a barn, trying to right down his reasons for the assassination. His story is told with 'The ballad of Booth', by the 'Balladeer'.

We then see the male assassins. Charles Guiteau toasts the Presidency, John Hinckley, Jr breaks a bottle and Leon Czolgosz loses his temper. Guiseppe Zangara complains about stomach pains and Booth tells him that, in order to cure his pain, he should shoot President Roosevelt. The radio then announces Zangara's failed assassination attempt, and we are introduced to five bystanders, who sing, 'How I saved Roosevelt'. Czolgosz sings from his 'electric chair' but is annoyed that there are no cameras.

Sarah Jane Moore and Lynette Fromme meet on a park bench, with Fromme spouting out the teachings of her lover, Charles Manson. Moore goes over her life history, real and imagines, until both women connect with hatred for their fathers. They then shoot a bucket of KFC, before laughing hysterically about the fact that they both know Charles Manson from different times.

Czolgosz, Booth, Guiteau and Moore all join in a barbershop quartet and sing, 'The gun song', in which Czolgosz decides that he will kill President McKinley. While the Balladeer sings 'The ballad of Czolgasz', Czolgasz meets President McKinley and assassinates him.

We then meet Samuel Byck who, dressed in a dirty Santa suit, is talking into a tape recorder and recording his thoughts about crashing an aeroplane into the White House, in order to kill President Nixon.

John Hinckley is then seen sitting on a stool, trying to play a guitar as Fromme enters. She spies a picture of Jodie Foster and teases Hinckley about it, by pulling out a picture of Manson and singing 'Unworthy of your love'. A picture of President Reagan appears and Hinckley shoots it. Missing each time, the Proprietor mocks Hinckley with Reagan quips.

Charles Guiteau is giving shooting tips to Sarah Jane Moore and tells her that he is to be the next Ambassador to France. Moore rebuffs his flirting attempts and the scene changes to a train station and Guiteau meets President Garfield. Guiteau believes he will be made Ambassador to France, because of a speech that Guiteau wrote for President Garfield. Guiteau is mocked by Garfield, who Guiteau promptly shoots. We then see Guiteau going to the gallows with the show-stopping number, 'The ballad of Guiteau'.

Moore and Fromme meet to assassinate President Ford and, much to Fromme's dismay, Moore has brought her son and her dog, which she shoots accidentally, along. An argument ensues and they drop their guns as President Ford enters. Not recognising him, until it's too late, they have no recourse but to throw the bullets at him, shouting 'bang' as they do.

Byck records another message to President Nixon, as he is on his way to the airport to hijack an aeroplane to crash into the White House.

The assassins meet up and try to understand why their dreams haven't been met. The balladeer tries to make them see that there are other ways to achieve their dreams. The song, 'Another National Anthem' plays and the assassins sing it louder and louder until the Balladeer is forced off stage.

The scene changes to that of a sixth-storey store room in the Texas School Book Depository. Lee Harvey Oswald is about to kill himself, but is interrupted by Booth. Scaring Oswald with information of his past, Booth tries to convince Oswald to make a difference by assassinating President Kennedy, rather than killing himself. From the sides of the stage, the other assassins all appear and, as one, try to convince Oswald, that if he kills President Kennedy, they will all become one in history. Oswald takes the rifle from Booth and moves towards the window. Taking aim, he fires, as the assassins sing, 'November 22nd, 1963'.

After the assassinations, the bystanders tell where they were when the President died with the song, 'Something just broke'.

The assassins regroup one more time for the reprise of 'Everybody's got the right'.

End

At just over 90 minutes, the show is a perfect length and that the cast were brilliant. It was really interesting to see how such dark parts of American history can be made into such a thought-provoking stage play and musical. The set was incredible and deserves to be seen by as many theatre goers as possible, as does the play. Ray Rackham has put together a clever and versatile group of actors, who have each put in 100%, which shows on stage. Even though everyone gave a sterling turn, a few actors did, for me, stand out.

Martin Dickinson, as John Wilkes Booth, was absolutely brilliant. His presence drew your attention every time he took to the stage and, from seeing his list of credits, I can understand why.

Brandon Force was mesmerising, with his extroverted portrayal, of Charles Guiteau, which was fresh and not too over the top.

Alexander Forsyth, as Leon Czolgasz, gave a supremely introverted display as the man who believes that killing the President will change everyone's lives.

Bronwyn Baud gave an absolutely entertaining portrayal as Sarah Jane Moore.

2ND COMPANY PRODUCTIONS

ASSASSINS

MUSIC & LYRICS BY STEPHEN SONDHEIM

BOOK WRITTEN BY JOHN WEIDMAN

DIRECTOR RAY RACKHAM

CHOREOGRAPHER CHRIS WHITTAKER

MUSICAL DIRECTOR JOE BUNKER

ASSASSINS runs from 21 March - 7 April 2012

at

THE PLEASANCE THEATRE

ISLINGTON

On Wednesday 28th March 2012, Jonathan Ross made this 'tweet'

jonathan ross ‏ @wossy

Just home from watching Sondheim's Assassins at the Pleasance Theatre. Great show and it's on for 2 more weeks. Grab your tickets now!

FInd out what everyone else thought of the show.

Review: 'Company' by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth

My copy of the programme signed by Mr Stephen Brown.

Sunday 5th December, 2010.

My friend, Steve Brown, has recently been rehearsing with a group called 'Second Company' for a play called 'Company' by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth, and I was going to see it with Emma and Len's Emma. 

Steve plays the role of Larry, a 50 something man, the third husband of Joanne, played by Joyce Lorinstein. This run is directed by Ray Rackham and, after sell out performances earlier in the year, has transferred to the 'Stage Space' at the 'Pleasance Theatre'. 

I have seen Steve Brown in 'A Clockwork Orange' and 'Judgement at Nuremberg', the latter of which was his directorial debut, and I have also seen him on TV for Channel 5's 'David Jason: The Show Must Go On!'

'Company' is a musical comedy, set in New York, that first premiered in 1970. The play is centred on the central character of Robert, a 35 year old single man, via his 3 girlfriends and his married or soon-to-be married friends. Robert has hit a point in his life where he cannot commit to a long-term relationship and looks to his friends for guidance. 

The 'Stage Space' is a small area with enough room to fit a maximum of 50 people, while the stage area itself is about twenty feet square. The use of the small stage space, was accomplished very well with the use of two clear plastic chairs and a leather bench. 

The cast, when not in the scene, sat at the sides until their turn in the play. It worked really well and at times I felt that I was actually in an apartment or on the bridge with the cast. It was an almost intimate feeling, as though they were playing just to me. 

I have to see say that I was really impressed with the show from the opening song, 'Company', to the last number, 'Being Alive'. The whole cast were superb with two stand-out performances from Robin Innes and Lowri-Ann Davies. Robin gave a sterling performance as Robert. While Lowri-Ann gave a truly remarkable performance as Amy. (Her very fast rendition of 'Getting Married Today' was incredible.) 

All-in-all it was well worth seeing and I can't wait until the next play that I go and see. Below is a link to a review of the show.

www.remotegoat.co.uk/review_view.php?uid=6342

Until next time, May it be well with you.