Archive for May, 2005

Stressed but still sane(ish)…

Fyse May 31st, 2005

I feel I ought to reassure my loyal readers that I am still alive, and have not been driven entirely insane by exam stress. I’ve popped back to my room briefly for soothing music and a cup of tea in a vain attempt to quell the rising panic. To say I am ill-prepared for these exams would be a massive understatement, and there’s a chance my results could be very, very bad. I had been thinking that at least I wont do any worse than last year, but looking over past papers makes me think it’s a possibility. Always around this time of year I wonder what on earth I did for the previous eight months, and resolve to actually do some work in future. Why was I so astronomically lazy?!

For good or ill it will all be over by Saturday lunchtime, and there’s plenty to look forward to in the following weeks. There will be barbeques, punting trips, Garden Parties and May Balls. (I’ll explain about those last two some other time.) For now, however, it’s back to the library. Fortified with tea and a brief period of reflective meditation, perhaps the mysteries of quantum electrodynamics will seem less impenetrable…

Star Wars & Hysteria…

Fyse May 24th, 2005

Right, this really will be have to be a short update. While I am finding plenty of other ways to avoid working, for some reason I seem unable to conscience a long time spent blogging. Perhaps it’s because I can hide my other procrastinations from the world, and therefore pretend I’m not wasting time at all, while posting an extended rant on the internet confirms my credentials as a lazy slacker to a (potentially) wide audience.

Most important to mention is that I saw ‘Revenge of the Sith’ on Sunday, and to cut a long story short, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was certainly a whole lot better than the previous two, and though some of the dialogue was laugh-out-loud terrible, no one can pretend the original trilogy scored particularly highly on that front. Positives included the neat way it fitted into the originals, the impressive fight scenes, and the almost complete absence of the dreadful Jar Jar. Negatives included the aforementioned dialogue in the love scenes, the acting of Hayden Christensen and the fact that Natalie Portman didn’t wear that white outfit from ‘Attack of the Clones’ again.

Other than that, there isn’t really much to tell. My exams start in just over a week and I am doing a lot of work, but not nearly enough. Generally my concentration in the library is good, but there is the occasional lapse, a particularly extreme example of which happened this afternoon. In the middle of a silent and studious library, the stomach of the young lady sitting opposite me saw fit to growl extremely loudly. We both collapsed into a ten minute fit of ill-controlled laughter, triggered once again when my stomach decided to join proceedings (all be it at a lesser volume). Eventually I retreated to my room, unable to keep a straight face. It’s strange how hysteria can set in, and it gets to the stage where it doesn’t matter what amused you in the first place. It just becomes an unbreakable vicious cycle. I’ll head back to the library after I get some dinner, when hopefully I’ll be able to focus again…

Iolanthe & Thespian Philosophy…

Fyse May 19th, 2005

The reunion dinner on Sunday was great, and it was fantastic to see everyone again. I’ve been in subsequent shows with a lot of the cast, but some I have barely spoken to in eight months. The reminiscing made me even more excited at the prospect of going back to the Minack Theatre this year, so it was fortunate that Monday’s email from the director of ‘Iolanthe’ brought good news. Just a chorus part this time, but it was already clear from the recall I wasn’t up for anything more. Frankly, the size of the role is unrelated to the amount of fun to be had, and the opportunity to go back to the Minack this September is a real privilege. My birthday falls on the 5th, in the middle of the rehearsal period, and last year was one of my best birthday’s ever. It started the night before, getting hilariously drunk, continued with an afternoon on the beach, and then culminated in a camp-fire on rocks next to the sea. An added bonus was the rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ I received. Putting the cast of an operetta round a cake is liable to result in eight-part harmony. I’d never heard anything quite like it.

Being content to play minor roles is something I’ve had to get used to since starting university, though I was obviously expecting that to be the case. Landing roles in school shows was all too easy most of the time, and those days are very much gone. Exactly as with academic pursuits, coming to Cambridge makes the majority realise how very unremarkable we really are, and I’m under no illusions about my dramatic abilities. I’ve become a solid chorus member for musicals, even developing a modicum of dancing, and have done some straight acting, but only once anything you would call a ‘lead role’. My strongest suit is definitely my singing, and that has helped me land some solo stuff in G&S operettas, one of which was ‘Utopia Unlimited’ at the Minack last year. For the most part, however, I’ve been bobbing along in the background, performing the occasional half-arsed dance move whilst singing harmony lines, and enjoying every minute of it.

That isn’t to say I’m not disappointed when I miss out on larger roles, and this time in particular I would have loved some solo singing, but I’ve formed very firm views about where my priorities lie. Aside from the central tenet to enjoy myself, my priority is to take part in high quality productions. Obviously I am keen to play as large a role as possible, but I’d much rather be a small part of a great show than a huge part of a poor show. I know people who’ve gone off into smaller productions in pursuit of star billing, which I guess is fine in itself, but it’s often accompanied by outraged conviction that they deserve any part they want. I realise I’m getting pretty puritanical about this, up on my high-horse condemning everyone within striking distance, but it is a pet hate of mine. I’d rather have the chance to play ‘Chorus Man No. 5′ at the Cambridge Arts Theatre than the lead in some college show of dubious merit. Perhaps I wouldn’t be offered such roles even if I tried for them, but I’m quite happy as I am.

Wow, that developed into something of a rant, but it’s something that really gets me riled. Of course, even I am susceptible to the occasional bout of self-delusion, and this time I can massage my ego with the fact that the only tenor role available went to someone totally different to myself. Can’t help it if I don’t fit the directors vision, now can I?!

Too summarise this post, I am REALLY looking forward to going back to the Minack this year! Whooo!

Revision, Cheese & Utopia…

Fyse May 15th, 2005

Since we last spoke, I have become very familiar with the wall opposite my desk in the library. After just a few minutes of Physics, the spines of books become entirely irresistible, and every title I read pushes another important equation out of my head. Rather than attempt to memorise an entire wall, I set a realistic target, and end up reading the same few titles over and over again. The last time I was so familiar with a shelf’s contents was while working for a local supermarket in my teens. The manager immediately spotted my aptitude for cheese stacking, and I rapidly became a recognised authority on the dairy aisle’s exact configuration. Friends interrupted their shopping to test me. “Where is the white stilton?” they would enquire, the glint of obscurely won victory in their eyes. “Third section along, bottom shelf, just next to the gouda”, I would respond, with almost preternatural speed.

The rising terror at my approaching exams hasn’t yet precluded the occasional relaxing outing, and tomorrow evening (wait this evening) I have a reunion to attend. ‘Utopia Unlimited’ was a show I did last September, and some of the profit made is paying for a dinner for the entire company. The Cambridge University Gilbert and Sullivan Society (quite a mouthful) is one of the wealthiest university drama societies, purely because of the lucrative yearly slot they have at the Minack Theatre. It’s an amphitheatre cut into the cliffs near Porthcurno in Cornwall, with waves crashing against the rocks directly below (and very occasionally right onto the stage). I strongly recommend you take a look at the Minack website, and there are even photos of ‘Utopia Unlimited’. Maximum credit to anyone who can pick me out. Also, there’s a great photo of the show’s finale, taken by one of the technical crew.

As it happens, I auditioned recently for this year’s show, ‘Iolanthe’. First audition last weekend, and then a recall on Wednesday, but I wont know till Monday what the score is. The entire production team will be at the upcoming dinner, probably having already made their decisions. Maybe if I can get one of them drunk enough they’ll put me out of my misery…

PS If it looks windy in the Utopia photos, that’s because it was. It blew a howling gale the first three nights, almost lifting those with billowy costumes clean off their feet. At one point it turned a dress completely inside out, and three people were required to wrestle it under control again. Fortunately it didn’t occur during one of her solos…

High drama in the Sherlock…

Fyse May 9th, 2005

The weather in Cambridge of late has been, to put it mildly, bizarre. There’s an old saying about getting all the seasons at once, and we certainly experienced that today. I can’t vouch for the validity of the saying, since I can’t remember how it goes, but it’s similar to ‘red sky at night, shepherds delight’. Something of that ilk, anyway. Where was I going with this post? Oh yes…

Flailing wildly between dazzling sunshine and torrential hail, we were also treated to a brief but noisy thunderstorm. Not satisfied with just soaking anyone foolhardy enough to step outside, it also saw fit to strike power-lines somewhere and cut electricity to the library I was working in. I’ve been resident in the Sherlock library (one of two in college) for a week or so now, and it normally has a calm, industrious atmosphere. The thrill of a power cut is easily sufficient to dissolve a student’s work ethic, however, and a brief period of over-excited chaos ensued. Extra hilarity was provided by a fire alarm which, slightly panicked by the lack of electricity, saw fit to remind us of its predicament once every second. If I sit very quietly, I can still hear the beeping. Oh, the infernal beeping!!

For some reason water to my block was also knocked out, and discovering this, a neighbour started yelling that marshal law had been declared. He cited the sound of a police siren as conclusive proof. I assume he was joking, but you can’t be too sure with him…

Power was restored eventually, and even the fire alarm calmed down. The Sherlock library is a really great place to work, with it’s large wooden desks and shelves packed with dusty tomes. It has an old-fashioned and studious atmosphere, probably unchanged in centuries. I spent exam term there in my first year, and I’ve never worked as hard before or since. My hope is that I can get back to that level of concentration before my exams this year, and give myself a fighting chance of decent grade.

All over for another few years…

Fyse May 6th, 2005

That’s right, it’s another post about the British election! D’you get much coverage over the in the US? There’s practically as much coverage here of your elections as there are of ours, but I somehow doubt that’s reciprocated. Anyway, this will conclude my mercifully brief election commentary, I promise.

I was up until about 1 o’clock on Thursday night, long enough to see the first twenty or so seats declared. The press coverage during the campaign had me convinced (quite correctly) that Labour would win, so there wasn’t enough tension to keep me interested far into the small hours. I was also struck by how pointless such coverage is, with its slick graphics and even slicker pundits, and I dread to think how many hundreds of BBC employees were involved in producing it all. When it comes down to it, what purpose is served by innumerable experts debating the likelihood of a particular outcome when everyone will know for certain just a few hours later? I’m not saying it isn’t compelling viewing much of the time, but a whole load of hot air is produced with no apparent progress. It brought to mind the conversation between Broomfondle, Magic-Thighs and Deep-Thought, if you know what I mean! (Apologies if you don’t, and now think I am a few sandwiches short of a picnic…)

Anyway, Labour are back in with a vastly reduced majority, and at least that means we haven’t woken up to a country governed by the odious Michael Howard. Labour lost loads of seats, the Conservatives gained quite a few, the Liberal Democrats won a handful more, and one poor constituency has been lumbered with the lunatic George Galloway. Winning the seat for the newly founded Respect party, Mr Galloway used his victory speech to accuse all those in a five mile radius of gross corruption, before later reiterating the assertion that his opponent was coated in the blood of a thousand innocents. Quite what the people of Tower Hamlets have let themselves in for remains to be seen, but I can’t see him spending much time addressing the needs of his constituents.

On a Great Election

Fyse May 4th, 2005

The accursed power which stands on Privelege,
   (And goes with Women, Champagne and Bridge)
Broke - and Democracy resumed her reign :
   (Which goes with Bridge, and Women and Champagne)

- Hilaire Belloc (1923)

It’s the election, stupid!

Fyse May 1st, 2005

Though I try to keep political commentary to a minimum, I could hardly ignore the forthcoming general election, and I’ve actually already voted, since I’m voting by post in my home constituency. There’s quite a scandal surrounding the new system of postal votes, and I certainly found it very easy to do. I’m not convinced this is a good thing, since I’d have been a lot happier being forced to go through a few identity checks. As it is, all I had to do was fill in a simple form, then fill in and return the voting forms once they arrived. Sure, I had to get someone to witness my vote, verifying that I am who I claim to be, but they’re hardly going to check them all. In fact, I’d be surprised if they checked any of them. There have been nervous predictions of Florida-style shenanigans, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the results in some wards are contested. (Particularly those where there have apparently been thousands of void forms distributed.)

Diamond Geezer is a blog I have recently begun to read, and he has an interesting graphic showing the voting of different newspaper readerships in the last election. I had no idea the percentage of Mirror readers voting Labour was so high, and that as many as 16% of Guardian readers voted Conservative. As for the proportion of Guardian readers voting Labour, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see it drop below 50% this time round. I’ll leave you guessing which paper I read myself.

Modern politics certainly doesn’t fit on the simple political spectrum, and the folks at Political Compass have handily added an extra dimension to proceedings. As well as the simple economic labels of ‘left’ or ‘right’, a new ‘authoritarian’ or ‘libertarian’ axis has been added. There’s an online test to plot yourself in this landscape, as well as graphs showing the positions of famous polemical figures, historical and current. I took the test (all 61 questions) and found myself plotted squarely in the bottom left corner. My close neighbours include Nelson Mandela, The Dalai Lama and Ghandi. Whooo!!