Just got back to work to find 269 new emails waiting for me, which means until I've finished ploughing through them, a full Perrier report will have to wait.
But in the mean time, in case you don't know already, here are the winners:
Perrier News
and a piece that Ian (fellow panelist) has written up in the FT. I'm one the "three informed and committed winners of public competitions." Thank you very much Ian.
And Bruce Dessau, who I met sometime in the early hours of Sunday morning, has a blog of the event, which is here. Thankfully he doesn't say in his piece on Tim Minchin and his similarity to Ben Folds that it was me who was ranting about him. Still Ian's had a good moan in the FT about it. At least of two of us on the panel didn't vote Minchin. Miserable little man. But more on Minchin when I get chance.
4 comments:
I'm intriqued to know what your problem with Tim was. Disclosure: he is a friend of mine.
I was one of only a few who felt that the show was overhyped. It worked for him, so that's fine. It seemed obvious to me but no one else that he was a failed musician, who has stuck some comedy into his show, complete with a falling off stage routine and a mad crazy hair cut. I was told that it's cabaret. But if that is the case then Ben Folds, who does it better, would be classed as Cabaret not as he is, a Rock musician.
I did speak to Tim after he received his Perrier award, and asked him a bit about his act and future career. I was worried he’d be off back to Oz never to be heard of again. It’s happened before (Lano and Woodley). And regardless of my opinion of him, mine is only one opinion of many. I’d like others to see him and judge for themselves. I know people who have enjoyed his show.
Then as I spoke to him he told me he was a failed musician, that he had plans to go into music, writing, and acting. But he had no real plans to continue with the comedy. I got the impression at the time that he was distinctly unimpressed with the award and accolades thrown at him. It’s disheartening really, when other comedians desperately wanting to do well in their field, are in competition with actors etc. As so many of the acts at Edinburgh this year I felt were actors trying to get noticed. I like my comedy to be funny, well written, original, as well as well executed, not just well performed.
Fair enough - but I think you probably caught him at the tail end of a tiring month, because as far as I know the comedy stuff is set to continue.
And he is/was excited about the award, but was fairly overwhelmed by the all the hype then taken aback by the harshness of some of the backlash - which seemed to start in record time.
But the cabaret side of things comes from the notion of putting on a 'show' - a semi-theatrical performance, I guess - with music and comedy. And I'd say there was a fair degree of originality in the show, in terms of mixing up styles etc.
I dunno. I'm not trying to come across all 'you can't say that about my friend!' sorta stuff, and I hope this doesn't appear that way. I just think there was/is an element of resentment that the GB folks put so much support/money behind the show, when other folks could have done with equal expsoure. But that's just the way it goes - it certainly wasn't the performer's decision.
Anyway, I think you'll find Tim doing interesting stuff in future - he should be over here semi-permanently next year.
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