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HEAR'SAY
So who got a valentines card then? Or more perhaps? I must admit I was much happier when
the skip lorry finally took away all those red scented envelopes I received on valentine's
day. The current going rate for paper is around 10 quid a tonne. I thought for a moment,
we were going to have to hire one of those enormous great cranes that have been perched on
the old Leicester convalescent home site for the past year. |
We talk about phone masts as being an eyesore. But what a transformation? That beautiful
old building being turned into penthouse suites and swimming pools. Wow, nearly fit for
royalty wouldn't you say? And they do look very luxurious, not to mention that their
selling prices are slightly more than a song. Perhaps they got the Lord Chancellor to do
their budgeting for them.
Anyway I thought I'd concentrate on the news going around. The rumourmongers suggest that
there is a plan in the making to link up all the major towns of Norfolk by rail (inc.
steam) again. i.e. Sheringham to Norwich, Holt, Fakenham, Kings Lynn and beyond. A novel,
if somewhat ambitious project to say the least, bearing in mind the turmoil the existing
rail networks are in at the moment. Goodness only knows what mayhem may ensue if they
tried to enlarge the already over-stretched, chaotic, network, I assume that some of the
track may actually still be in place. Which, on second thoughts, is probably in better
condition than some of the track they have been replacing the main lines with.
Mind you I understand in today's world, with all the problems with our new tilting locos,
speed restrictions, overcrowding, faulty points and tracks, dodgy overhead power lines and
"sun on the line", the steam-age seems to be quite an attractive proposition. I
remember it now, the impeccable time keeping, the porter who tipped his cap, the old
favourites like the Flying Scotsman cruising at 100 miles an hour! Four times faster than
now, if indeed they run at all without breaking down for hours just yards out of the
stations. The sell by date on those bygone, noisy, rickety, wooden old death trap
carriages may have been up donkeys years ago, but at least they had ventilation! In the
form of a little sliding window. Some even had, for the more stupid passenger, little
notices about how it was not a good idea to prune the hedges whilst the train was in
motion, or something like that. Common sense really wasn't it?
So here's looking forward to Sheringham's link up to the big wide world. Be quite a shock
to some I imagine. Just think of linking up the Orient Express. But for the time being
we'll have to settle for Holt rather that the Orient, and as for the express? Well I guess
the two-mile an hour carthorse trail between the station and Holt's town centre is just
about as much as we can hope for.
And moving on, to more local matters. We're at last, or so I'm reliably led to believe,
only a few " K " away from the lifeboat museum's target for their heritage
centre at "Lifeboat Plain". Yep, to my reckoning, if everyone now, who lives in
town, coffs up a fiver they'd be able to get cracking with opening the thing at long last.
At least we'd be getting something for our money. Which is more than can be said of the
imminent council tax rises said to burden us all this year. I thought, silly me, correct
me if I'm wrong, that the rate of inflation was around two to three percent. I suppose in
their wisdom the great powers that be think of a number and add a nought. Or better still
ring up the Lord Chancellor and ask him what he's getting and replicate it. |
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Well at least the Town's sights are finally set on this
cultural centre for fishing being on a buoyant course. It's a shame they
can't throw a life raft or buoyancy aid to save our visiting Rep Company this year at the
Little Theatre. To quote "To be or not to be?" That was the question. I mean we
all know who is and who isn't going to be appearing for this summer don't we? Or do we?
It certainly looks from the last count, that the most likely contenders are that of the
company who are from the fish and chip free zone of Frinton. A cultural shock for them
there then for starters. We all know in the summer Sheringham has more chips than a
Macdonald's fry farm! At least for us when the chips are down we tackle them
(metaphorically) which is more than can be said for the French and Germans. Sorry
Ottendorfers (no offence).
Skimming speedily along. No-one knows the real reasons why the split happened, with one
side saying one thing etc. etc. Did the curtain close because of poor performance and lack
of support? Certainly on the times that I went along, no-one could have complained about
the number of patrons or the performances of those shows that had been already performed
by our gallant amateur regulars. All were of reasonable quality, so no off stage remarks
there! On the other hand, perhaps the group's thoughts were on the lines that whatever
efforts were afforded to the boards were in fact fruitless and meaningless. Because,
whilst many of their past and present theatre goers were on the whole physically unable to
fit into the 29 inches of deep veined thrombosis chambers, the National Lottery experts
had the nerve to call "leg room"! I've seen larger gaps in letter boxes. Even
worse is when the person in front pulls the seat down to sit, then there's not even any
toe room! Thanks a bunch Mr or Mrs Designer, who must have used midget measurements at the
final drawing stage. Let's not mention the totally inadequate 15 inches or so of stage
height or Auntie Alice's rolling stone impression as she stumbles down the auditorium's
railless stairs after choosing a seat half way up (or down) the seating plan. That said
technologically it has many endearing features. Unfortunately for all the staff that have
to run it, the design is, so we're led to believe, there to stay. What a shame the paying
public may not be.
In all who ever does come this season I'm sure they'll be made as welcome as a gin and
tonic and a bottle of cramp remover. And good luck to them, let's hope they'll also be
able to fill our neon lit (outside), stage-less, balcony voided barn, we've all grown to
love and cherish so much, with as much fun and laughter and good old time rep as their
predecessors have done over the years.
Be good, Vic.
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LITTLE THEATRE
SHERINGHAM
TODAY'S SEATING ADVICE |
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