Taking advantage of an internet cafe in Hoehoe quickly to post this picture. Three days on farms and I still look like a Persil advert. There goes my street cred. Hope to do a post on the work this evening. My driver Peter who tool the photo just suggested there’s more money in the wellington boots than the organic chilli peppers we were working on.
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“it would be hard on a sole proprietor.”
Only if they were on their uppers to start with.
“on their uppers”
*laughter*
Being unable to follow that, it occurs to me instead to drop a quick plug for the New Rope String Band. Partly just because they’re good people and lots of high quality fun, but mainly in hopes that they still do their South African Wellyboot Dance.
Here’s my contribution, which I hope Craig will appreciate.
In the late 1930’s the great American actor and singer Paul Robeson was appearing in a variety show in Glasgow. He had wowed the Old Vic with his Othello to Peggy Ashcroft’s Desdemona, an only slightly less risque cross-racial casting than it would have been in the USA.
In this Glaswegian show he had been preceded by a stand-up comic who had had a hard time. As he came off into the wings, he passed on his advice: “Jimmie, it’s an awfu’ audience; they’re no worth blackin’ up fer.”
My contribution – for Craig to enjoy.
In the late 1930s the great American actor and singer, Paul Robeson, was appearing in a variety show in Glasgow. He had recently wowed the Old Vic with his Othello to Peggy Ashcroft’s Desdemona, a cross-racial casting only slight;y less risque than it would have been in the USA.
Robeson was preceded by a local stand-up, given a hard time by the audience. As the Glesca comic walked into the wings he passed on his advice: “Jimmie, the audience is awfu’. It’s no even worth blackin’ up fer.”
For Robeson fans: we might meet at the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Black Heritage event at 14.30 on 17 July: “Othello, Robeson and the FBI”:
“Join literary critic Professor Tony Howard to examine the work and legacy of Shakespearean actor and political activist Paul Robeson. Hear a dramatised reading which includes original extracts from FBI and MI5 files, and explore The Robeson Project display.” at the V&A.”
For the sake of historical accuracy, my story about Paul Robeson should be rephrased as follows (thank you, Elspeth; and fond memories of brother Roy Cunningham, the best teller of the tale):
Towards the end of his career – and after the US government had given him back his passport – the great American actor and singer, Paul Robeson, was appearing about 1960 in a variety show in Glasgow’s St Andrews Halls.
This was long after he had first wowed Old Vic audiences in the late 1930s with his Othello to Peggy Ashcroft’s Desdemona, a cross-racial casting only slightly less risque than it would have been in the USA.
Robeson was preceded by a local stand-up, Jimmie Beattie, who had been given the bird by the audience. As he walked off into the wings he said to Robeson:’Hey pal. They’re no worth blacking up for.’
That was, of course, the era of the Black and White Minstrel show.
For Robeson fans: we might meet at the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Black Heritage event at 14.30 on 17 July: “Othello, Robeson and the FBI”:
“Join literary critic Professor Tony Howard to examine the work and legacy of Shakespearean actor and political activist Paul Robeson. Hear a dramatised reading which includes original extracts from FBI and MI5 files, and explore The Robeson Project display.” at the V&A.”
Iain Orr, that’s a great post. I wish I could go to see that event and the V and A. Paul Robeson, as you say, toured the UK around 1960. He came to Hull, where (before I was born) my father met him and was totally impressed by Robeson – a major figure, a genius in the true sense of the word, who was treated shamefully by the US authorities. They really killed him, by preventing him from doing what he loved – singing, performing. They really killed most of the black leaders in the USA who were systemically critical of the economic/ military system. He got a great reception in the UK/ Europe though, esp. in Wales, I think; people really warmed to him and to his and his people’s struggle. I didn’t know he’d come to Glasgow too. That’s really interesting. He would have got a super reception here.
Suhayl
Thanks for that response and also for your many sane posts on this site.
If you can send me your email (mine is: [email protected]) I will send you my report on the V&A event and also explain – not relevent to Craig’s website – why Paul Robeson has been my childhood, teenage, university, professional (FCO), wrinklie – and no doubt post-human Heaven/ cyberspace/ Hell/ Nirvana – flawed hero.
Note – for heroes without flaws look to Mao, Stalin and Blair. [I think the technical term for this descending figure of speech is “bathos”.]
Added reason. I’ve unlocked “Joseph’s Box” and when my Japan-based sister is in Harris and Lewis in August, I hope she’ll visit Two Ravens Press in Uig and return to see me in London with a copy of your novel.
PS Why two ravens rather than any other number? Is the allusion to fidelity/ monogamy? Will they stick with you (and vice-versa when you get Bookered)?
I have no time for rich cunts like you who sponged off the taxpayer for years living the high life and producing zilch.
above comment not from suhayl, obviously…
That commnet at 1129am on 17th July 2010 was NOT written by me. Please be assured of that, Ian Orr and everyone. I would never write such a thing about/ to anyone (outside of a character’s interior monologue of dialogue of course!). Someone has been ‘impersonating’ me on threads recently – yesterday – but if in doubt, please assume that it’s not me. Thanks. This kind of nonsense is to be expected from the envious and those who wish to disrupt.
Ideally, I would prefer if comments which are forgeries wer removed, as anyone might stumble across them on the web and think it’s me. I realsie, though, that Craig can’t spend his time doing this or it’d be a full-time job.
Iain Orr, thanks very much for your kind comments. I’ll get in touch as you suggest. You’re right about Robeson, btw. I hope – I’m certain – you didn’t imagine that that stupid comment a’ 1129am on 17th July 2010 was written by me.
I love Craig’s shirt, btw!
Thanks, technicolour.
Whoever they are, they are trying to sow discord – but as both Richard Robinson and technicolour have made plain, it won’t work. People on these boards know who I am and how I relate to folk.
So whoever they are, I don’t really care whether or not they desist – it will make not one iota of difference to me or anyone else. We see through it all.
The brightness of Craig’s shirt has illumined the world!
Thanks, Suhayl. I’m sending you some mango body oil!
I think someone is impersonating Craig today as well. Someone very envious, perhaps.
Suhayl,
I think somebody’s very, very worried about your brilliant contributions to Craig’s blog.
Thanks, Ruth, for your solidarity and good vibes. Best wishes.
Cunts! “Liberals” ha ha. Lick my anus!!
Sorry for off topic but I can find no email address. I ordered direct ‘The Catholic Orange men..’ on 8 June. On 19 July no sign of it. I paid through Paypal ref Transaction ID: 9WP267392M117315T
I would like to order ‘Murder in S..’ direct also if possible, not evident from your site.
Austin