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PRINCE SMARMING: Christmas Just Got Naughtier...

12/28/2012

5 Comments

 
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PRINCE SMARMING opened last night and went down an absolute storm, ANDREW McHUGH's Christmas Cracker of a Naughty Panto worked the audience into an absolute frenzy, clothes were ripped off, City Fans bosomed up with United fans, dogs got off with cats, Tory's and Liberal's mated while Labourites watched touching themselves, flesh was bared and it turned into an orgy that would make the Roman's blush - yes, it was that kind of show.  OK, maybe some of that didn't happen but it was an absolutely cracking night and you'll kick yourselves if you miss this one, cast and crew knocking it out of the park.

I had reservations, only because I really don't like panto - never done it for me at all, so getting involved in this was a big step for me.  It's probably one of the best steps I've ever taken.  It's a cracking cast and I've had loads of fun doing this - but most of the fun I've saved for getting out there on stage and ripping into the audience - well I am the Villain - and the audience last night were FAB - giving me as good as I gave.  Panto is fab for cast/audience banter and last night was glorious with all the cast jollying it up with the crowd, safe to say that everyone had a cracking time.  We've not peaked yet though, just warming up and there are three chances left for you to get down there and have a giggle, details further down my blog below.  So come on - put that turkey sandwich down, dump the TV repeats and come and have a laugh, it would be great to see you.
 
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The FAB Cast of PRINCE SMARMING
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Jack Klugman
Each Christmas it seems is tinged with a little sadness and this one has been no expecption.  The world is a slightly poorer place now at the passing of these Fantastic Talents...first up -

JACK KLUGMAN, The Odd Couple - the spin off TV series from Neil Simon's play - remains my personal favourite and he was fantastic in DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES with JACK LEMON...

GERRY ANDERSON: An ESSENTIAL part of any childhood imagination.

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Gerry Anderson
RIP Gerry, an absolutely EPIC imagination brought to life.  THUNDERBIRDS was an SPECTACULAR  movie every week for me (eat your heart out Michael Bay) and he built an unforgettable legacy through puppets and live action on TV; back to an era when the BRITS ruled the world through spectacular weekly TV action series, GERRY ANDERSON was the undisputed KING, and let's not forget the awesome music of BARRY GRAY.  Full version of the first stunning episode of the series below...

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0026755/ IMDB Link to Gerry's Awesome Legacy
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FONTELLA BASS passed away this week at the age of 72. 

RESCUE ME was the first 'Northern Soul' record I ever bought.  Just loved this, the greatest song Aretha Franklyn never sang - Fontella will always be remembered for this.  She 'retired' in the 70's to concentrate on bringing up her family, but did come back and worked with David Bowie, and released a few Gospel Albums...

Great memories from my teens around this song...

Links the the original and the a live version recorded at SHINDIG...BRILLIANT LIVE too...

Great memories, and a poignant reminder that life is to be lived - LEAVE YOUR MARK, treat each day like your last and enjoy....SEE YOU AT PRINCE SMARMING!!!!  Joe xx
5 Comments

Aliens, Replicants and Adult Fairy Tales...

12/24/2012

2 Comments

 
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Joe O'Byrne: image DARREN McGINN
Hi All,

I have archived a lot of this years blog into THE VAULT, a new page on here.  There are still one or two items I need to add to the vault from this year, don't worry they aren't lost.
 
So, what's happening? Busy times...I'm involved in some interesting projects over the next few weeks...first up...

Utter the word with dread 'PANTO' - I swore I would never do one, hate panto with a passion, but not this panto.  This is by Andrew 'Barney' McHugh, and it's an 'Adult' Panto, bit of a Sinful Christmas Cracker...;)

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And SHOCK HORROR! Would you believe I'm playing THE VILLAIN?  Mwah ha ha ha ha! 
Prince Smarming had it all… wealth, power, looks and enough meat to go with his two veg that everyone always thought he was pleased to see them. But the one thing Prince Smarming did not have was love.  He longed to meet a nice girl and settle down - so that the Queen will stop nagging him! One magical night at a Castle Ball he finally met the girl of his dreams but after a too-brief liaison his dream woman skipped into the night and has not been seen since.

Can Prince Smarming find his true love? Can Baron Bigot thwart him? Will the Giant be a help or hindrance on his quest and is Dame Average all (or more) than (s)he's cracked up to be?  Come and join the gang as they journey through fairyland and have some sexscapades along the way…

If Christmas is about giving and fun for all the family then this is not the show for you but if your festive mood includes jokes that are rude, crude and covered in cheese and a few sing-songs thrown in for good measure than get down to the Dancehouse Theatre for a Panto that's made in Manchester and not for the faint-hearted!   Written by Andrew McHugh (Every Other Tuesday and Doormen) this comic pastiche of all things Panto is guaranteed to get your xmas pecker perky!

A Manchester Panto for grown ups! 

THE CAST
The Prince - Dean Smith
The Giant - Neil Bell
Dame Average - Misty Chance
The Baron - Joe O'Byrne
The Narrator - Edward Barry
Peasant Girl - Amy Doyle
Peasant Girl - Natalie Pike
The Queen - Hannah Margaret
The Mistral - Richard Barry
GROUPON OFFER
Groupon members can get two tickets for £15 (Up to 55% off)
For booking and more information visit Groupon at:
http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/manchester/The-Dancehouse/14268124?nlp=&CID=UK_CRM_1_0_0_345&a=11

Performances:
Thursday 27th December - 8.30 pm - TICKET AGENT
Friday 28th December - 8.30 pm - TICKET AGENT
Saturday 29th December - 4.00 pm - TICKET AGENT
Saturday 29th December - 8.30 pm - TICKET AGENT
Please Note:
For ages 15+, please note the show contains bad language and scenes with sexually explicit content.
Tickets £10 each for group bookings of 8 or more.
Tickets available from Ticketline and Quay Tickets websites.    Tickets £15  ( £ 12 )

Get yourselves down there, enjoy the show (a CRACKER from Andrew McHugh) and have a few bevvies in the bar with us after, below are a few pics from rehearsals...Joe xx
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Neil Bell (THE GIANT) and Misty Chance (DAME AVERAGE)
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Andrew McHugh (WRITER/DIRECTOR/FAIRY GOD MOTHER) and Dean Smith (PRINCE SMARMING)
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Ed Barry (THE NARRATOR)
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Neil Bell (THE GIANT)
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Dean Smith (PRINCE SMARMING) and Hannah Margaret (THE QUEEN)
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Misty Chance (DAME AVERAGE) and Dean Smith (PRINCE SMARMING)
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The Prince, The Queen, Dame Average and a Little Puff

Film Project:  SURVIVING ALBA...TOP SECRET...
STRICTLY NEED TO KNOW BASIS ONLY...

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Written & Directed by ANGEL DELGADO
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ANGEL DELGADO: He's really quite nice
There's something dark and strange going on in one of the upper floors in a freezing, dark and creepy old community centre in Wythenshawe...that's NOT the plot of the film...

This is ANGEL DELGADO, writer and director.  And there's not much more I can tell you about this yet, other than it's one of the most creative crews I have ever worked with. I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished piece.
 

And Finally...

BLADE RUNNER: The Stage Version

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Poster by DARREN McGINN
Christmas came early for me as I was cast as RICK DECKARD in the first ever stage adaptation of BLADE RUNNER.  Part of The Lass O'Gowrie's Excellent LASS FEST produced each year by GARETH KAVANAGH.  Daunting but exciting as we have one helluva team working on this.  Coming to you in early 2013, stay tuned for more announcements soon...this from The Lass O'Gowrie Facebook Page...
A brand new adaptation of BLADE RUNNER (January 30th – February 2nd) from IAN WINTERTON (Sherica) and BRIAN GORMAN (Everyman). Probably one of the most influential pieces of 80’s cinema, Blade Runner is the futuristic tale of a Policeman assigned to track down and terminate four rogue androids who have returned to earth seeking their maker. This stripped back fringe adaptation, a Lass Premiere, considers profound questions of what it actually means to be alive and, who defines what constitutes life.         Starring   JOE O'BYRNE (Deckard) and NATALIE MARIE PERRY (Rachael).

Directed by IAN CURLEY, produced by GARETH KAVANAGH.
All that remains for me to do now is wish you ALL a FANTASTIC CHRISTMAS, and please remember, a Replicant is for FOUR YEARS not for LIFE...Joe xxx

Last Bite of The Shark; Last Night of I'M FRANK MORGAN - Tonight!

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Joe O'Byrne as FRANK MORGAN: Pic Mike Craig
16/11/2012

Well as this run of I'M FRANK MORGAN comes to an end I have to say the audiences have been fantastic and seemed to unanimously enjoy it.  It's the third outing of the production, each time getting great reviews, each outing has been a radical re-interpretation.   

Tonight is the last night of the show and the last time Frank will be seen in Salford or Manchester for a while.  Come and see what had the critics buzzing; Director IAN CURLEY's dramatic new version of a tense psychological chiller thriller and witness Frank Morgan taking on his toughest opponent yet...Title Fight; the fight of Frank Morgan's life...book yourself a ringside ticket and hope to see you there.

This is  beyond doubt the most powerful interpretation of the character so far - the last ten minutes are chilling to the extreme - and it really sets out the road for where I will be taking Frank Morgan next.  He still has a journey within Tales from Paradise Heights, we haven't seen the last of the shark. 

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Pic: Mike Craig
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Above & below flyer design: Darren McGinn
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Please find older postings in THE VAULT on the website...Joe x
2 Comments

    Author

    Joe O'Byrne is a writer, artist, poet, actor, lecturer, film maker, producer, ex radio presenter and Community Service Officer.  

    He lives in Bolton, the next Nuclear Test Zone, and Batman and Chuck Norris are scared of him.  

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