Second time ’round…

Performing with La Soiree this year has been an absolute pleasure,
very different from my first visit to London which was a bit more
challenging.  Here is a short recap of that:

Two years ago I flew to London during the December vacation from LOVE
in Las Vegas to visit fellow performers. It was my goal to perform my
act with La Clique at the Roundhouse Theater in hopes they would
consider me for future seasons.  After watching the first performance
on Friday, Brett Haylock (creative producer of La Clique/La Soiree)
invited me to perform in the late show the following night.

Things were going according to plan, that is, until I ventured across
the street and had my bag stolen whilst ordering a drink. This would
change things.  Rather than describing my feelings of disbelief and
despair I will simply list the items that were gone forever. In no
particular order: phone with both American and British SIM cards,
passport, brand new, very expensive glasses, all my contact lenses,
sketchbook, bottle of wine, bike lock keys to my newly acquired bike
that was locked outside the Roundhouse, and a few travel bits and
bobs.  Note to anyone who finds themselves in a situatuion like this:
a police report can be incredibly helpful when filing for an emergency
passport. Also, if you need to steal a bike off a busy street in
Camden Town, it’s best to rent an angle grinder and cut the lock
during rush hour. Nobody will look twice.

The following morning I splash my face with cold water and pretend I
slept at all.  First on the list: steal my bike back. Check. Next,
rehearse on a very small stage without my glasses. I should mention I
have very poor vision without corrective lenses. Thanks to a
supportive cast and great tech support, the act went well and, of
course, thanks to LaKeisha for the folder full of personal details she
arrived with the following day so my emergency passport could be
delivered.

Two days later, with my new passport, I was off to Paris to perform
again with the second cast of La Clique. After all was said and done,
the shows were fun and our vacation was great.

This year we are out for bigger and better and, so far, it seems to be
working. As I said before, an absolute pleasure.

Upon landing in London, there is a myriad of tasks to be accomplished.  Before I get into that, let me give a quick run down on the pre-departcher  to do list.  First, buy a round the world plane ticket, sell the car, quit the job and host a “moving sale” to get rid of any items that won’t fit in the ten by ten storage unit. Then pack up the remaining necessary items for a ten week stint in London followed by a journey west around the globe.  I should mention that LaKeisha and I were able to fly with only six bags (four for me and two for her) equalling six hundred and fifty dollars in fees. Thank you Virgin Atlantic.  In my defense, I am performing two acts at the Roundhouse with La Soiree and I don’t go anywhere without my pogo stick.

Ok, now we’re here in a beautiful flat on Soho square, wrestling with jeglag and searching out good food and coffee.  Also needing to unlock cellular devices, replace SIM cards and sort out the closest tube stop for the nightly commute to Camdentown.  With the show opening in just three days there is little time to waste so I’m off to the theater to stake my claim on a dressing room spot.

That reminds me, thank you to dressing room G at LOVE for spontaneous laughter and inspiration.  I cherish the hilarious moments we have shared.