Friday, 26 June 2020

Il mio sogno.... Una vita senza la Responsibalità !


Perché sono un uomo coraggioso non ho paura di denaro; e perché non credo a una vita dopo la morte, i miei sogni sono completamente materialistici. Mi piacerrebbe avere una montagna di soldi, e allora non farei nient'altro che giocare. Giocerei la mattina, il pomeriggio e la sera, e quando sarei stanco di giocare in Inghilterra, andrei a giocare in Italia, o in Francia, il paese non è importante, la cosa importante è di giocare. E poi comprerei uno specchio per guardarmi, perché il migliore spettacolo del mondo da guardare è quello di un uomo ricco. I poveri debbono contentarsi della menzogna delle loro fantasie per sentirsi liberi. Ma i sogni dei ricchi sono reali, veramente reali. Naturalmente c'è chi direbbe che la vita non è un gioco, ma una cosa seria, e che senza la responsibalità la vita è soltanto una conchiglia vuota, e una personna senza la responsibalità un'ombro che non ha forma né sostenza. Ma essere ricco è potar vivere senza la responsibalità. La responsibalità è la sorte dei poveri. La sorte dei ricchi è di giocare, e se il mio sogno si realizzasse, prenderei la decisione eroica di vivere senza la responsibalità, e di giocare tutti i giorni. 


Tuesday, 5 May 2020

Il dolce far niente - The sweet pleasure of doing nothing.


Ripe was the drowsy hour;
The blissful cloud of summer-indolence 
Benumbed my eyes....
(John Keats)


Dolce Far Niente (Sweet Idleness)
or a Pompeian Fishpont (1904)
by John William Godward 

Celebrating 'Il dolce far niente', the sweet, delicious pleasure of indolence. 




Dolce Far Niente  (1877)
by Auguste Toulmouche 



Wednesday, 15 January 2020

The Mysterious Episode of the Royal Poodle's Broken Foot - a spoof





Television Newsroom. PRESENTER on air.

PRESENTER:  We have Breaking News just come in. That's Breaking News just come in. It is reported that one of the Royal Poodles has broken its foot. This is Breaking News just come in. One of the Royal Poodles has broken its foot. That's one of the Royal Poodles has broken its foot. We're going straight over to our Royal Correspondent outside the Royal Palace. Clive, what can you tell us?

CLIVE:  Good morning, Michelle. All I can tell you is that one of the Royal Poodles has broken its foot. We don't know when it happened...

PRESENTER: Now that's what I wanted to ask you? Do we know when it happened? 

CLIVE: No, we don't know when it happened. All we know for the moment is that one of the Royal Poodles has broken its foot. 

PRESENTER: Clive, our Royal Correspondent, thank you for the moment. And now I'm joined in the studio by the former editor of a leading fashion magazine. Melissa, what's your take on this Breaking News that one of the Royal Poodles has broken its foot? 

MELISSA:  So, first can I extend my heartfelt sympathies to the Monarch. So, it must be heartbreaking that one of her beloved poodles has broken its foot. So, of course she does have six hundred and twenty seven poodles... 

PRESENTER:  Now that's what I wanted to ask you. How many poodles does the Monarch have? 

MELISSA:  So, how many poodles does the Monarch have?  So, she has six hundred and twenty seven poodles. Absolutely!  So, but of course we don't know which one of the six hundred and twenty seven has broken its foot.

PRESENTER:  I'd just like to point to viewers watching at home that the poodle on your screens is not the Royal Poodle that has broken its foot. Because that's what we're discussing, the Breaking News that one of the Royal Poodles has broken its foot. Clive, our Royal Correspondent outside the Royal Palace, any developments your end?

CLIVE:  No, nothing new here, Michelle. There are no signals at all coming out of the Palace...

PRESENTER:  That's what I wanted to ask you. Are there any signals at all coming out of the Palace? 

CLIVE: No, there are no signals at all coming out of the Palace. In fact, there have been no developments at all since the Breaking News that one of the Royal Poodles has broken its foot. 

PRESENTER:  Thank you, Clive. That's Clive our Royal Correspondent with the news that there is no news from the Royal Palace. Melissa, former editor of a leading fashion magazine here in the studio with us, what will be going through the mind of the Monarch right now?

MELISSA:  So, what will be going through the mind of the Monarch right now? So, well of course she will be utterly distraught and deeply concerned that one of her beloved poodles has broken its foot. Absolutely! So, but the Monarch is also immensely practical and I'm certain that the Royal Poodle will be receiving the best possible care from the Royal Vet. 

PRESENTER:  Now that's what I wanted to ask you. Will the Royal Poodle be receiving the best possible care from the Royal Vet?

MELISSA:  So, will the Royal Poodle will be receiving the best possible care from the Royal Vet? Absolutely! 

PRESENTER:  I'd just like to say to viewers watching at home that the picture on your screens of a dog lying on a vet's table is not the Royal Poodle that has broken its foot. And neither is the dog that you see on your screen a poodle. I just want to make that absolutely clear before you start contacting us. (Suddenly excited) Oh, I'm told that our Royal Correspondent outside the Royal Palace has some news for us. Clive, what's the news?

CLIVE:   Well the news I'm hearing is that the Royal Poodle has been examined by the Royal Vet and it is confirmed that the Royal Poodle's foot has not been broken after all. So that's confirmation that the foot of the Royal Poodle has not been broken. 

PRESENTER:  Clive, that's wonderful news! Melissa, what's your reaction to the news that the Royal Poodle has not broken its foot after all? 

MELISSA:  So, what's my reaction to the news that the Royal Poodle has not broken its foot after all? So, this is really fantastic news! Absolutely!  So, I'm sure the Monarch will be thrilled, and, of course, greatly relieved. 

PRESENTER:  This is what I wanted to ask you. Will the Monarch be thrilled, and, of course, greatly relieved that the Royal Poodle has not broken its foot? 

MELISSA: So, will the Monarch be thrilled, and, of course, greatly relieved that the Royal Poodle has not broken its foot? Absolutely!  

PRESENTER:  Thank you, Melissa. And now let's turn to the report from the United Nations that the effects of global warming have been grossly underestimated and that human life on the planet will be extinct in one week's time. Joining us from Parliament is the Secretary of State for the Environment.  Good morning, Secretary of State, thank you being with us. Before we discuss this U.N. report, what's your reaction to the Breaking News that the Royal Poodle's foot was not broken?  

SECRETARY:  Good morning, Michelle. Well, of course, this is fantastic news, and I'm sure that the Monarch and her extended family will be enormously relieved. Going forward I am sure that going forward everyone going forward will do all that they can going forward to prevent such an event from occurring again going forward. Now as for the alarming report on the demise of the human race in the next seven days, if I could just say....

PRESENTER:  We only have a second left. If you could...

SECRETARY:  Well I just want to assure everyone that the Government....

PRESENTER:  Sorry, Secretary of State, I'll have to cut you off, we're right out of time. We have just time to go to our Royal Correspondent outside of the Royal Palace. Clive, what's happening your end? 

CLIVE:  I'm still standing here in front of the Royal Palace, and I can see straight down the Royal Avenue, which is where we believe the Royal Car carrying the Royal Poodle accompanied by the Royal Poodle Handler will drive down, before passing through the Palace Gates and into the Royal Palace. But there is no sign at the moment of the Royal Car. 

PRESENTER:  That's what I wanted to ask you. Is there any sign at the moment of the Royal Car?

CLIVE:  No, I can confirm there's no sign at the  moment of the Royal Car.

PRESENTER:  Thank you, Clive. And thank you to my guest in the studio, the former editor of a leading fashion magazine. 

MELISSA:  So. Thank you. Absolutely! 


       
Theme music over PRESENTER shuffling some papers and MELISSA looking a little lost.



ENDS 





Tuesday, 31 December 2019

Ramon Casas - Decadent Young Woman after the Ball


Decadent Young Woman after the Ball
by Ramon Casas 




O, how the beautiful lady in the black dress had danced! Gayly tripping the night fantastic, until Phoebus in golden mantle clad had scaled the wall of the glittering east, and it was the hour to bid her sad 'Adieux'. 

Exhausted now she lies on her sumptuous divan dreaming of the ball and how she had dazzled all with her charm and her dance melodious. 




But her joy at the ball was tinged with her sadness at leaving. And is this not so with us all? Who among us has felt not the sorrow of parting? 

But for the lady in the black dress there will be more balls voluptuous! And more dawns collapsed on her divan in an ecstatic and decadent bliss. 




Sunday, 22 December 2019

The Doctor's Appointment




Doctor's surgery. DOCTOR, male, at his desk. Makes an announcement  on speaker)


DOCTOR: Mr Gerald Jones,  Room 6. (Puts down microphone) Right, now I must try and avoid the use of any bad language with Mr Jones. He is a patient, after all, and I'm far too liberal in my use of obscenities. But it isn't easy! The fact is that I find I can express myself comfortably if I use bad language. It's just how I am. But I must try nonetheless to more restrained in my choice of words. (At that moment the surgery door opened and PATIENT, Mr Jones came in.) Ah, Mr er... Please come in, take a seat.

PATIENT: Thank you, doctor.  

DOCTOR: So what's the fucking problem? 

PATIENT: It's my toe, doctor. 

DOCTOR: Your toe? What's wrong with your fucking toe?

PATIENT: I think it could be an ingrowing toenail. 

DOCTOR: Well let's have a look at your toe. (Examines toe) Yes, it's a fucking ingrown toenail all right.

PATIENT: So what can be done, doctor? 

DOCTOR: We'll have to cut it off.

PATIENT: (startled) Cut my toe off?

DOCTOR: No, no, not your fucking toe. Just the fucking bit of the nail that's growing inwards. 

PATIENT: Thank goodness for that! For a moment you had me worried, doctor. 

DOCTOR: So does it hurt?

PATIENT: It does when I knock it. .

DOCTOR: I'll bet it fucking does! Anyway, I'll make you a hospital appointment and we'll get the fucking thing sorted.

PATIENT: How long will it take, doctor, to have the operation? 

DOCTOR: That's a fucking good question. It's difficult to fucking say. You'll just have to patient. That's why you're called fucking patients, after all, eh? (Laughs aloud at his joke) So anyway, you'll hear from us as soon as possible. Now I  can't be fucking fairer than that. 

PATIENT: OK. Thanks a lot, doctor. You've been very helpful. 

DOCTOR: No fucking problem. 

     PATIENT walks to the door, hits his toe on the wall.

PATIENT: Ooh, my toe! (He hops around the room screaming.)

     NURSE comes running in.

NURSE: What's all the fucking noise? 

DOCTOR: Mr er... has hit his fucking toe on the wall. 

NURSE: Come on, I'll help you out. Hold on to my fucking arm.


     NURSE helps PATIENT out of the surgery. 

DOCTOR: (alone - to himself) Well I didn't do very good there. My resolution to no longer use had language didn't get past the first hurdle. I really must try harder. Who's the next patient? Let me see. Reverend Williams. Well, it should be easy to restrain my impulses with a man of the church. (Makes announcement on speaker.) Reverend Williams,  Room 6, please.  (Puts down microphone) Now stay calm. Just relax. Remember what you have to do. (The door opens and REVEREND Williams comes in.) Ah, Reverend, please take a seat. First of all may I apologise for failing to attend church in recent months. Purely a lapse I assure you. Perhaps you'll permit me to make a donation to the fund for the maintenance of the tower. Shall we say twenty pounds? 

REVEREND: Fuck off! Do something about my fucking arthritis, you fucking quack! 

DOCTOR: Right... well if you'd er... care to lie on your back on the trolley and tell me exactly what the fucking problem is and I'll give you a good fucking examination. Now I can't be fucking fairer than that. Well fucking can I?

     (DOCTOR examines REVEREND with professional acumen and at ease with himself. )



ENDS

Sunday, 29 September 2019

John Keats - his autograph in his edition of Shakespeare


Autograph of John Keats in his volume of
Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories,
& Tragedies

John Keats by Joseph Severn
1821


Monday, 9 September 2019

Venezia - Chi non ti vede, chi non ti prezia.



J M W Turner 

I may speak to thee as the traveller doth of Venice:
Chi non ti vede, chi non ti prezia.

William Shakespeare 


Sunday, 18 August 2019

Life... Time's Fool...





But thoughts, the slaves of life, and life, time's fool,
And time, that takes survey of all the world,
Must have a stop.

William Shakespeare 

Sunday, 28 April 2019

The Party - a play divided into two acts by Jane Arden


Programme of the first production of
The Party by Jane Arden

Jane Arden was born in Newport, South Wales, and went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art when she was fifteen. After a period in repertory she went to America and lived in Greenwich Village "looking around absorbing all I could - looking for new ideas". It was while there that she first began writing seriously. She returned to England because she could only "write out of my own background". Charles Laughton happened to see the unfinished script of The Party, and immediately wanted to act in it. According to the author, he nagged her until the play was completed.

The play was first performed on Wednesday May 28th, 1958, with a cast that included Charles Laughton, Albert Finney, Elsa Lanchester, Ann Lynn and John Welsh.

Ann Lynn and Albert Finney in
The Party by Jane Arden

Elsa Lanchester and John Welsh in
The Party by Jane Arden




Sunday, 21 April 2019

Colloque sentimental by Paul Verlaine with English translation



Paul Verlaine with Arthur Rimbaud


Melancholy, sadness, fears, and sentimental yearnings form the heart of much of the work of Paul Verlaine (1844-1896). He could never be regarded as an intellectual, or a thinker. On the contrary, the preoccupation of his poetry is one of naive self-expression. As he said himself: "Art, my children, is to be absolutely oneself."

Here is one of his poems, along with our own translation.

COLLOQUE SENTIMENTAL

Dans le vieux parc solitaire et glacé,
Deux formes ont tout à l'heure passé.

Leurs yeux sont morts et leur lèvres sont molles,
Et l'on entend à peine leurs paroles.

Dans le vieux parc solitaire et glacé,
Deux spectres ont évoqué le passé.

- Tu souvient-il de notre extase ancienne?
- Pourquoi voulez-vous donc qu'il m'en souvienne?

- Ton coeur bat-il toujours à mon seul nom?
Toujours vois-tu mon âme en rêve? - Non.

- Ah! les beaux jours de bonheur indicible
Où nous joignions nos bouches! - C'est possible.

- Qu'il était bleu, le ciel, et grand, l'espoir!
- L'espoir a fui, vaincu, vers le ciel noir.

Tels ils marchaient dans les avoines folles,
Et la nuit suele entendit leurs paroles.


SENTIMENTAL CONVERSATION

In the lonely park in the winter's blast,
Two forms have recently passed.

Their eyes are dead, their lips lifeless too,
And of the words they spoke were heard barely a few.

In the lonely park in the winter's blast,
Two spectres are evoking the past.

"Do you recall, my sweet, those raptures of old?"
- "Why recall what's already gone cold?"

"Does the sound of my name make your heart beat more?
Does my soul haunt your dreams still?" - "Not any more."

"Ah! those happy days of inexpressible glee
With our mouths joined together!" - "Possibly."

"How the sky was so blue and our hopes were so high!"
- "Hope has departed, vanquished, in the dark sky."

So through the wild oats they followed their way,
With only the night to hear what they say.



Friday, 19 April 2019

Blue Ones - A medical dialogue




Doctor’s consultation room. NESS, the doctor, seating behind her desk. JACOB, her patient, comes in.


NESS: Take a seat, Jacob. That one there. Is that all right?

JACOB: Absolutely.

NESS: So. Any news?

JACOB: There is. And I should have told you sooner. I’m sorry about that.

NESS:  Oh, gracious me, there’s no need to be sorry. So what is it? Please, in your own words. And I’ll make notes if I may. Is that all right?

JACOB: Absolutely. 

NESS: Right, well I’ll just get my pen ready. I shan’t be a moment. Is that all right?

JACOB: Absolutely.

NESS: Right, I’m ready. Off you go.

JACOB: So… well…. There’s been a development. If I can put it that way.

NESS: Absolutely. What kind of a development?

JACOB: Not a very good one, I’m afraid. I’m sorry about that.

NESS: Oh, you don’t need to be sorry, gracious me, no. A development, you say?

JACOB: Yes.

NESS: What kind of a development?

JACOB: Not a good one, I’m afraid. It’s er…. Well, how shall I put it? Er…. Do you mind if I take my coat off? Is that all right?

NESS: Absolutely. It is hot in here. Put it on the peg there. Is that all right?

JACOB: Absolutely. (Takes coat off) So, as I was saying, there’s been a development.

NESS: Yes, you said. A development, eh?

JACOB: Absolutely. 

NESS: So what was it?

JACOB: Well…. I don’t know how to put it.

NESS: Why not start at the beginning. Is that all right?

JACOB: Absolutely. Well…. It’s like this. Do you remember when we talked last time?

NESS: I do. Absolutely.

JACOB:  And do you remember what I told you last time?

NESS: No. Just remind me, would you? Is that all right?

JACOB: Absolutely. So, where was I?

NESS: Last time. You were telling me about last time. 

JACOB: Right. So. Well. Yes, last time. Yes. Absolutely. So, remember I said that I had forgotten to take the pink ones?

NESS:  Oh, no. Don’t remember that.

JACOB: You don’t remember?

NESS:  No. I’m sorry about that. Is that all right?

JACOB: Absolutely. Anyway….

NESS: You forgot to take the pink ones?

JACOB: Yes. I’m sorry about that. 

NESS: Goodness me, there’s no need to be sorry. So you forgot to take the blue ones?

JACOB: No. The pink ones.

NESS: The pink ones? Oh, yes. Did I say the blue ones. I’m sorry about it.

JACOB: Oh, there’s no need to be sorry. Absolutely. 

NESS: Thank you, Jacob. May I call you Jacob? Is that all right?

JACOB: Absolutely.

NESS: So, the blue ones. You forgot to take the blue ones.

JACOB: No. The pink ones.

NESS: Oh yes! The pink ones. The pink ones, yes. I’m sorry about that. Is that all right?

JACOB: Absolutely, Ness. May I call you Ness. Is that all right?

NESS: Absolutely, Jacob. So. Right. The pink ones, eh?

JACOB: Yes.

NESS: Right. Yes. So you forgot to take them, eh?

JACOB: Yes. I’m sorry about that.

NESS: What about the blue ones?

JACOB: Blue ones?

NESS: Yes.

JACOB: I don’t take any blue ones.

NESS: Oh. 

JACOB: No.

NESS: Right. No blue ones, eh?

JACOB: No. I’m sorry about that.

NESS: Oh, goodness me, there’s no need to be sorry. So, you forgot to take the pink ones?

JACOB: Yes. I’m sorry about that.

NESS: Anyway, how do you feel?

JACOB: How do I feel?

NESS: Yes.

JACOB: How do you mean?

NESS: About not taking the pink ones?

JACOB: Oh, I’m sorry about that. Is that all right?

NESS: Absolutely! But how do you feel? I mean, do you feel all right?

JACOB: Absolutely!

NESS: Oh, good! Absolutely! (Pause) Right, well in that case everything seems to be fine. So I’ll see you again in six months time. Is that all right?

 I’ll see you next time.

JACOB: Absolutely! (Puts his coat on) Right, well, until next time.

NESS: Bye bye, then. Bye bye. 

JACOB: Bye bye.

Jacob leaves.

NESS: (alone - to herself) I could have sworn he took blue ones. But he must know what he takes. Absolutely! (Her telephone rings - she listens) Oh, yes, send him in. Absolutely. Send him in. Is that all right?


Finis.



Monday, 24 December 2018

Lezione di geografia / Geography Lesson by Pietro Longhi.


Lezione di geografia
Pietro Longhi


Notice the skeleton atlas on the floor, the gentleman seated in the easy chair leafing through a ramshackle volume, and the delightful lady, equipped with a compass, measuring the distance on a world map on a small table, while two serving ladies bring coffee.

Guarda l'atlante per terra, il gentiluomo in poltrone che sfoglia uno squinternato volume, e la graziosa dama, munita di compasso, che mesura le distanze su una mappamondo da tavolino mentre due cameriere portano il caffe. 

Acknowledgement: L'amante senza fissa dimora by Carlo Fruttero & Franco Lucentini.



Saturday, 10 November 2018

Harmonie sculpture by Antoniucci Volti.


Harmonie sculpture by Antoniucci Volti.

In the 3rd Arrondissment of Paris, at Place Theodor-Herzi, at the intersection of Rue de Turbigo and Rue Reaumur, is the charming sculpture of a sleeping woman entitled Harmonie.

It is the work of French sculpture Antoniucci Volti (1915-1989) and has had pride of place in the square since 1992.

If you happen to be passing through the square one day why not pause to say Hello. But Sssh! silently, so as not to wake her.



Saturday, 11 August 2018

Gambit International Theatre Review 25 - Playscript Issue




Published in 1974, Gambit International Theatre Review 25 contains two plays: The Speakers by Heathcote Williams, freely adapted for the stage by William Gaskill and Max Stafford-Clark; and Tripe by Lexie Micalef.



The Speakers is about the lives of authentic speakers at London's Speakers' Corner encountered by Heathcote Williams in the early 1960s and described in his book. The principal characters are William MacGuinness, an Irish speaker high on dope and meths; Jacobus Van Dyn and his tattoos; Axel Ney Hoch, on the run from his own passions; and Lomas, who has not spoken in years.




The Speakers stage adaptation was the inaugural production by Joint Stock Theatre Company.









Saturday, 5 May 2018

Pablo Picasso: The play's the thing.... Desire Caught By the Tail.....


Brassai photo 

On 14th January 1941, Pablo Picasso began work on his latest creation, a surrealist six-act play which was to prefigure the theatre of the absurd, and to which he gave the title: Le Desir attrapé par la queue (Desire Caught By the Tail). Working rapidly, as was his custom, he completed the play on 16th January 1941.

The scene is set at a Paris hotel in the evening of Tuesday 14th January 1941 with a stage direction indicating that the action takes places in total darkness. The characters are preoccupied with three things: hunger, food and love.

The play was given its first airing on Sunday 19th March 1944 with a reading in the apartment of Picasso's friend Michel Leiris, at 53 bis quai des Grands-Augustin. The all-star cast included Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre and Raymond Queneau, and the director was Albert Camus.

Several months later on 16th June, all those that had participated in the event were invited by Picasso to his apartment, where the celebrated photographer Brassai was also on hand immortalise the gathering.

As for the play itself, its English translator, Bernard Frechtman, wrote in his foreword to his translation:

'It says nothing of human destiny or of the human condition.... It is gratifying to advise the reader that Picasso has nothing to say of man, nor of the universe. This in itself is a considerable achievement.'


Saturday, 21 April 2018

Steely Dan...... better late than never......





I bought my first Steely Dan album in 1975. A friend at the time, whose musical taste I trusted, told me about it, said it was being released two days later, and unreservedly recommended it. So based on his recommendation, having never even heard of Steely Dan, I bought the album two days later (a Saturday as I recall), went home, and gave it a spin, as we said in those days.

The album was Katy Lied, and the opening track, Black Friday, a rocker, didn't exactly bowl me over. The second track, however, entitled  Bad Sneakers, with its jazz flavour and unusual lyric, was quite unlike anything I had ever heard before in a pop song. I had absolutely no idea what the song was about, and I still don't, which didn't bother me one little bit. But it struck a cord with me, as did the next track, Rose Darling, with a more accessible lyric about sexual infidelity, or at least the intention of such.

The high point of the album, however, was the track Doctor Wu, with an alto sax solo by Phil Woods. Woods' was a highly accomplished jazz musician, and among his many achievements was a sublime solo on Spoonful, featured on the Gil Evans album of 1964: The Individualism of Gil Evans.




I bought every previous and subsequent album by Steely Dan. Of particular mention is the 1980 release Gaucho, with vocalist Donald Fagen in fine voice, especially on the opening track Babylon Sisters.  

Also on Gaucho is the track Time out of Mind. 'Time out o' mind' is a colloqual expression referring to a time immemorial, and dates from around the middle of the sixteenth century. It was even used by Shakespeare in two of his plays:

Her chariot is an empty hazelnut,
Made by a joiner squirrel or old grub,
Time out o' mind the fairies coachmakers...
- Romeo and Juliet

Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd time out of mind....
- Measure for Measure

Finally, this blog has been on the road for over 6 years, and in all that time it has sadly been lacking a post on Steely Dan, an oversight which we are now correcting. Better late than never.....