Drawing: Ian McDiarmid and Kathleen Turner in Bakersfield Mist at the Duchess Theatre

Posted on June 21, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Bakersfield Mist marks the return to the London stage of multi award winner Kathleen Turner for the first time since her tour-deforce performance in Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? She plays opposite Olivier and Tony winner Ian McDiarmid.

Inspired by true events, Stephen Sachs new play debates the nature of authenticity. Kathleen plays Maude, a boozy ex-bartender living in a Bakersfield trailer park who picks up what she claims is a Jackson Pollock for five bucks while trawling through a junk shop.

Ian is Lionel, a lecturer in Abstract Expressionism at Princeton University who is asked to verify the painting or declare it a fake. The play goes beyond the painting. It’s a culture clash between a woman desperately seeking validation for her life and a snobbish connoisseur of fine art. Which one is real?

While I was drawing the sketch I was reminded of Kathleen’s infamous line as the uncredited voice of Jessica Rabbit, Roger Rabbit’s flirtatious toon wife in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? In an interview she said it was just fun to do and that line was too good to pass up. Apparently half her autograph requests are to sign Jessica photos.

I met Kathleen and Ian after Wednesday’s (18 June) evening performance at the Duchess Theatre. They both liked the sketch and were happy to sign it. I was tempted to ask Kathleen to write her Jessica line, but maybe I’ll keel that request for another sketch. I think The Graduate would be more appropriate.

Drawing: Mark Strong, Nicola Walker and Phoebe Fox in A View From The Bridge at The Young Vic

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

The Telegraph’s Charles Spencer gave the Young Vic’s recent production of A View From The Bridge five stars, stating, “this superb production of Arthur Miller’s modern classic, A View From The Bridge is one of the most powerful Miller productions (he) has ever seen.” He was not the only critic to award a five star rating.

The story of Brooklyn longshore man Eddie Carbone’s pride and unhealthy obsession with his niece leads him towards betrayal of his family and his community. Mark Strong, Nicola Walker and Phoebe Fox all excel according to The Guardian.

As Mark put it, “it’s… stark and bare and brutal” on an almost bare stage, similar to a minimalist art gallery. According to Spencer, he plays one of the greatest roles in modern drama, with “raw pain, inarticulate passion and emotional and physical violence. His eyes in Miller’s phrase, really like tunnels, a thousand mile stare of loss, dread and sexual confusion.”

A View From The Bridge finished its season on 7 June 2014.

Drawing: Sara Pascoe at the Soho Theatre

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

In spite of thriving at standup, Sara Pascoe says, “I started comedy as a hobby and it still doesn’t seem like a proper job.”

The 32 year old actor, improviser and writer started standup in 2007, “It’s the one place where you are talking to every level of society”.

She now has a TB career on both sides of the Atlantic with appearances on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Stand up for the Week QI (in which she won with a +28 score) and Live at the Apollo as well as the all female Girl Friday on Channel 4, which she co-wrote.

She’s influenced by media personality, body builder and occasional glamour model Jodie Marsh, as well as Winston Churchill. Sara had a three night gig at London’s Soho Theatre last week entitled Sara Pascoe: Sara Pascoe Cs The Truth which The Guardian described as “intelligent silliness and self deprecation to make a near perfect show”. She recognised herself in my sketch after her opening performance and was happy to acknowledge it with my Sharpie.

Drawing: Emily Blunt

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

London born Emily Blunt returned to her home town for the early morning premiere of Edge of Tomorrow. It was the start of a very long day for the Golden Globe winner and Tom Cruise who embarked on a one day global three city premiere marathon which began at the BFI iMax, before flying to Paris and then on to New York.

Having just given birth to her baby daughter, Hazel, in February, Emily said she was used to getting minimal sleep and thought she would last the enduring schedule in better shape than Tom. So it was a fresh Emily who happily signed my sketch between rain drops before jetting off.

Drawing: Tom Cruise in Rock of Ages

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Tom Cruise and co-star Emily Blunt embarked on an epic three cities in one 24 hour premiere marathon to launch their latest film Edge of Tomorrow. London first thing, Paris in the afternoon and New York for a late night screening. That mean a real early premiere at the BRI iMax in London. Tom arrive at 6.45am, others had gathered hours earlier in the persistent precipitation. The iMax’s circular design acts more as a sieve than as a shelter, as the showers swept through. However the did serve us coffee and tea and water.

Tom plays an inexperienced soldier in a futuristic conflict who uses a time loop to help Earth battle an alien invasion. he keeps living the same day over and over again, never reaching the tomorrow of the title. The premieres echoed the films complex plot.

I drew this sketch of Tom as the fading rock god Stacee Jaxx in 2012’s Rock of Ages, a film adaption of the 2006 Chris D’Arienzo comedy Broadway musical of the same name.

His performance received unanimous critical acclaim. He spent two months in vocal training and learning the guitar, singing five hours a day.

He loved the sketch , “that’s such a great drawing”. Given his hectic schedule and tight travel arrangements ahead, the PAs were anxious to kep him moving, but he was calm as always and great with the drenched fans. He had a silver Sharpie, but was more than happy ti sing the sketch wit a black one.

:that role was so much fun… and I like that drawing,” as the minders moved him along the line, replacing my black Sharpie with the silver one, then off to Paris.

Drawing: Kate O’Flynn and Lesley Sharp in A Taste of Honey at The National Theatre

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

A Taste of Honey just completed its season on the Lyttelton stage at the National Theatre. It was the first play by the late British dramatist Shelagh Delaney, written when she was eighteen.

Acclaimed as her ‘Kitchen singk’ masterpiece, it became one of the great defining and taboo breaking plays of the 1950s. Set in a grimy Salford housing estate, it focuses on a teenager who is abandoned by her fly by night mother, impregnated by a black sailor and looked after by a gay art student.

“Lesley Sharp and Kate O’Flynn brilliantly bring out the abrasive music hall double act quality in the funny, painful slanging matches between Helen the tarty, irresponsible mother, who lives hand to mouth off fancy men, and Jo, the oddball daughter who is both older and younger than her years because of this maternal neglect,” wrote critic Paul Taylor.

Drawing: Silvia Gallerano in La Merda at the Soho Theatre

Posted on May 4, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Award winning Italian actress Silvia Gallerano is currently appearing in the uncompromising one woman play La Merda at the Soho Theatre in London. It’s about our modern consumer society and how we pull ourselves out of the mud.

Inspired by Pier Paolo Pasolini’s ideas on cultural genocide, Cristian Ceresoli’s play features a young, ‘ugly’ and naked Silvia Gallerano revealing her bulimic and revolting secrets to all. The Guardian said “a startling monologue on body language, fame and politics with mesmerising bravery by a naked Silvia Gallerano.

Winner of six major awards including the coveted Scotsman Fringe First Award and The Stage Award for Best Actress. It shocked and awed the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe audience followed by a sell out Fringe run and European Tour.

Reviews included:
“Hard to watch. hard to ignore”
“One of the most wonderfully full on performances, ever seen at the Edinburgh Festival”
“Raw, touching, intelligent and unforgettable”

Silvia signed this sketch at the Soho Theatre after Thursday evening’s performance. La Merda finishes Sunday 4 May 2014.

Drawing: Katherine Ryan in Glam Role Model at the Soho Theatre

Posted on May 3, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

London based Canadian comic, writer and actress katherine Ryan was the 2008 winner of the Nivea Funny Women Awards.

She is fast becoming a recognisable face on British TV with appearances on Live at the Apollo, Mock The Week, QI and Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

The Scotsman wrote of Katherine: “Warped wit… striking presence… killer lines.”

Today (Saturday 3 May 2014) is her final performance of Katherine Ryan: Glam Role Model, after a sold out run at London’s Soho Theatre. It’s part of Katherine’s second UK stand up tour, and tackles everything from celebrity obsession to sex and single motherhood. Her 60 minute repertoire includes gems such as:
“We keep better track of celebrities than aircraft” and “twerking… is not a dance, it’s a cry for help” and a booty-shaking Beyonce tribute.

Katherine signed this sketch after Thursday’s evening performance. Her first reaction was “oh you’ve included my dog… wow”. I’m pleased I did…

Drawing: Ian Redford and Trudie Styler in A Dish of Tea with Dr Johnson

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Arguably “the most distinguished man of letters in English history” was Dr Samuel Johnson, poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor, lexicographer and the man who gave us the English dictionary.

After nine years work, Johnson’s Dictionary of the English Language was published in 1755. It was considered on of the greatest single achievements of scholarship and until the completion of the Oxford English Dictionary 150 years later was the pre-eminent British dictionary.

He is the subject of A Dish of Tea With Dr Johnson, a sellout at the Edinburgh Festival and a hit on tour.

Ian Redford’s moving central performance in the title role was “detailed and touching”. Johnston “was a man ravaged by melancholy and anxieties but capable of articulate speeches” and “darts of wit”.

Joining Ian as the high society hostess and Johnson’s final unrequited love, Mrs Thrale, was Trudie Styler. She was “dug out of retirement by director Max Stafford-Clark to return to the West End with a part that “instantly won her over… she got to come on stage in an 18th century costume and provide the fireworks fo the last 20 minutes.

Both Ian and Trudie signed my sketch in the lobby of London’s Arts Theatre, prior to the evening performance on 12 September 2011.

Drawing: Emma Watson

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Without a doubt, the biggest attraction at Monday’s UK premiere of Darren Aronofsky’s biblical epic Noah was Emma Watson, judging by the volume of ovations when her name was mentioned (several times) and the number of teenage girls in the crowd, of biblical proportions. There was, of course, a sizeable share of male admirers.

As usual Emma signed for as much of the line as her other commitments allowed her, I drew this sketch about a year ago, when Emma had her post-Potter pixie crop, and carried it around but kept missing her at the odd event she attended in London.

She looked genuinely amazed with it, “what a beautiful drawing,” and took time to chat. Judging by the inscription I felt pretty pleased with my day.