And we're off! Just like that the tour is underway. On Sunday we had one last run through and then onto the road we were, heading towards Whitby for Mondays performance. How to describe where Whitby is in relation to London...well, head towards Scotland and if you reach Scotland YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR! It is a seaside town situated almost entirely on hills. There is an old Abbey lying in ruins on the one side of the village, made even more ruinous by the bombings of WWl. We spent one late afternoon trecking up the 999 steps to see the Abbey and the view of the town from up there. The sights were spectacular and I couldn't help but being very thankful for the day of bluesky and white clouds to make my pictures look even better. Whitby is also famous for a much darker reason: in Bram Stoker's Dracula it is in the bay that the ship Demeter carrying Dracala back home was breached and it was up the stairs to the Abbey and the churchyard that Lucy ran up to see the sun set upon them. Perhaps I stood in the exact same spot that she did. In order to draw upon the tourist aspect of the story there is a little place along the seaside street named The Dracula Experience, a place where one can see 'Dracula rise from the dead' and also take a look at Christopher Lee's cloak from the films. No, I didn't go in - it wasn't open.
After our look at the Abbey we wondered into the main heart of town to look for a bite to eat, or more specifically:tea and scones. We found a place that was offering a full tea and scone experience for only three pounds twenty five - very reasonable. I thought that they were delicious, but a member of our troupe who is a self confessed 'tea and scone snob' was not happy that we were having whipped cream instead of clotted cream (Yikes!) and that the scones were not devonshire. Whatever that means...
The following morning we spent in a cafe just down the path from The Dracula Experience that offered light lunches but also...mmmm...fresh oysters. I have to say that they don't beat the ones from P.E.I, but they were quiet tasty especially with the beet-like sauce that was provided.
With the days performances done with we packed up and headed out to Barnsley. Now, for some odd reason every one that we told that we were going to Barnley made a very distinct face, so I wasn't quiet sure to expect. Admittedly there is nothing much to draw a tourist to the town: no sights or amazing features, but there was the best Bed & Breakfast we have encountered so far. It was as good as a palace. (Cheap joke: that's actually a line from the show.) The house (excuse me: Mansion!) had only been recently finished and included three of the most amazing features for a Pisces Actor 1. A heated indoor swimming pool 2. a Deep and luxurious bathtub and 3. The most amazing shower EVER - this thing had everthing - a large shower head, sauna funtion, side spray and a waterfall setting! (Dear Santa, for Christmas this year I would like...)
Upon arrival we asked if there was anywhere near and cheap to eat and we were given the following directions: Turn left onto the street that the B&B is on, turn left after the fish and chip shop and then turn right onto the main street, it will be right there. The directions seemed simple enough until we reached the turning right onto the main street and kept on walking. And walking. Past fields and woods. Hmm, what she neglected to mention was that 'it will be right there' meant ' it will be right there after 2 miles of walking'. We did however pass one of the best signs I have ever seen Eggs and Coke. Yes, we all had our own interpretations of what that meant, but for those of you with a sick sick mind it actually means Coke as a fire fuel. Could have fueled me...hehehe..I made a pun! What followed our arrival at the pub will for ever more be known as the Tequila Event. All I can say is: I was in whitby - and I apologise. (I know only Andrew will hit the floor laughing at that comment - but it was still worth it.)
A few luxurious baths and we were onto the final leg of this week's journey: Stevenage. What can I say about the B&B in Stevenage? Well, getting there certainly created a mood. We drove through a darkened forrest on a tiny pot-holed path that seemed to wander along for ages before opening onto the turning to get to the farmhouse we thought we were staying at. In actuality we were staying in the Barn. Now, before you start scoffing at that idea this was no regular barn. As we entered the main doors we came into a games room with a Snooker table, a darts board, a foosball table and a jukebox. In the room attached was an indoor pool but certainly not heated. Upstairs was the kitchen for our own use and a bathroom as well as one of the bedrooms and up in the loft was the other bedroom. It all seemed straight out of a b-rate horror film: the troupe of four actors out in the middle of nowehere, a canadian, an australian and two brits, they thought that they were out for a good time in the country barn until...TERROR STRUCK! (Sounds of screaming and shots of people running through the woods and blood being spattered against a barn door.) Coming to theatres this October: The Reaping!
Anyhoo, the shows are going well and I have today off and then it's back on the road tomorrow afternoon. It's crazy, but the kids are amazing (more about them later.)
TTFN!
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