I was maimed by Ben Whishaw*

First of what is going to be a theatre-packed month today. The play was Leaves of Glass by Philip

Ben Whishaw in Leaves of Glass

Ridley with the excellent Ben Whishaw and Maxine Peake of Dinner Ladies and Shameless fame at the Soho Theatre.
It is a small theatre with unallocated seating. Being the penultimate performance it was sold out but I still managed to secure a spot on the front row.
The stage was the same height as my seat and close enough to act as a comfortable foot rest, so the action is very close, more of which later.
It is an interesting play, a tale of two very different brothers shaped by a childhood loss and experience.
The incident which is central to their relationship is never explicitly explained, merely hinted at which makes it all the worse. The brothers can never have an equal relationship because of it an this becomes apparent as the play progresses.
Although two hours without an interval, it rushed by helped by startling good performances by all four cast members. Ben Whishaw adopts the east end, working class boy turned self-made business man attitude, as well as accent, effortlessly.
The only suffering during the performance, on my part anyway, was during a fight scene between the two brothers. During the scuffle, Ben Whishaw's watch some how got ripped off and hit me from across the other side of the stage. I have a (very small) bruise on the top of my foot. It did take me and the person sat next to me somewhat by surprise.
At the end of the play, being the goodish citizen I am, I only thought about pocketing it as a memento for a second or two. Instead I handed it in to a rather bemused member of the theatre staff.
Definitely goes into my claim to fame top three after Jools Holland buying me a scotch and being kissed on the cheek by snooker players Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White when I was 18.

 

* possible hyperbole

Comments

[Jane]

As he gets famouser and famouser (which he will) I expect this story to grow!

I'd love to hear those other tantalising celebrity stories...

[Rev Stan]

I can already feel a limp coming on.
There was a QOTD about meeting celebrities earlier in this year and in my answer I mention another claim to fame of mine.
Perhaps I should do a post of my top five sometime...

[Jane]

Ooooh, do.  I've mentioned a couple of mine in the past too, like the moment when I met Tony Blair as Bob Holness wiped satay sauce from the low neckline of my dress.  That was quite surreal.

[Rev Stan]

OK, if you post a link to your Tony Blair story which sounds way more impressive than any of mine.
I generally think it is best for me not to meet celebrities I admire as the encounter will inevitable turn out completely the opposite to how I imagine.

[Jane]

I don't think my post told the full story, so here it is instead.  I was at a buffet at 10 Downing Street, for radio news-type people to meet the PM.  I spilt a bit of satay sauce down my dress, and Bob Holness, who happened to be there as well, offered gallantly and somewhat lasciviously to wipe it off.  That's when Tony came over to talk to us.  He held out his hand for me to shake, and asked me what was happening in my part of the world.  He has very, very blue eyes.

[Rev Stan]

That is a great story. At least you actually got to speak to/meet the famous person...

[rhino75]

a true celebrity encounter!! I once got entangled in Kate Moss's daughter's pushchair walking down the street in Paris. She was very nice about it. Looks JUST like she does in the photos too.

[Rev Stan]

Another great story. Kate Moss, that's a good one. There should be a QOTD about slightly embarrassing celebrity encounters...
Once during my lunch hour, back in the halcyon days of our offices being on Wardour Street in the heart of Soho, I blanked Britney Spears who was shamelessly trying to draw attention to herself. She too looked quite like her photos but then she did have half a ton of slap on.