When I'm bored at work, I like to think up songs for imaginary musicals...


Here's hoping you're all well!

'Twas a week that the folk of Bal Loch La Main would speak of for years to come, in fact the sages were certain that new star signs had been forged in the tempests of those heady days, the Blind Fursuiter, the Whiskey-Ridden Fear and the Quarrelsome Queens.

Saturday and the previously told-of house-warming fair was but the beginning, the following days a bacchanalia of food and liquor. 'Twasn't til the eve of Monday that the hero of our tale had any respite, which was short lived when on Tuesday morn he arrived at the 'ole wash-house to find it in disarray.

After epic battles between the noble bearfox and the fearsome Mosmanian dragons, he found himself making preparations for his attendance at the grand musical performance of 'Rocky Horror', which he was to see with his wise companions, The Scarlet Vulpine and The Grey Baron, as well as a fearsome but secretly soft-hearted lion.

This daring party braved the traffick of Victoria's Road to make their way to the Starry Hamlet gaming pavillion, the gaudiness of the establishment only rivalled by its banality. After a hearty dinner and some well-needed libations, they made their way to the grand event.

And lo, what an event it was! 'Twas a feast for the eyes and ears, with lashings of rock, frock and cock for the audience, being both a fresh telling of a time-worn tale and a delightful homage to its source. Of the thespians involved Paul Capsis as the curmudgeonly Riff-Raff stood out, while iOTA as the nymphomaniacal Frank N Furter was a treat. While the set was sparse, the lavish costumes, lighting and music were suitable replacements, and the tale was kept mostly in place with only a little more ribaldness to make up for a slightly more mature audience.

The night was capped with more ale, and the party made their weary trips home, wishing each other well on their journeys.

For the bearfox however the next day offered greater things still, after escaping from the wash-house he was to attend another event, the staging of 'Billy Elliott' at the Capitol Theatre in the heart of Her Majesty's colony of Sydney! After an exotic oriental meal he and his confidante, the Earl of Winterwhiskers, made their way to the stately theatre, an opulent and well appointed building.

The show commenced somewhat late, though this sleight was remedied by the bearfox's seating arrangement (secured with 45 gold) having been improved to a far more regal balcony location (worth 115 gold)!

Sir Elton's contribution to the affair was apparent, the showiness and flamboyance an odd contrast with the grime and politickal thrust of the story. The set design was miraculous, a cut-away homestead and the dancefloor occupy the stage throughout most of the piece, with mechanickally controlled set pieces constantly moving about. The use of magic (some call it 'projecktion') and amazing lighting was most notable, and the choreography was obviously of a high calibre (one can't tell a tale about dancing if what's on offer is poor).

However, on the topick of dancing, it must be said that in a tale where your main character is learning to dance, the ability of those around him to dance as well is a somewhat jarring conceit for a director to take.

The music was suitably epick and stirring, the orcherstra perfectly timed, though the songs were lyrickally mediocre, the exception being the piece Solidary Forever, which sent shivers through the bearfox's fur.

Indeed, contrast and confusion of emotion was ever-present in 'Billy Elliott", but couldn't surmount the joy and glamour of the performance, with credit to be paid towards the actress playing the dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson, a fine singer with a wicked sense of humour.

One can only hope that such interesting times continue follow the bearfox and his friends. Best wishes to you all!

(NOTE: I'm aware of the k's and the odd speech, it's meant to be there)