Another Eddie Review 2

I am being very lazy and I am putting up another review - there are about five (I think) and I'll put one up each day till they're done. This one is from an online mag called Remotegoat which reviews plays etc:

Review of The two sides of Eddie Ramone

"play performed with uncanny reality" by Aline Waites for remotegoat on 27/07/16

Eddie Ramone is a comedian, rather past his best. He has played London New York Las Vegas in his career, now he is appearing at a pub somewhere.

His jokes may be a bit old, but he tells them with his usual assurance.

At first, we think Chris Sullivan is playing himself or someone with a similar life pattern. Then we realise that this is a well written play, performed with uncanny reality by the author.

The play starts in low key with Sullivan as Eddie doing a stand up with very little response from the audience. He breaks off to start telling of his real life – so different from the one he is presenting to the audience. He tells of his devoted wife and his beloved daughter = a beautiful girl who he has put through drama school at Bristol to get her acting diploma, introduced her to influential friends to get her work in theatre and eventually taking her to Hollywood where she gets a role in a sitcom. Shian Denovan, as the girl herself appears to tell her own story ~The two never meet on stage but each is spotlighted in turn as they tell their version of the truth. The story gathers emotional momentum as the story is gradually revealed And the revelation is surprising and unexpected.

It is an interesting way to tell a story and it is excellently performed by the two actors.

What is very strange for me as audience and reviewer is to watch this play in the presence of the author's real life wife and daughter who are entirely difference from the ones portrayed in the play.

It is directed by the author and performed with one microphone on a bare set with minimal settings.

This is a fascinating way to build a story and is extremely effective – I hope and expect this production to go further.

The 2 Sides of Eddie Ramone: a review

There are reviews for my play, not all in yet, but this one is interesting:

TUESDAY, 26 JULY 2016

Review The 2 Sides of Eddie Ramone

The 2 Sides of Eddie Ramone

by Chris Sullivan

A Comedian's Wake

http://www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk/

Poor old Eddie - you have to feel for him. Like some latter dayCharon, he's left standing on a boat, in his words, going "into auto pilot". A stand-up comedian on a North Sea cruise ship ploughing its way through choppy seas from and to Hull - just one vowel away from the other place.  

In this way Eddie (Emmerdale and Bergerac veteran Chris Sullivan) starts his act in The 2 Sides of Eddie Ramone. Dressed in the colours of a prelate, red jacket and black silk shirt, he takes the usual place under the spotlight in front of the microphone with a routine minted before television voraciously devoured years of jokes honed on the musical hall and club cricuit and spat them out all in one night.

Both written and directed by Dublin-born Sullivan, Eddie,  an Irishman with (his stage surname Ramone presumably taken from  the famously divided punk pioneers) used to be something big on the telly, a quiz show host. Part of a perfect family with a wife and talented daughter, convent educated Katie (Shian Denovan) who, with help from her Dad, went straight into a sitcom after drama school.

The play sprang into life as a one-man show in Santa Monica and then had a moderately successful run at the Edinburgh Festival.

Now developed as a two-hander, it does indeed capture something of the seriousness, not just in the plotting, but the single-mindedness coupled with vulnerability needed for the successful comedian. 

The tragic tale of Eddie and his daughter can be taken at face value as a family melodrama. But it also explores the  intersection between celebrity, family, sex, the paparazzi and reality TV. Plus the new digital television environment (the sub editor in me did wonder whether this was why the title had "2" in figures instead of the word "Two"), drugs, booze, prostitution and, with an extremely light touch, politics and agents.

The performances are skilful and the drama draws together throughtfully the threads of our modern age. Sullivan shows his chops as a seasoned actor, although occasionally at the beginning, there was a tendency to drop his voice a little too confidentially and inaudibly in filmic style. Donovan is impressive as his daughter Katie, in the garb of a medieval nun, in whom past, present and future meet. 

At the same time, the balance between stereotypical dramatic tropes and the all-too common causes of true-life celebrity downfall  is a delicate one to maintain. The pacing sometimes sags and we did wonder what the eye of a separate director would bring out in the subtle interlacing of themes where literature becomes intertwined with life. 

Still it's a detailled performance from Sullivan with Denovan successfully portraying the younger generation and the uncredited lighting following a trajectory of its own with a hint at one point of early filmmaking. 

The play runs until Saturday, July 30 and with a rousing yet elegaic Joycean ending going back to Eddie's music hall roots coming over crystal clear, this was a thought-proving 70 minutes with a pleasing delivery. So it's an amber light from your very own TLT reviewing double-act.  

POSTED BY TRAFFIC LIGHT THEATREGOER AT 17:14 

LABELS: CHRIS SULLIVAN, JERMYN STREET THEATRE, SHIAN DENOVAN, THE 2 SIDES OF EDDIE RAMONE

CROWD FUND EDDIE RAMONE

The 2 Sides of Eddie Ramone

I have decided to devote my post today to my crowdfunding campaign with regards to my play The 2 Sides of Eddie Ramone.

Here I am in Pinner, Greater London; 13 miles from the centre of the city; I have started the campaign and after two days I notice that most of my hits have come from the USA with 163, then comes the UK with 47, Germany with 10 and then loads of countries adding up to 282 with 97 referrals. So if you have referred thanks.

I could do with some contributions now – just think if all those people had donated £10 there would £2820 in the kitty now.

But there isn't – not yet anyway. But here's hoping.

Now then: you've heard of the Coen Brothers; they're the fellas who make those great movies like The Big Lebowski and Fargo.

They raised the finance on their first film, Blood Simple by asking all the dentists in their home town of Minneapolis for money. The dentists obliged as they had plenty and, because there were so many of them, they didn't feel the pinch.

Crowd funding is like that for people who don't know any dentists.

If you look (as I mentioned in my last post) in Wikipedia Crowdfunding is described as the practice of funding a project or venture by raising monetary contributions from a large number of people and it goes on to say that it's been going since 1999 and In 2013, the crowdfunding industry raised over $5.1 billion worldwide.

So that's it!

I only know one dentist and she works at Guy's Hospital so I'm trying Crowdfunding to fund my play which opens in an off west end theatre in July.

As mentioned this is going to everybody in my address book so I apologise to the utility companies for any confusion!!

Have a look at the proposal for my crowd funding campaign:

here - http://tinyurl.com/jxj6b8e

Click on that if you would like to participate or just to take a look and let me know what you think.

The Crowd funding company I am using for this is Indiegogo – I only used the tiny URL so make things simple.

I'm hoping it's amusing and will give you a laugh and a break from the toils, tribulations, troubles and strife of life.

I have participated in other people's campaigns – not always getting the perk I asked for by the way – and they have usually been successful.

My play – The 2 Sides of Eddie Ramone started off as a one man show and has developed into a full length play for two people – a 2 hander!

Once again http://tinyurl.com/jxj6b8e is where you go.

Good wishes

The 2 Sides of Eddie Ramone.

It looks as if I won't have time to write a proper post this week as I'm rehearsing my play again; it sure is a 'work in progress' and maybe next year it will be ready – but there again is something ever really ready?

I'm due to do it at The Bossanyi Studio, 22 Field End Road, HA5 2QL; if you're in the neighbourhood or planning to head to it, put the post code into your Sat Nav and I hope to see you. I believe it will cost £8.

This will be a few times that it is to be produced; it started life at Santa Monica Playhouse for 3 nights in June 2011; then I tried it out at The Lord Stanley in Camden the night that Amy Winehouse died in July 2011; she lived just around the corner from The Lord Stanley and on the night she died the streets were blocked off by the police whilst they made their enquiries.

After that there was a 3 week run at The Edinburgh Festival where it attracted great reviews and then last year I entered it into the 'Solo Festival' at the Lord Stanley again and it won best play – who knows where it will lead?

I look forward to seeing you at about 8:00 pm. Oh I didn't give you the date, did I? Saturday June 8^th 2013.

The Wimbledon Tennis Final.

Roger Federer - tennis player supreme.

The whole of Britain stopped on Sunday to watch the Wimbledon tennis final; I had to nip to the shop to pick something up half way through and there was nobody about; they were all glued to the TV sets.

The reason?

There was a British man in the final for the first time since about 1936 or so. The fact that this British man was a Scot was no matter – it didn't matter a jot, to use the vernacular.

Andy Murray his name is and unfortunately he played, who is arguably, the best player tennis has ever seen; a man from Switzerland call Roger Federer.

The man from Switzerland didn't start too well so the hope of the locals went up; he played a few unforced errors, sending the ball skywards on a few occasions and Murray won the first set but gradually Federer's skill and flair paid off.

There was a slight break for rain and they put the roof over the playing area, filled it with air conditioning and suddenly it was an indoor match.

Murray was winning outdoors but Federer is an indoor specialist – no excuses he was brilliant.

The problem here is that so much pressure is put on to British players at Wimbledon; it is the make up of Britain. There are kind of local capitals but they're more like regional centres. The counties have county towns – York in Yorkshire, Lancaster in Lancashire etc but those places are not the biggest towns or cities in those counties.

Britain is more parochial than America – if Switzerland held the biggest of the grand slam tennis tournaments how would Federer manage?

We nearly didn't watch it as an announcer came on to the BBC and announced, as his job description is described, that the men's final would be at 3:30 pm; I thought this might have been for the west coast American audience but no – it was a mistake.

Then on the day the two-o-clock news on the BBC said - Andy Murray is now on the Centre Court; so the sandwich we were about to eat was scoffed in front of the set.

In American terms the national figures for watching the event was okay at seventeen million which is nearly one third of the total population here but it's like one hundred million compared to America so you can imagine the impact it had.

There were certain omens working – when it was the Queen's Silver Jubilee Virginia Wade, an English girl, won the women's singles at Wimbledon and it seemed that the luck was with Murray in the year of the jubilee this year; but no – Federer won three sets to one.

I am getting my play ready for this Saturday so I will have to cut this short; if you're in London come and see it; the details are below.

Kate Copstick review in The Scotsman for Eddie Ramone..

This is another review; this time it's from Kate Copstock who, I am told, is not always easy to please and it's in The Scotsman which is nothing to be sneezed at.

So thank you Kate if you read this.

Theatre review: The Two Sides of Eddie Ramone
By Kate Copstick Published: 22/8/2011

This is a sweet, sad, lovely little play - partly the comedy act and partly the internal monologue of one Eddie Ramone, once a Big Comedy Star and host of a game show, now playing the cruise ships on autopilot (him, not the ships) and going over and over in his mind the train of events that led him to this point.

A tiny piece, but telling, it is written and performed by Chris Sullivan, an actor known to fans of Emmerdale and Bergerac. His is a face you can believe has lived the whole life of Eddie Ramone and the performance is wholly believable, nicely underplayed and cleverly nuanced. The change in Sullivan as he crosses the dramatic line from internal monologue to stand-up is subtle but tangible. This is a lovely gem of a show - a proper fringe play and very well worth an hour. The story Eddie tells is unexpected, and Sullivan absolutely takes you with him on Eddie's journey. Go. You won't regret it.

• theSpaces at Surgeons Hall (venue 53)

Posters in Edinburgh - I AM NOT THE BOY and Cock-gate!

Guinness poster from about 1973.

There are loads of posters around Edinburgh of me advertising my show; not getting blasé about it but I tend to ignore them after a while. When the Guinness poster was all over Britain in the early seventies I learned to get used to it and that was in every city and town throughout the UK. I remember standing underneath one waiting for a bus talking to a drunk and we took no notice.

That poster was around twenty feet high but these are A3 and I have often wondered why nobody has ever drawn a moustache or a beard on my face; maybe even a pair of glasses.

So yesterday I came upon one and someone had put a sticker over my mouth which said 'I AM NOT THE BOY.' - I thought 'I've arrived!'

A bit later on we found a lapel badge 'I AM NOT THE BOY.'

There is a campaign here called Cock-gate; little symbols of a penis and a pair of balls have been stuck to loads of posters - again I was left out; I trust I don't offend anybody by showing this

most of all the publishers of this blog; if it disappears after today you will know why.

These people have a show here and may win an award for their cheek – if you look up 'cock-gate' on Google it will explain all.

If I see another review I will put it up – sorry this is so short but you know the Woody Allen joke – 'that restaurant is terrible; the food is awful - and such small portions.'

I AM NOT THE BOY poster.

Review: The 2 Sides of Eddie Ramone.

Still flying in Edinburgh.

Hi folks: here's a review from the publication Three Weeks.

Sunday August 14th, 2011 22:47

ED2011 Theatre Review: The 2 Sides Of Eddie Ramone (Chris Sullivan)

In this thoughtful piece, Eddie Ramone (Chris Sullivan) reflects on the strange duality of a comedian’s life where one moment he may be the darling of a crowd, and the next, sitting alone and gloomy in a darkened bar. His initial 15 minute stretch of bad stand-up is revealed to be purely an act when he begins to slip between his “autopilot” stage persona and his ongoing internal thoughts. He holds the rapt attention of the audience throughout the story of his personal life, but the true interest of the show lies in the contrast of his shallow stage persona with the gradually revealed pain and sorrow which colour the life of even some the most successful show-people.

theSpaces at Surgeons Hall, 6 – 27 Aug (not 7, 14, 21), 6.00pm (7.00pm), £5.00, fpp307.
tw rating 3/5
[zg]

Tags: Chris Sullivan, theSpaces at Surgeons Hall

Sections: by Zulekha Grace - ED2011 Theatre Reviews - tw rating 3/5 | No Comments

The 2 Sides of Eddie Ramone at The Lord Stanley.

Here I am in London and we landed quite safely; I'll be busy re-rehearsing my show from today and will reply to all my emails very soon.

I would also like to thank the comments that were made on this site concerning our departure from America.

This blog is read all over the world and I'm really delighted with that and I wish everybody that reads this could come along and see the show; it went well in Santa Monica and now for London – then Edinburgh – but if you are in London or know somebody there or can travel there yourself this is for you.

I would love you to come and see my new play in Camden at The Lord Stanley Pub.

Above is the post card; it's a small theatre so I would beg you to book in advance. I can't manage a 'comp' I'm afraid as there aren't any but if you know me intimately I might buy you a drink in the bar afterwards - if I can catch you before you run away.

I'm taking this play to Edinburgh so it will be a chance for you to warn your Scottish friends about it.

I believe the tube station is Camden Town then you take a bus up to the Lord Stanley or walk it if you are fit and well - which I hope you are.

Of course your chauffeur may drop you off and wait for you and if this is the case - maybe you can give me a lift home.

I think the easiest way to book tickets would be via the phone number above as I have heard it's a bit difficult on line. That number is - 07966 597190.

Hoping to see you next Saturday (23rd) and if you don't know me personally and come to see the show please stay behind for a chat.

On a train in England

At the moment I am on a high speed train speeding through the great green expanse of England – or will be soon – we have just left London Liverpool Street Station and on our way to Suffolk; we are going to a tiny village called Great Finborough which is near Stowmarket – an old market town as you will deduce from its name.
I am due to do my play The 2 Sides of Eddie Ramone in Edinburgh for 3 weeks in August and whilst in London I went to a small pub theatre to have a look at the space as they offered me a slot there for July 23^rd to try it out before going to Scotland.
At the moment the train has stopped at the station in Stratford; now this isn't the Stratford in Stratford-upon-Avon where the Royal Shakespeare Company hang out but the Stratford in east London made famous many years ago by Joan Littlewood and her theatre group in Gerry Raffles Square – I believe Gerry Raffles was her partner in the venture and they produced plays by Brendan Behan, Lionel Bart and many others and some great actors. At the moment Stratford seems to be famous for the upcoming Olympic Games and I can see the buildings ready for the games as I look through the window I can see plenty of work and a wonderful round of delights to come next year.
I will be trying my play out first of all in Santa Monica as they offered me 3 nights there in June – so by the time I get to Edinburgh I should know it – I hope.
Yesterday I met the guy who runs the Edinburgh venue and he offered me a nice spot for a bigger poster – I hope that wasn't the lager talking so I sent him an e-mail this morning telling him that I would be taking him up on the offer.
We were in a pub in Great Russell Street, in Covent Garden, very near the Royal Opera House which is truly a beautiful white building and newly refurbished; I don't know if they still get funded by the Lottery Fund but it's well worth it; unfortunately it costs a fortune to get in way much more than regular theatre seats in the West End.
This means, of course, that the man in the street can very rarely afford to go there. Now you might say that the man in the street isn't interested in opera well I have to tell you that this man in the street loves it. I worked with a couple of opera companies many years ago; not as a singer, I hasten to add, but as a technician.
With the D'Oyly Carte company I did the sound; they specialised in Gilbert and Sullivan operas which is not grand opera as there is spoken dialogue. I didn't have to pick them up with a microphone or anything like that as their magnificent voices would carry over the sound of the orchestra and into the auditorium.
I had to play the announcements, which were pre-recorded – you know 'ladies and gentlemen would you kindly take your seats as the performance if about to commence.'
Usually the person who did the lighting on the grand master very sophisticated lighting board would do the sound which only be used for effects and music but with the opera companies and ballet troops the lighting cues were many fold so they needed another person to do the sound.
Now we are stopped at Colchester; it is the oldest recorded town in England and is also famous for a military nick; that's the place the army send you if you’ve been sentenced after a court marshal. It's not only a military prison as they have soldiers there too. I can't remember what regiment is there – maybe an Essex regiment. I was there years ago when I was in the Army Cadets and remember seeing a prisoner or two being marched around the parade ground by a sergeant on the double and the prisoner didn't have any laces in his boots.
We were only cadets and very young too; I looked younger than most and one of the regulars turned around to me and said “Oye! When did you leave off your nappy?”
I didn't say a word back, of course, but my mates decided it was a good excuse for a fight so we went outside and had a scrap; can't even remember if we won.
So back to the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company; as I sat in the control box there were a few tape recorders at the back which I would use for the announcements and when the company manager from the opera company came in all he saw was tape and immediately thought I was going to record and pirate the opera. Nothing could have been further from the truth because even though I loved the opera we had The Beatles White Album in the control room – nuff said??
But I worked with the Sadlers Welles Opera Company too on Grand Opera and that was really exciting and gave me a lifetime of pleasure.
The opera singers with their wonderful voices didn't always sound like that – most of them were Italian, of course, but I remember one singer who had a wonderful bass voice; I was backstage this time and had to knock very loudly and angrily on a door. It had to be a really hard knock and I had to use a hammer. The singer, with the bass voice, didn't speak with a bass voice when talking and he had quite a thick London accent.
“Give it a good bang there son – a really good old smack!”
I wondered who this was and turned quickly to see the aforementioned bass singer.
“Nice one, son” he said, walked on and came out with his wonderful voice.
So now we are nearing Ipswich and I thought I would be posting this on the train as it said there was free wi-fi; I looked on there and, in fact, it does say it's free but in order to use it free of charge you have to pay £2.95. Now what's free about that?