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Alan Bennett Evening at Meltdown - report
posted by davidt on Friday June 18 2004, @07:00AM

 carnal artist writes:

'An Evening with Alan Bennett" for Meltdown last night was excellent. The writer was on tremendous form. (especially considering he is 70 years old)

Morrissey was sitting in the row in front of me and appeared to be enjoying it very much. On several occassions he threw his head back to laugh.

He was sitting with a group of friends. (Anyoine know who they were?) And he was wearing a very smart black suit. He looked great.

Highlights of Bennett:

Bennett explaining that he believed that Morrissey had chosen him to appear because he'd already booked Nancy Sinatra and wanted "another ageing Nancy on the bill."

Bennett (inspired by Morrissey's fascination with music hall comedian Jimmy Clitheroe) listing lots of old comedians then explaining why they are not funny. He had a lot of scorn for 'cheeky chappie' comedians.

Bennett explaining that he was offered a knighthood by Thatcher but couldn't accept it from someone he hated so much.

Bennett describing how he uses a fountain pen to write his plays/films/novels/diaries... and doesn't know how to use a computor.

Bennett 'being a bitch' about the press. Saying you can't trust what they say.

During the Q&A someone asked him what he thought of Morrissey's music. Bennett said that he had read all the lyrics and enjoyed them very much. (Note that he read rather than listened to them!)

He went on to say that he was going to use the "Manchester Schools' line (he couldn't remember it exactly but knew it was Smiths rather than solo) as a quote in his new play but it didn't quite work out. He used the Pet Shop boys instead! This got a big laugh especially when he added the coda: 'It's a Sin.'

It was a great and very entertaining night. And there was so much more too...

It also showed very clearly how much of an influence Alan Bennett has been on Morrissey over the years.
---
David Furnish also writes:

Morrissey attended the Alan Bennett show last accompanied by The Rock. Other celebrities in attendance included designer Stella McCartney, artist Sam Taylor-Wood, writer/director Richard Curtis & stalker in chief Julia Riley.

 
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    Alan Bennett Evening at Meltdown - report | Log in/Create an Account | Top | 96 comments | Search Discussion
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    The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
    the rock (Score:1)
    please someone tell me this is true

    how awesome
    giant -- Friday June 18 2004, @07:44AM (#111379)
    (User #430 Info)
     I Like You
    Moz in the crowd (Score:0)
    Julia Riley? Was she one of the people in Moz's group? I wonder if ill Alain was present.
    Anonymous -- Friday June 18 2004, @08:15AM (#111399)
    • Julia Riley by Anonymous (Score:0) Saturday June 19 2004, @05:33AM
      celebrity? (Score:1)
      so riley is a celebrity now? i suppose everyone's entitled to their fifteen.
      eugenius -- Friday June 18 2004, @08:20AM (#111403)
      (User #1665 Info)
       I'm almost sure you can do better than that.
        Who the fuck is Julia Riley? (Score:0)
        Is she a celebrity? Can't be a very good one as I've never heard of her. Stella McCartney is a stuck-up twat though. I wonder what Moz thought of the Pet Shop Boys reference, I hope he likes them even though they're disco. Their lyrics are hardly far removed from his.
        Anonymous -- Friday June 18 2004, @08:22AM (#111405)
        I'd hardly call Julia a celebrity (Score:2, Insightful)
        And even though I REALLY don't like her (she kicks you during the show if you're next to her) -- and under normal circumstances I would NEVER stick up for her I think the dig about her being "stalker in chief" is uncalled for. What brought that comment on? I know people are quick to diss her (God, I sound so American saying "diss") but fair is fair. If she were in the audience why not just say, "and super-fan Julia Riley." Or something like that?

        I am thinking that David T is being a bit irresponsible by leaving that comment in.

        Furthermore I was at the show yesterday and did not see her. Perhaps you were mistaking her for someone else. Or perhaps I am wrong. Not like my Julia radar went off or anything. Where abouts was Julia sitting?

        Also, while we're on the topic of irresponsible journalism I feel that Pop-bitch comments shouldn't be allowed on here.

        I ran into Alain's mum yesterday. Alain is resting at her house. All you conspiracy theorists can stop now. Alain hasn't left the band. He's having a bit of rest with his family. When he's feeling better he'll be back. End of story. Yes, I know, how dull. The truth pales in comparision to all the dirty rumours.

        I find all of it to be quite irritating.
        equatorial guinea -- Friday June 18 2004, @08:32AM (#111412)
        (User #5373 Info | http://www.mbendi.co.za/cyeqmps2.gif )
         Eric was a contender
        Great description: Stalker in Chief Julia Riley (Score:0)
        I couldnt had said it better...
        (And not to make controversy here, but I think that sheŽd be proud to be called like that by the man himself)
        Anonymous -- Friday June 18 2004, @09:29AM (#111438)
          Homage To One's Heroes... (Score:1)
          Ah, too bad he didn't work in the acronyms, B.U.R.M.A and K.O.R.W.I.C.H.! Wonder if Dr. Jonathan Miller was in the audience?! Beyond The Fringe, oh, now there were some good laughs...

          My favourite bits:

          "Bennett explaining that he was offered a knighthood by Thatcher but couldn't accept it from someone he hated so much."

          "Bennett describing how he uses a fountain pen to write his plays/films/novels/diaries... and doesn't know how to use a computer."
          J. Razor -- Friday June 18 2004, @10:58AM (#111457)
          (User #724 Info)
           I'm Alone
            Ms. Riley (Score:0)
            I would like to know why so many of you slag Julia Riley so often? I'm aware of her going to his concerts and him mentioning her et cetera. So what? What did she ever do to any of you? I've never heard anyone give a legitimate reason for the 'Julia-bashing.' (Except 'equatorial guinea' who somehow gets kicked by her all the time, but even he objected to the "stalker" remark.) I'd be curious to hear what it is about her you don't like. Do any of you even know her personally? I mean REALLY KNOW her, not just spot her at a concert? I don't even know what she looks like let alone what type of person she is.

            Maybe you have a logical reason for disliking her - fine. But I can't imagine that she is such a horrid person that she has cheesed-off so many people here.

            Try liking people until they give you a good reason not to.

            Truer Poetry
            Anonymous -- Friday June 18 2004, @11:05AM (#111458)
            Julia is not a stalker but these people are... (Score:0)
            equatorial guinea & eugenius

            At least my obsession is with Morrissey. At least Julia's obsession is with Morrissey. These twits are obsessed with a fan, Julia Riley. E & E are Pathetic.
            Anonymous -- Friday June 18 2004, @05:56PM (#111513)

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