At the hostel we were also joined by Jenkustrap. All of these folks I was meeting for the first time. Pounce was doing himself up as Carbucketty (what a surprise), Jenkustrap was Electra, Emily was a rather tall Jemima, and Feli dressed as Demeter. (If Jessica had intended to dress up as well she chickened out.) All wore their own home made unitards, leg and arm warmers, and wigs. It was quite a sight, and that’s all I will say for now. I watched them get ready, helping Feli with her makeup and Pounce with the zipper on the back of his costume. Once he was ready Pounce began darting between the two bathrooms we were using, taking pictures and getting us to take pix of him.
When everyone was ready we walked to Covent Garden, making a quick stop at the grocery store to get something to graze on later. It was really funny to watch the reactions of the other pedestrians. At Covent Garden we all parked next to a café just around the corner from St. Paul’s church where the street performers generally hang out. Dad was being a good sport about the whole thing, but it wasn’t long before he abandoned us to watch the ever-changing show in front of the church. I’m really glad it was there because I have a feeling he would have been bored out of his mind otherwise.
I pulled out the video camera I had brought with me, borrowed from Cindy, and began filming the cavorting of my costumed companions. After a while we were joined by a few other fans: ThingyWot as Etcetera, Idiosylph as Tantomile, AnnaBomby as Bombalurina (of course), Purrdy (aka Beelzelly or Wrench0626) as her own calico kitty, and Belle1302 as her own black kitty. I think the oldest age in this group (not counting me) was 21; most of them were teenagers, though some of the people we talked to had trouble believing it.
The antics performed included chasing pigeons, playing with the children who stopped to stare, or just lying about in the sun. We made three babies cry, the most memorable of whom was going by in a stroller across the way and staring at us. Emily saw him and stretched out a hand to him and he let out a terrified wail. We also traumatized a couple of dogs, who clearly didn’t know what to make of us. One came up to Belle and sniffed at her, then suddenly barked and snapped before his owner pulled him away. (Belle was a little rattled, I think, but played it off well.) The other was walking by on his leash but began barking hysterically when he saw us, running to the end of his leash then running back. This was not helped at all by the fact that our Cats responded by hissing and yowling at him. Fortunately the owner thought it was funny and just laughed as he led his dog away.
We did get harassed by a security guy at one point who came up to the kids and said, “You know you can’t perform here without a license.”
“Oh, we’re not performing,” Purrdy told him.
“Well, you can’t.”
“Well, we’re not.”
“Well, you can’t.”
“Well, we’re not.”
(Bit thick, wasn’t he?)
A few fans in street clothes joined us as the day went on, including Dax, Swan, and Celtic K. Celtic was wearing a shirt she had made herself. It had a photo of Kenny as Admetus taken from the brochure and the words “Admetus for President”. She wouldn’t let me take a picture though; seemed a bit shy. Lisa also dropped by after a while and had Junix with her. We chatted a bit before he went on to the theatre.
Special attention must be given to our little EtcyWot. She was the cutest thing and totally into her part. (I’m told she also does a good Demeter.) She spent the day chasing pigeons, scrapping with our Jemima, walking along a rail fence as easily as she might walk down the street, and seeking attention from any child who stared. She was charming to watch.
After a while we decided it was time to move on. I ran around the corner to get Dad and we went to Pizza Hut for dinner. Yeah, I know that’s not very European, but they had some very different things to put on their pizzas, like corn. After eating I began putting on my own Cats makeup at the table. “Oh look, she’s turning into one of us!” Emily exclaimed. I got halfway through my variation on Tour V Alonzo when we decided to leave and I ended up finishing it on the street in front of the theatre. I know I got a couple stares and there was at least one camera flashed at me while I was doing that. If the person who took the picture is reading this, I would love to see it so please contact me! WitchCat07@yahoo.com
One lady, who has apparently seen the London show many times, came up, and after telling me I’d missed a spot, asked who I was copying. For answer I showed her the headshot of Ronnie Nelson in makeup that I was using as a guide. “Alonzo?” she said in perplexity. “Which company is he from?”
“The tour that’s currently in America,” I told her.
“Oh,” she said in realization, “I didn’t think he looked like our Alonzo.”
“No,” I smiled, “he’s our Alonzo.”
We went in after that. Having a little time on our hands I went ahead and did the shopping I needed to do at the souvenir booth. Most of the things I bought were for other people; I think I only bought a couple things for myself. Then I meandered over to the candy booth and looked over the chocolate selection. They had a box of Cadbury Easter eggs on the counter, and when I bought something else the cashier added two of them to my purchase.
“Oh, are you trying to get rid of them?” I asked.
“Yes, please take them!” he exclaimed.
I guess they were a little out of season.
We took our seats then. I was getting increasingly upset that I had yet to see Clint Brown onstage. I had a box of chocolates and a letter that I really wanted to give to him in person, but it was starting to look like I wouldn’t be meeting him at the stage door at all. But about five minutes before the show started Feli came over and told me he was standing near one of the backstage doors chatting with one of the other swings. When I looked I could see him from where I was sitting. After a moment of indecision I fought down my butterflies and went to talk to him, dragging Feli along for moral support.
Clint was very sweet. He remembered the tulips, and he may even have remembered me from the T-shirt incident. As I gave him his present he said, “But I won’t be on tonight.” (As if that mattered to me; I still wanted him to have it.) “Will you be at the final show?” he asked. “We’ll all be in that one.”
Oh, how I wish “I’ll be watching in Covent Garden,” I explained.
He thanked me again for the gift and I returned to my seat, glad I had at least talked to him.
Moving on to the stage door, I managed to catch a few more of the Cats I had missed the previous night. But my camera was giving me trouble; I had dropped it on the cobblestones in Covent Garden, the second time I have dropped it since I bought it. I think something may have gotten joggled in there because sometimes it just won’t take a picture at all. Feli kindly took a picture of me with Jye Frasca with her own camera. I tried getting a snapshot of Gareth Snook myself, but it was not cooperating and even when it did click and flash, I could tell the film hadn’t advanced. I later discovered that the film door got jogged open and I lost the rest of the roll.
But getting back to Gareth, he was very pleasant. As usual I was finding myself tongue-tied, but I so wanted to tell him how much I liked his Growltiger. As he signed my programs he asked, “Did you enjoy the show?”
“Oh yes,” I blurted, “and Growltiger is my favourite number!”
“Excellent!” Gareth grinned. He seemed very pleased and took it as the compliment I meant it to be.
Celtic was with us, and when Kenny came out and stopped to talk to us she opened her coat and showed him the shirt she had created. (Not so bashful now it seems.) Kenny was amused.
Another amusing scene came when John Partridge emerged. He had a whole load of groupies waiting for him just outside the door, but he whisked by them and they failed to recognize him right away. He had nearly made it to the corner when one of them suddenly let out a SQUEAL and gave chase, closely followed by her friends. John quickened his pace, but they caught up with him and all but tackled the poor guy. I almost felt sorry for him. He signed all their programs without being rude or moody (as I’ve heard he can be), but we could tell he wasn’t happy about it.
We returned to the hotel after that, with tentative plans to meet Feli for dinner on 5/10. She was seeing the show again on 5/9 and I had urged her to try to remember to collect my duffel bags from backstage as we kept forgetting to do each night. I anticipated needing them to carry souvenirs home in.