Stargazey

The oldest effigy in Aston Parish Church

2005-12-04T12:33:00.000Z

Church Effigy 2
Originally uploaded by Stargazey.

It dates from 1360. The man is Ralph Arden, the great, great, great, great grandfather of Mary Arden, William Shakespeares mother.

From dark to light

2005-11-27T10:48:00.000Z

Woods 03
Originally uploaded by Stargazey.

Three photos combined! Two views of Aston Park, and a pic of Aston Church in the background.

Christmas Lights 2

2005-11-26T07:25:00.000Z

Christmas Lights 2
Originally uploaded by Stargazey.

One year the Birmingham City Council tried to organise a Christmas Market themselves - it was pathetic!

Talking of our wonderful Council - A few months ago parts of the city were hit by a mini tornado. Quite a few houses (in one of the poorest areas) are still surrounded by scaffolding. The council now wants to charge them for the hire of the scaffolding! Oh well, I suppose they have to make money to pay for the next slap up do/ trip abroad etc for themselves somehow.

Christmas Lights 1

2005-11-26T07:19:00.000Z

Christmas Lights 1
Originally uploaded by Stargazey.

The Frankfurt Christmas Market has become an annual event in Birmingham.

Aston Hall

2005-11-22T06:24:00.000Z

Aston Hall
Originally uploaded by Stargazey.

Taken from the "Bowling Green" side of the house.

Another ghostie!

2005-11-12T13:46:00.000Z

Graveyard 06
Originally uploaded by Stargazey.

Railway Bridge

2005-11-07T07:07:00.000Z

Railway Bridge
Originally uploaded by Stargazey.

A view of the other side of the bridge at Wilmcote.

Wilmcote Station

2005-11-07T07:06:00.000Z

Wilmcote Station
Originally uploaded by Stargazey.

The station for Mary Arden's house - a couple of miles from Stratford-upon-Avon.

Another Fairy

2005-11-07T06:20:00.000Z

photo 049
Originally uploaded by Stargazey.

and this is the first one I did!

Flying Fairy

2005-11-07T06:19:00.000Z

Tree Fairy
Originally uploaded by Stargazey.

The latest in a series of "fairy" pictures.

My wife and Jack

2005-10-30T17:01:00.000Z

I took a picture of Marit and a pumpkin that she carved for Halloween. Wychwood beers are running an Art of Pumpkin Carving competition to win some Hobgoblin beer!

A Silhouette

2005-10-29T13:10:00.000+01:00

Silhouette_01
Originally uploaded by Stargazey.

This could have been taken in the heart of the country. In fact it was taken down a lane at the back of the One Stop shopping centre in inner city Brum!

Pete in the Pub

2005-10-28T07:15:00.000+01:00

Pete in the Pub
Originally uploaded by Stargazey.

A great pub. Every so often the landlord whould pick up his fiddle and play a few tunes. Of course it's closed now. It was small and friendly - not big and faceless enough to be a sucessful modern pub!

Trelawny - Part 2!

2005-10-28T06:19:00.000+01:00

Having waffled on about this musical I just wanted to say WHY I like it so much! It has some great tunes, although none of them have become well known. Maybe that's because they fit in so well to the show that they don't really stand up on their own. It has a really good romantic story, with just the right mix of comedy and pathos. It keeps enough of the original play to be true to it, but cuts out some characters and sub-plots that, although they work in the play, would slow a musical down. When I saw the show (at Sadler's Wells, in 1972) the production was amazing. Brilliant performances from the whole cast (although I was a bit disappointed that Max Adrian - Sir William Gower - was ill and replaced by his understudy). Amazing sets that just flowed from scene to scene. For example: the stage changes, piece by piece, from the stage of the Wells to Sir William's house, as Tom describes the set that he wants in his play. At the end if that scene, when Rose goes "back to the Wells", a "street" of buildings moves across the stage, while the cast dance along in front of it. As the street clears the room has gone and has been replaced by the Stage Door of the Wells.

And that is a wonderfully romantic scene! Everyone is celebrating Rose returning to the Wells. No-one, except Tom, who is in love with her himself, notices that she is standing alone, crying because she has left the man she loves. He takes a step towards her; as the curtain falls on the first act.

All right, I'm just a big softy! Anyway, I also love the end of the show. Sir William realises that all actors arn't so bad! Tom gets stages his play, gets Rose and Arthur together again.

As they rehearse Tom's play, Arthur comes on (unbeknowns to anyone, he has become an actor and Tom has cast him as the romantic lead), Rose looks up and sees him. Sir William thinks this is all a conspiracy between the lovers, but Tom explains that it was all his doing - "to bring these two young people together again - to make them happy". Tom takes Rose and Arthur's hands, puts them together and says, "Oh, my dears, let us.... get on with the rehearsal!" The chorus swells, the curtain falls. - Why can't real life always have a happy ending?

Trelawny

2005-10-23T10:23:00.000+01:00

Julian Slade’s musical, “Trelawny”, is based on Sir Arthur Wing Pinero’s play “Trelawny of the Wells”. Julian Slade wrote the music and lyrics and Aubrey Woods the book. Pinero’s play, written in 1898, still receives occasional revivals, but, as far as I can find out, the musical has only had one short revival since its first production in 1972. This seems a pity as it is, for me, one of the best musicals written. The story is very close to Pinero’s original. The actor turned playwright, Thomas Wrench, is based on the real life playwright Tom Robertson and other characters on the actor-managers Sir Squire and Lady Bancroft (Marie Wilton).

Set in the 1860’s the story opens on the stage of the Sadler's Wells Theatre. (Called the Bagnidge Well in the play).

The following synopsis is taken from the sleeve notes of the London cast recording (CD available from Must Close Saturday Records):

“When the curtain rises, the Sadler’s Wells’ resident company of actors and actresses has assembled on stage after the evening performance for a surprise party [Pull yourself together] in honour of Rose Trelawny — the star of the Wells. Rose has decided to to give up the theatre to marry a well-to-do “swell” called Arthur Gower.

Two lesser members of the company, Tom Wrench (who is secretly in love with Rose) and Avonia Bunn, Rose’s friend and confidante, bemoan their humble status in the theatre [Walking on] but the party proceeds with much hilarity, many speeches and a touching love song [Ever of thee] which Rose sang in one of her most successful shows. Mr Telfer, the actor-manager of the Wells, and his wife, bid Rose farewell [Trelawny of the Wells] as she leaves for her probationary stay with her fiance’s family in Cavendish Square. Tom dreams of the day when his revolutionary ideas about playwrighting are accepted at the Wells [Tom Wrench’s letter].

But Arthur’s martinet grandfather, Sir William Gower, does not approve of his grandson’s prospective wife [On approval] and her frustration and fury at the household [Rules] eloquently expresses how she feels. A note smuggled into her announces the arrival of some of her actor friends who, despite their valiant efforts to keep quiet, soon arouse Sir William who throws them out. Rose realises, now, she cannot live in Cavendish Square, and that she must return to the theatre [Back to the Wells].

Act Two begins with the company glad to have Rose back and they present her with a bouquet of flowers (roses, of course) signed by them [Old friends].

Rose, however, misses Arthur terribly [The one who isn’t there] and despite the efforts of two Wells comedians called Gadd and Colpoys to cheer her up [We can’t keep them waiting] she still dreads the forthcoming rehearsals of the pantomime Aladdin. Avonia, on the other hand, cannot wait to get on stage — not as a bit player this time, but as principal boy [The turn of Avonia Bunn]. The rehearsal proceeds, but it is all too much for Rose who collapses in tears on stage and is sacked by Mr Telfer. Later in her dressing-room she is visited by Sir Wffliam who shows her a letter which Arthur has sent to his great aunt [Arthur’s letter].

Arthur disappeared from Cavendish Square soon after Rose returned to the Wells and only Tom Wrench knows he has joined a theatrical company in order to become part of Rose’s ‘gypsy’ world. Rose and Sir William realise their mutual loss of Arthur has brought them to an understanding of each other [Two fools] and when Tom reveals to Sir William that the play he has written as a vehicle for Rose needs a backer Sir William insists on hearing the play [Life] and guarantees the necessary money. Tom assembles the company to rehearse his new play, but it is not until the actual moment of his arrival on stage that Rose realises that the unknown actor who is to play opposite her is none other than her own Arthur. She and Arthur are reunited [Finale] and set out to start life together both on and off the stage.

From the original sleeve notes by Clive Hirschhorn

Trelawny was first presented at the Bristol Old Vic on 12 January 1972. The first London performance was at Sadler’s Wells on 27 June 1972 where it played a highly successful four week season before transferring to the Prince of Wales Theatre on 3 August 1972, closing after a total of 177 performances.”

The cast of the London production included Gemma Craven as Rose (originally played in Bristol by Hayley Mills), Ian Richardson as Tom, Max Adrian as Sir William Gower, Joyce Carey as Miss Trafalgar Gower, John Watts as Arthur Gower, Elizabeth Powers as Avonia Bunn, John Gower and Betty Benfield as Mr and Mrs Telfer, David Morton as Ferdinand Gadd, Teddy Green as Augustus Colpoys and Veronica Clifford as Mrs Mossop.

Sarah Brightman was in a revival of Pinero's play in 1992 and there have been many amateur versions of the play.

Blakesley Hall

2005-10-19T07:25:00.000+01:00

BHall_Ghostie
Originally uploaded by Stargazey.

I took this picture a couple of years ago. When I took it there was no figure to be seen (honest!) If you look carefully, you may just make out an orb - or maybe I've been watching too much "Most Haunted"!

Ann Hathaway's Cottage

2005-10-16T18:32:00.000+01:00

Ann Hathaway's Cottage
Originally uploaded by Stargazey.

Taken a couple of years ago, at about this time of year. Most people take pictures showing the garden, at the front. Just for a change I took one looking towards the back of the cottage, through the trees on the opposite side of the road.

Swans

2005-10-16T17:31:00.000+01:00

We took a walk in the park again this weekend.

The swans were on the lake, looking peaceful and calm.

"Be like a swan - calm and peaceful on the surface - and paddling like mad below!"

A walk in the park

2005-10-15T11:05:00.000+01:00

Last week we went for a walk in our local park. Lovely day, Autumn is definitely here!

Another Apple Day pic

2005-10-15T10:48:00.000+01:00

Shire Horses, originally uploaded by Stargazey.

Shire Horses, again at Mary Arden's House. Shires are my favourite breed of horse (not that I'm any expert!) They're so big and calm!

Apple Day, 2005

2005-10-15T10:45:00.000+01:00

Archer, originally uploaded by Stargazey.

An archer, in Tudor costume, at Mary Arden's House, Wilmcote. I love this guys face! He reminds me of an old actor, John Gill - a stalwart of the Birmingham Rep Theatre Company for many years.

Apple Day

2005-10-15T10:38:00.000+01:00

Morris Dancers, Blakesley Hall
Originally uploaded by Stargazey.

This is a slightly(?) "Photoshopped" image of Morris Dancers at Blakesley Hall a couple of years ago. This year we went to Mary Ardens house in Wilmcote for Apple Day.