SO-SLICK GREASE IS THE ONE WE WANT

I'd initially blamed will-he-won't-he Gay Byrne, the potential presidential candidate who swept into the foyer a mere five minutes before the scheduled start time and delivered a grandiose speech to waiting media. "Our apologies, ladies and gentlemen, due to technical difficulties tonight's performance will be delayed by a few minutes". Fuming, I decided that no matter how dazzling the performance, Grease was already on a slippery slope for keeping the audience waiting. For "a few minutes", read "half an hour". Perhaps I could begin by applauding the spot-on casting of Carina Gillespie as Sandy, who effects an amazing transition from shy goody-two-shoes to sexy siren via some show-stopping solos.

Source: Herald.ie

Riding The Lightning

I knew about the gigs, but also knew that the tickets had been sold out on the day of release, months ago. Coming in the wake of a fairly stressful period, I was determined that it should be. After a pleasant morning of poetry tutorials, coffee with the poetry peeps, and some internet natter with Farah, I got home resolute to take the day completely... I sat down on a bench in the adjoining cinema foyer, argued frantically with the connection until I got online, and hit up the ticket website. This is very exciting, and very unexpected. Sweet, sweet, success. I had purchased — at my parents’ expense and insistence — a copy of I Shall Wear Midnight , the latest Terry Pratchett novel, and this was going to be my afternoon. I’d checked various second-hand retailers online, but when I saw prices around the $500 mark I’d glumly given up, and accepted that this just wasn’t going to happen. 1 ticket, general admission, October 19th. I was having a pretty good day anyway. Tea, biscuits, Pratchett....