Drawing: Jenny Seagrove in Volcano

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Jenny Seagrove Volcano

In first saw popular British actress Jenny Seagrove way back in 1993 when she starred opposite Tom Conti as a “glamorous praying mantis” in Noel Coward’s PRESENT LAUGHTER at the then Globe Theatre (renamed the Gielgud a year later) in London’s Shaftesbury Avenue. Nineteen years later she appeared in the first staging of the English playwright’s ‘lost’ play VOLCANO. After a short tour it settled in for a limited season at the Vaudeville during the summer of 2012.

Over the past thirty something years Jenny’s extensive stage and small screen career has seen her appear in numerous acclaimed productions. One of her most notable roles was QC Jo Mills in the long-running BBC drama JUDGE JOHN DEED.

In VOLCANO she plays the elegant widow Adela, the subject to one man’s philandering urges alongside a smouldering volcano-the ideal metaphor as ‘bubbling emotions are about to erupt.’

Jenny is currently featuring in Alan Ayckbourne’s vintage comedy about adultery HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. I meet her on a pleasant Spring Saturday as she rode her bike to work and chained it outside the stage door. Our brief chat included some reminiscing about her Noel Coward roles as she signed this VOLCANO sketch for me.

Drawing: Dame Eileen Atkins

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Eileen Atkins

One of my favourite plays is THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE by British writer Frank Marcus. It premiered at the Bristol Old Vic in 1965 with Eileen Atkins and Beryl Reid in the lead roles. The production transferred to the West End, before its run at the Belasco Theatre in New York.where Eileen made her Broadway debut. She played the dimwitted ‘Childie’ alongside Beryl’s sadistic, gin-guzzling radio star June Buckridge and her alter ego ‘Sister George’.

Dame Eileen has been treading the boards and appearing on the big and small screen since 1953. She has won a BAFTA, Emmy and three Olivier Awards and has been nominated for four Tony’s, the first of which was for her role in SISTER GEORGE. She also created the iconic British TV series UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS.

Her films include EQUUS, THE DRESSER and GOSFORD PARK-once again all favourites of mine and she can be seen recently on the small screen in DOC MARTIN as Martin Clune’s Aunty, Dr Ruth Ellingham, another favourite of mine.

It’ s no wonder I had to draw her. This montage, which I dropped off at her London agent’s office for signing a couple of weeks ago, includes her as Childie and images from ALL THAT FALL at the Jermyn Street Theatre in 2012 and her solo show ELLEN TERRY WITH EILEEN ATKINS at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe earlier this year in which she portrays over ten parts including Juliet, Beatrice and Viola.

Drawing: Marisa Berenson

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Marisa Berenson

New York-born actress Vittoria Marisa Schiaparelli Berenson (or as she is commonly known, Marisa Berenson) played the tragic beauty Lady Lyndon in Stanley Kubrick’s 18th Century period film BARRY LYNDON. It’s one of my favourite films, because of its visually stunning and exquisite Oscar-winning cinematography by John Alcott based on Kubrick’s vision and visual innovation. It was filmed entirely with natural and candlelight, without the use of a single electric bulb. Special lenses, designed by German optical manufacturer Carl Zeiss were used, which NASA also employed for lowlight shooting on the moon landings. They also ‘push developed’ the film processing by one stop. I once held ambitions to be a cinematographer, not that you would have noticed.

Anyway back to Marisa, beautifully captured by such innovative technology and dubbed the ‘It girl’ in the 1970’s by Yves Saint Laurent. In 1972 Marisa won the National Board of Review Best Supporting Award and received BAFTA and Golde Globe nominations for her role as Natalia Landauer in CABARET. She made her Broadway debut in 2001 with the revival of DESIGN FOR LIVING and is currently playing Lady Capulet in the Kenneth Branagh Theatre season on the London stage at the Garrick Theatre.

I met the delightful Marisa at the stage door on Saturday as she arrived for the evening’s performance. She loved the drawing and as she signed it, I declared my admiration for BARRY LYNDON and included her Lady Lyndon in this sketch as a homage to the film.

Drawing: Lily James in Romeo and Juliet

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Lily James

Young English actress Lily James’s star continues its meteoric rise with the title role in Shakespeare’s tragic tale of young star-crossed lovers, ROMEO AND JULIET as part of Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s Plays at the Garrick season in London.

Already well known for her roles are Lady Rose Aldridge in ITV’s period drama DOWNTON ABBEY, for which she and the ensemble cast have won two Screen Actors Guild Awards and this year’s BBC drama series WAR & PEACE, Lily is no stranger to the stage. After graduating from London’s The Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2010 she quickly appeared in a variety of prominent plays, including the modern version of Chekhov’s THE SEAGULL at the Southwark Playhouse and as Desdemona in OTHELLO alongside Dominic West at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. The Daily Mail’s Quentin Lett’s wrote “…she practically sweeps all before her as Desdemona, poise, diction, allure – she has them all.”

I managed to position myself in a good place at the Garrick’s stage door barriers after the first night performance last Thursday, where initially two security officers were in attendance and soon joined by a third after he had finished his duties at Kit Harington‘s meet-and-greet one street over at the Duke of York’s. Obviously they were anticipating a large gathering and that proved to be the case. Eventually, both Lily and her ‘Romeo’, Richard Madden, who was also her Prince Kit in Disney’s 2015 live-action version of CINDERELLA appeared and Lily signed and dedicated this sketch for me.

A few cartoons on high-performance sport

Posted on May 14, 2016 by Mark Winter / Chicane

… I mean, performing high sport

Rumours Lack Substance Substance on Corruption Pill Gotten Gains

Drawing: Jesse Eisenberg in The Spoils

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Jesse Eisenberg

Eight hours. 8 long hours. Written in words or numerically, either way it still spells out a l-o-n-g time to wait for an autograph. Actually it was 8 hours and a few minutes, waiting to get my sketch of the BAFTA, Golden Globe and Oscar nominated Hollywood star Jesse Eisenberg signed. But I did. It’s not my usual practice and not one I hope to make a habit of. Jesse is in London to make his West End debut as the dope-smoking, entitled, living of his wealthy parents, narcissistic bully Ben in the tragicomedy THE SPOILS, which he wrote and had its world premiere at the Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre in New York’s Pershing Square Signature Center last summer.

“Engrossingly acted, impeccably staged,” wrote the New York Times.

The off Broadway transfer to London’s Trafalgar Studios starts on 27 May for a three month run. It’s Jesse’s third play, all of which have stated life on the off-Broadway boards.

We – a handful of fellow collectors – found out where he was rehearsing and duly waited nearby. But Jesse had to interrupt his rehearsals to fly to Cannes to do press for his latest film CAFE SOCIETY directed by Woody Allen. Then zap back to London. We thought he was already in the building and would finish at the customary time. That plan disappeared when he actually arrived at five and quickly slipped in without us having time to catch him.

One gets to a point in this business when one has invested time that one does not want to waste by ditching the mission. In other words it would be a waste of time if you didn’t stay to get the graph. But eight hours is a long investment. Thankfully it was a nice sunny day even though the pollen count was eight times higher than normal. It’s a recurring theme. SPOILS Sketch, sneezing and sharpie at the ready.

All was forgotten, well nearly all when we finally met meet Jesse. He thanked us for turning up and waiting. Truly one of the nicest in the business and he really liked the drawing, which is always a bonus.

Drawing: Stan Smith

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Stan Smith

Former World Number One American tennis player Stan Smith was a special guest at last years World Tour Finals at London’s 02 because Group A was named after him in honour of his victory in the inaugural 1970 year-end Grand Prix in Tokyo.

Stan won two Grand Slams, The US Open in 1971 and Wimbledon the following year. He also formed a formidable doubles combination with Bob Lutz, winning five Grand Slam titles.

While I was waiting at the players’ entrance at the O2, I saw Stan arrive. I literally had less than three minutes to sketch this drawing of him, based on an enlarged image on the wall in the fan zone. By the time he reached me I managed to get this much done, which he signed for me before he went in to watch the day’s proceedings.

Drawing: David Benson and Alice McCarthy in Boris: World King

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Boris World King

Boris Johnson’s eight year term as London’s Mayor ended last week, but at the Trafalgar Studios he has assumed the mantle, ‘World King”… well at least for 80 minutes, (no interval) in the smash hit play, BORIS: WORLD KING.

Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is one of the most controversial figures in British politics and journalism, ideal for a bit of satire. After a sell out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the production relocated for a four-week transfer at the West End venue. Impressions master David Benson plays the bumbling Boris and Alice McCarthy is his long-suffering assistant Helen.

“Buffoonery conceals the dark heart of the London mayor in Tom Crawshaw’s mischievous and unsettling Boris-bio,” wrote Stewart Pringle in his four-star review for the The Stage.

David and Alice signed my sketch at the Trafalgar Studios last week. The play finished on Saturday. Boris may last a little longer.

Drawing: Jennifer Lawrence

Posted on May 10, 2016 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Jennifer Lawrence braved the showers in London last night at the premiere of the latest instalment of Marvel’s superhero franchise X-MEN, subtitled APOCALYPSE global fan screening at the BFI IMAX. One of the warmest days so far this year turned decidedly damp as the heavens opened, pouring its contents onto the appropriately blue carpet (or as I dubbed it ‘apocalypse azure’). J-Law plays the deadly blue-tinged mutant and femme fatale Mystique, whose powers of shapeshifting enable her to take on many aliases, including Raven Darkholme.

Hollywood’s highest paid actress who won the Best Actress Oscar in 2012 for SILVER LININGS PAYBOOK dazzled in her silver, cutout Dior gown and even provided her customary stumble as she scarpered in her platform heels to avoid the deluge. Twitter likened her sartorial elegance to the signature Marilyn Monroe look.

But it was Jennifer’s signature I was after and the constant precipitation was not helpful as she dodged the drops to quickly do the entire line with a gold pen – the member of the sharpie clan I think should be banished – that was fast losing its effectiveness in the rain. I held the drawing under plastic until the last possible moment and she to the last possible moment and get her characteristic monogram on it. I like to think she took a split second longer than she took on everyone else’s items to sign my sketch, which is nice but adds another zillion raindrops to the rendering. A golden end to a blue evening.

Drawing: Natalie Weiss

Posted on May 9, 2016 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Natalie Weiss

After her five star sell-out shows at London’s St James Theatre two years ago, acclaimed American musical performer Natalie Weiss returned to the England capital’s Leicester Square Theatre with an “utterly winning” performance a couple of Sundays ago. The former American Idol semi-finalist has appeared in a variety of musical productions, including WICKED and has just completed a run as Candy in the US premiere of the new version of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER at the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival. She is, however best known for her hit YouTube series BREAKING DOWN THE RIFFS which have attracted over 3 million viewers. Natalie’s London show was the final one on her recent European tour and the one where she signed this sketch.