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hurricane, blizzard— so what’s next?


I'M starting to get the impression that Cod IS not a particularly big fan


. of mine Since I arrived in the United States.


Since I set foot in the "new world"


J P thI rS Philip North


f^.»*?P«7dinga year studying


I seem to be faced with things that wish to end my life early. First I came across an earthquake, then a hurricane followed by a


blizzard and, finally, a ridiculously big hill. As per usual the media alerted the


people to the incoming blizzard and eveiyone panicked-.


I must admit that I didn't expect it - -


to be as bad as it was,-especially after the hurricane that never reaily arrived. Throughout the day the snow fell


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k r i f t '


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and the inches began to mount up,' ' but nothing major. ■' • . As the evening drew near the winds


picked up and you began to wonder if it was actually snowing'or if it was the Wind blowing it around like a sandstorm.. At this point a lad who lives down


the corridor from me decided to streak across the centre of campus


K


THIGH DEEP: Philip in the snow, (s) Apparently it was on his "bucket


list" to streak through a storm - each to their own I guess


The morning after, the storm had


ended and the sun was out, but I couldn't really get anywhere as the snow was up to my waist and the


• ploughs were yet to reach my dorm. The walk to the canteen took three times longer than usual, as I had to


■


waddle through three foot of snow in search of food.


; The novelty soon wore off. . A. week or so after the storm, and


with the evidence of it still coating ■ eveiywhere that hadn't the privilege


. of being ploughed, Hongi and I went to a concert at a casino.


To most people this wouldn't be


a big deal, but I have never actually been to a live music event before.


St " "


Review: "An Inspector Calls", performed by Ribcaged at The Grand, Clitheroe (www. thegrandveniie.co.uk)


We wanted to watch Matchbox


Twenty, but they were sold out so instead saw 3 Doors Down and Daughtry.


I must admit that it was pretty


good, but I was surprised at all the Americans sitting down eating throughout the whole thing; not ; what I expected after seeing footage of the Engiish festivals. What I found stranger was that


there was no queue for the bar, just the food. God Bless America. Regarding the hill I mentioned


earlier, Sofia has been mentioning for some time road races that we can


take part in to get off campus and do something. During my procrastination from


work I found a calendar of races and e-mailed it to her; big mistake. At 6


a.m. on a Saturday we all got into Evan's truck and drove to Roxbury to run 2.4 miles.' The truck still smelt of sheep mess


as we had gone to his house the day before to see the new lambs.;. I now know what I want for Christmas. I started off well as I overtook


numerous people and started to feel a little cocky, and then the hill arrived. This thing was very steep and went on for so long. It pays to know the course as those


I overtook previously eased past me. I finished 30to out of 81 with a time of 18 minutes two seconds. Hopefully, next time a lack of hill will knock some time off. ■ To keep up to date with my


goings-on in America, visit www. connectwithconnect.blogspot.co.uk


&


Review: "Tull", at the Octagon, Bolton, until March 16th. Box office: 01204 5206661. Website: www.octagonbolton. co.uk


SOMETIMES, in winter, I find myseif loath to leave home in the cold and dark and drive for milK to the theatre. Then, when I get there, often I realise just how much I enjoy the chance to


:see superb live drama. That is what happened when i


NEW BORN: Philip says he now knows what he would like for Christmas, (s)


adventurer makes his way back home. (s) ^RE-RUN; On your marks, get set, hill! ( (s)


went to see Phil Vasali's new play at the Bolton Octagon. Vasali has taken the incredible life of Walter Tull, born 1888, and turned it into a challenging, memorable play. Tull was one of the very earliest black footballers to play professional football, first for Spurs and then, after racist incidents, for Northampton. Then-in 1914. he enlisted in the British army, and served with such bravery and distinction that he was sent for Officer Training and became the first black commissioned officer in the British arrny. The stoiy of his fascinating iife should be much more widelv known. With Artistic Director


From left, Fiona Hampton, Marc


M


- Small, Tristan Brooke, Kieran Hill and Colin Connor in Phil Vasali's new


' wort 'Tull', at the Octagon, Bolton.


Photo by Ian Tilton


RIBCAGED, the professional theatre compahy which has its roots in the Ribble Valley village of Ribchester, delivered on its previous promise with its latest production of An inspector Calls by J.B.Priestley, writes Fiona Finch. Performing at Clitheroe's


Grand theatre the cast of seven took command of the stage and held the audience rapt. The play is most definitely a


period piece, in the disarming rather than charming tradition, and the actors did it more


than justice. Yes, it's preachy with broad brush strokes and a modern audience isn't used to this. But in a world where


questions of honesty and motive are debated daiiy - be


»they about burger content or politicians' promises - this production had a very contemporary resonance. VYith good staging and props


and an imaginative back-cloth the austere rnodern stage of the Grand was transformed into an intimate space. The audience was drawn


in as the plot was unpacked with a calm inevitability by the "inspector" played by Mike Coyne. Inspector Goole never


Rick Hoyle, Charlotte Smith, Sarah Wright, Owen Phillips, and Michael Gill celebrate before The Inspector Calls. Photo by Bradley Hamer Photography.


wavered from his task, proving expert at discomforting the assembled family members. Leading each of the main


characters to their own confession of guilt in the suicide of a lonely abandoned factory worker, he managed also to make it clear this was no ordinary Inspector. Young Sarah Wright was commanding in her debut


performance for Ribcaged. She is currently studying drama at Preston's Newman College and brought to the role of Miss Sheila Biding insight and attitude managing at one and the same time to be lamentably spoilt, whilst also persuading the audience that she was likeable despite her flaws. The charity-less father


Mr Arthur Biding, played entertainingly by Michael Gill, became more set in his desire to keep up appearances - despite the truths uncovered. Snobbish mother Mrs Sybil Biding was played by Charlotte Smith with aplomb, proving herseif the steely backbone of ■ Edwardian hypocrisy. Owen Phillips, the compan/s Artistic Director, stepped out


Tull’s a tale for However, eveiy change is cleariy ,


delineated, a variation of posture, a different but well maintained accent. I reaiised I was watching a masterciass-^^i;- in acting. 1 wish to pay tribute to John Biianweil, Tristan Brooke, Colin Connor, Fiona Hampton, Kieran Hill, ^ Marc Small and Anna Tierney (an impressive professional debut). You all reinforce my admiration for theatre actors. For Nathan Ives-Moiba, yvho plays ' o Tull, I find it hard to believe that


n


this is your professiohai debut. Your athleticism and passion is the heart of ^ this dram a..


V- The sound and lighting add much.


Not only is this an enthralling production, it is thought provoking, covering issues like racism, the class struggles, the-Suffragette movement ' for women, and pacifism. An unconvential production, but I .


David Thacker, Vasili has created a ■ stunning, fast moving re-creation of Tuli's life from childhood, a spell in an orphanage, his footbali career and his armv service.


- As the'lights went down for the


first few moments, I was nonplussed. The black circle of the stage is filled with actors in jeans, sweatshirts, all variations of contemoorarv casual


dress. When the action begins,


' there are no props, actors leap from character to character in simple moves, standing up, turning, chanoino oosition.


will remember it for a long time. Tull has never received the Military C r o s s , . for which he was recommended, and ’ sadly the final speech about the future' hopes for non-racist footbail have not; yet been fuily achieved! PIPPA MUNRO HEBDEN


"on stage as potentiai son-in-iaw Mr Gerald Croft and was adroit at conveying the comfortabie coitiplacency of a wealthy heir who wants all to be well, whatever the truth. Sheila's brother Eric - versatile Ribcaged regular Richard Hoyle


- brought an excellent giggle to the role of weak drunk - and convinced us he could be redeemed.


„ . . ..-A"'' u. q - . 1 . • ■ j -


28 d**’®


™® A<*''®rtlser 8i Times. Thureday, March 7,2013


www.cilthen»adverliser.eo.uit


www«clUherooadvert(ser.co.uk


Clitheroe Advertiser ftTlmes,Thursday, March 7,2013 . • 29 . StjQj; justice to S a.. -* M


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