Anthea Turner and Wendy Turner at their book launch, 'Of Mice And Women'
Steven Smith scampers along to the book launch of “Raining Strawberries at Wimbledon “by Wendy Turner Webster and Anthea Turner.
Steven Smith with Anthea Turner and Wendy Turner
In 1937 John Steinbeck classic American novel “Of Mice and Men” debuted.
Not quite in the same genre, this year animal activist and glamours television presenter 57-year-old, Wendy Turner and her sister legendary presenter turned businesswoman 64-year-old, Anthea Turner have become children’s authors and share their mice.
Last year saw the publication of their first joint book “The King’s Coronation and the Kohinoor Diamond. Published by Splendid Publications https://www.splendidpublications.co.uk
The tale features mice that live in the Underground station. The book has become a run-away success and received mass critical acclaim.
Last night saw the launch of their second book “Raining Strawberries at Wimbledon “Held at the stylish Kings Road boutique “White Coco”
Despite it feeling like the hottest day of the year fans of their books, friend’s and celebrities joined the ladies for an evening of Fizz, strawberries and treats and the ladies were happy to sign books. On hand was award winning journalist and ‘Loose Women’, Jane Moore.
Anthea Turner with friend award winning journalist and ‘Loose Woman’ Jane Moore
Girl about town Lizzie Cundy, presenter Vanessa Feltz, screen writer celebrity author Samantha Lee Howe plus, celebrity hairstylist Nicky Clarke debonair Gary Webster were among the crowd.
Making a special appearance was the mice themselves hand crafted by Smelly cat design. They were a huge hit and there was no need to call for pest control for these crocheted replaces of the book’s mice. Designer Kaela owner of Smelly Cat Design tells me it takes a day to make each mouse.
The latest book tells the story of huge excitement at Buckingham Palace when King Charles and Queen Camilla receive a surprise invite from Princess Kate; to watch her and Prince William play Andy Murray and Heather Watson at a charity match on Wimbledon’s famous Centre Court!
Meanwhile, Underneath the Underground, little Elly Archer is a mouse on a mission – to sneak over to Wimbledon for the Ladies’ Final without the adults finding out.
And Harry the Hero Rat has a secret plan too… he’s heard that juicy red strawberries are eaten there by the tonne, a perfect opportunity to gather up the leftovers and make strawberry jam for all the mice on the London Underground!
But things go messily wrong when Kate and William discover Harry’s stash of strawberries… and Charles and Camilla find themselves serving for the match instead! But will they win…?!
I, for one am a huge fan of the books and cannot wait to see it transferred to the screen.
Just back from winning at the Cannes Film Festival, Samantha Lee Howe
ABBA 'Thank You For The Music' a celebration at Spiritland Royal Festival Hall, London
Steven Smith gets his dancing shoes on and reviews ABBA Voyage
Yes, we certainly need a tonic right now for all. Prices are going through the roof and with a summer of elections it is going to be season of discontent.
What we need to take our minds off things is something that, long after you watched it, leaves you with a smile and lifts you. That is why entertainment was so important during the war and let’s face it, we are all battling every day.
“If you can make people laugh you give them a little vacation.” Winston Churchill.
What needs to be prescribed is ABBA Voyage at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. For weeks before I went to see this immersive experience, terribly gifted writers and those in the arts seemed to struggle to vocalise what they had seen.
But whatever it was, rave reviews and statements like “The best night of my life” were being posted all over social media.
As I walked the fifteen minutes from Stratford station through the Olympic Park certainly no one ruined the surprise.
On your journey you are confronted by a sea of people steeped in ABBA Hysteria, many dressed as their heroes: Agnetha Falskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-FridLyngstad.
Approaching the actual arena (specially made for the show), even if you’re not an ABBA fan, you’re not human if you’re not starting to smile a little. It is as if everyone has taken a happy pill. Even the security and arena staff are very friendly.
Safely inside, the excitement and energy was accelerating to the level of an explosion, as if your eyes were not able to take any more of this visual feast of the actual arena and those that paid to come see the show.
Your brain goes straight into explode mode when the lights dim and the Swedish forest screen lifts and four virtual ABBAtars take to the stage. So convincing is the entire thing I was left breathless for a moment as I was not sure what was real and what was not. A little like the “The Houses of Parliament”.
ABBA last played in London for seven nights in 1979. I promise you truly it could not have been better than this. Stunning light affects dazzle the 3000 capacity room. A very much real 10-piece band dazzle the filled room.
This is so real they even have short interlude videos for the band to change. Andersson, Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus and Anni-Frid Lyngstad danced across the giant stage, embraced each other.
They laughed about their 1974 Eurovision outfits and the UK giving them zero points. When they appeared in huge proportions on the big screens they had the mildest plasticine quality, but otherwise they were astonishingly real.
They did most of the hits, of course, and the best two from last year’s surprise comeback album. As you would expect, the arena erupted when “Dancing Queen” was performed.
Just as you thought there were no more surprises left, ABBA walks on as they are now, as they did on opening night. I think it might have been holograms a few weeks in.
For days afterwards this extraordinary experience had me smiling. God knows we all need that right now. There is only one problem with prescribing ABBA Voyage to everyone. The price this venture needs to rake in is £140 million to break even, with some tickets at £195.
“Money, Money, Money” it is rich man’s show. Dance floor tickets at £50 are more affordable but sell like hot seats. To be honest I never sat down for long enough that night, being a real “Dancing Queen”.
It is fast becoming a world of advanced technology. Just think, with the ABBA voyage, we can not only tell our grand kids how good some bands were, we can actually show them, and dear old dame Elton can take a rest.
It was hard not to snigger briefly at the sign on the old faithful London Underground, “DO NOT STARE”.
How can you possibly avoid making eye contact (no matter how hard you try) with that man who is picking his nose so hard his finger is almost coming out his eyeball?! Or that couple that are so engaged in kissing it is hard to know where to look, especially as they break contact for a second and she moves her tongue into his ear.
Let’s not forget the joy of living in London’s cosmopolitan city; the amazing, stylish people travelling through or living here. The Tube can be a reality show with a new episode every time you travel or change lines on your journey.
I personally loved going to the airport early for the joy of ‘people watching’ as they were just fascinating. I loved it in the days when the loudspeaker would call out, “Mrs Jones, please come to desk seven. You have an urgent message,” much as I stopped short of going to see who she was.
My mind was filled with plots that maybe she was running away with a lover and he had changed his mind, or the likes. Yes, I am sure it was something dull and simple but having an active imagination has got me through the best and worst of times.
The joy of observing life and its cast of characters is something that keeps me going. After all, Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.”
But back to the London underground that has been with us since 1863. Of course, I did not immediately notice the smaller print: “INTRUSIVE STARING OF A SEXUAL NATURE IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND IS NOT TOLERATED”.
I get the point now. Ten years ago, I interviewed twelve page three models about dating and sex. Not one had not been sexually assaulted on the tube one way or another, from being brushed up against to actually being touched, especially in rush hour. Certainly people should feel free to travel without any fear of sexual assault of any kind.
It is time, however, that we had some other signs put up and very clear announcements for travelling to remind people to make their journey easier, safer and better for others. Much as staring can be unpleasant, it is not as dangerous as some of the common practices I observe daily.
Here is my list for London Underground to add to NO STARING:
Please uncross your legs when travelling. No one wants your footprint on their clothes when the train comes to an abrupt stop.
Please take your backpack off and place between your legs. We do not want an eye taken out as you swing around, especially during rush hour.
Please remove your bags from the seat next to you and allow others to sit down.
It never goes out of fashion to offer an elderly person a seat or a lady who is expecting. Do not just look at your Iphone or newspaper and pretend you have not seen them. BUT DO NOT STARE.
Refrain from bringing fast food or any eatables on the tube. This is not the Orient Express; there is no dining carriage and people travelling do not want to arrive at their destination smelling like a KFC, MacDonalds or a number 12 meal from Mr Wok.
Please use the escalators safely. DO NOT STOP AT THE TOP to look at your phone because you now have a good signal, or to rearrange your shopping bags, forcing the unfortunate person behind you to either jump past you or be pushed back. MOVE CLEAR.
If someone touches you in a sexual manner report immediately.
We are SO lucky to enjoy one of the best undergrounds that is legendary around the world. Please let’s love it and travel safely with a little consideration for others.
If Sadiq Khan does not hike the prices to that of the Orient Express, it is still an affordable way to travel. But remember, DO NOT STARE, even if that Colin Farrell lookalike wearing rugby shorts gets on.
Steven Smith. Picture credit: Graham Marin Photography https://www.grahammartinphotography.co.uk
Steven Smith celebrates turning 63 and Pride Month.
By being pictured by celebrity photographer Graham martin. Embarrassing having pride in himself and his body.
Graham Martin shoots me for Pride at any age
It is Pride month and lets all get out and enjoy ourselves. Age is just a number I could not agree more with the divine and fellow Gemini Joan Collins’ statement last month, “It is rude to ask a lady her age”. Or a man, come to think about it. Even though the divine Ms Collins never missed a moment to mention age.
Trust me, it is certainly a no, no at any social occasion. My dread at any dinner party is when age raises its ugly head and someone says, “Guess how old I am?” I just want the floor to open and disappear when that one is asked. Or when some ill-advised fellow diner thinks it is appropriate to ask a guest their age.
As for me, I am incredibly proud to have reached my age, joining the likes of Tom Cruise and Boy George. It is a joy to be alive and fully active, with just a little more knowledge in life, though I am still prone to a youthful mistake or two! Some people’s issues around age ruin it for others. At a luncheon party I was not looking forward to the subject cropping up.
Here he comes, the age phobic. It had not started off well as everyone was late including us, my friend had changed shoes at least three times and had an army of beauty things to do before setting off. We were first there. I must add my friend is also proud of their age and looks stunning. However, they did look a little perturbed to be first there and not making a grand entrance for the other guests to marvel at how great they looked.
It meant that instead of sitting with my long-term friend who is in his twenties (but I swear is in his seventies and just made a pack with the Devil to inhabit a young man’s body, being wise, intelligent and witty well beyond his years), I was sitting next to someone new.
I love meeting different people, though it did hit me almost immediately that his Instagram pictures were airbrushed to make him look much younger than in person.
But then who does not tweak their image sometimes, though there are those that go overboard and can turn themselves into an embryo. It did not take long for age to become a topic. He kept referring to my friend as “the young one”. He asked if I went out much in London.
I replied that I went out to events during the week but at weekend I was comfortable at home, although I did go to clubs occasionally at the weekend and charity dinners. It started, “Well at our age you don’t want to go clubbing, do you?” He honestly did not stop.
Moving on I shared that on holiday or before going out it was great to have a small siesta. “Oh, you mean a na, na nap,” he jested. “I bet it used to be a disco nap. But at our age…” “Darling,” I explained, “I do not do the age thing or put labels on people.” My “young” friend whispered later, “He is projecting how he feels about his own age on to you”.
It was interesting to find out the other so-called young ones felt the same way about him and meant to pre-warn me as it was my first encounter. It must be terrible to be threatened by someone who is comfortable in their own skin. I think he was one of those men who got on better with woman as he seemed to charm them.
Age is just a number, or so some believe. Sure, I am not often “clubbing”, but this is not because I am 63 and feel out of place. I always envisioned myself with a blue rinse, fan dancing with the best of them at a rave in my 80s! It is more because
I do not have the time, and that London has become so diverse there is so much else to do. Plus, my priorities with my free time have changed; bars are no longer high on my list. There is the added point that I am fortunate enough to get invited to a fair few glitzy events too. I just wish people would enjoy and love the moment they are in and stop pushing age groups into boxes. Be who you want to be. Yes, age is just a number, but there is no need to keep bringing it up.
Graham Martin is a premier gay and celebrity photographer, who, as well as shooting the likes of Denise Welch and Dame Judy Dench Additionally, makes some of his bread and butter shooting gay men’s profile pictures for online dating sites.
Yours truly with Graham
So what percentage of the men are my age or older? “It is 50:50 recently. I had a man that was 76 come for a shoot not long ago. He had been off the scene for seven years as he had become addicted to chem-sex parties.” Graham told me that the man is doing really well and is now happily dating once more.
Graham, who turns 60 this year, has been in a loving relationship for the last 32 years. He puts his success down to marrying his best friend and he does have a point. Perhaps the fact that I was with my best friend for 18 years makes it difficult to fill the void. Should I be looking for someone sexual first, developing a friendship second?
Graham told me that the dating scene has changed so much that he gets inundated with men wanting pictures for their profiles, as well as portrait shots. Men, whatever age, want to look their best. “Keep it real!” Graham informed me when giving tips for my shoot.
Do not ask for it to be Photoshopped so that you are an embryo. If you are a chunky, beer-bellied daddy, then do not take yourself down to a thin man. When you hook up it will just be one big disappointment. Equally, make sure that you prepare yourself in conjunction with your age when you are getting ready for the shoot.
Do not spray tan because the look can often be uneven, but do make sure that you are groomed well. Do not have a drastic haircut unless you plan to keep the look.
Lets all have Pride in who we are.
He says that it is vital that you stand out and . So, my first attempt at dating starts with a shoot undertaken by Graham, who rather nervously laughed and said, “You’re practically a chicken compared to some I shoot,” which put me at ease.
Many men do the Full Monty, but that’s not me. We settled for a taste of sexy, though, to be honest, it is not a natural feel. Forty-five minutes later and the photo shoot is complete. I love the results and my friends all rave about the final images.
Anna’s a disability/ neurodiversity campaigner who has worked to provide improved education and other services and support for children and adults described as being on the autism spectrum as well as other neurodiverse conditions.
In pursuing these activities she has (among other things) helped establish two schools, a college, a respite home and a website with over 100,000 international followers.
Kennedy was given an OBE (Royal Reward for Inspirational Mother) Award by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 2012 for her services. And in her rare spare time, she loves to dance.
We asked her a few questions about Pride and her everlasting support towards the community.
What does Pride mean to you?
June is Pride Month and this gives charities like mine, AnnaKennedyonline supporting autistic children and adults the opportunity to shoutout and thank those in the LGBTQ+ community who work tirelessly to champion equality and respect for all within the work place and within their community.
I am huge fan of Pride month and to be honest we need to have Pride all year and be vocal about being who we are.
You seem to have a huge gay following, have the LGBTQIA+ community always been in your life?
The LBGTQ+ community have been in my life since I started the school and college for my sons in 1999, where many of the staff were from the community.
Really it is how it should be, we are all human and we should not even raise an eyebrow and see someone as different because of who they love.
Autism’s Got talent is a big part of the year how is diverse is it?
I’m hoping that Autism’s Got Talent caters for all our performers and their families. We are in our 13th year, and we are open to be inclusive as much as we possibly can.
Many of the LGBTQ community who come to see the show see it as being as big as New Years or dare I say, Eurovision.
Autism’s Got Talent Show 2023
You’re jumping out of a plane to raise awareness and funds for Anna Kennedy online, please, are you insane? Tell us all?
I have always been afraid of heights and when Aston Avery, Lisa Robins and Steven Smith said they were going to jump out a plane to raise much needed funds for our charity, I was so grateful.
But I told them I will be firmly on the ground waving a flag.
Then someone (I won’t name. ) pointed out that one of my strengths was getting others to challenge themselves. It was a case of practice what I preached.
Plus, another tick for my bucket list! (Hopefully not the last one)
What would you say to a parent that struggles to accept their child because of their sexuality?
Accept, support and love them for who they are love is more important that judging.
The Autism Hero Awards are not until next year, why have you skipped a year?
We have finally booked a hotel for March 2025 in Regents Park. We are concentrating on fundraising for our charity this year since so many charities are closing due to lack of funds.
Venues also have raised their prices due to cost increases and it has been difficult to locate a venue to suit our limited budget. Autism Hero Awards is such a lovely and inspiring event celebrating those who go the extra mile for the autism community. Closing date for entries is the end of August 2024.
Autism’s Hero Awards 2023
All of the queens would love to go to the palace, and you did. What was it like?
I have been to the Palace a few times now, the most memorable was receiving my OBE in 2012 from Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II.
Recently I was invited to The King’s Garden Party. It rained and I had a big Pride umbrella with all the colours of the rainbow, it was well needed.
If you had a drag queen name, what would it be?
It’s got to be ‘Lady De Dancing Queen’. I am sure I was a drag queen in my previous life.
My charity patron Steven Smith says I am camp anyway.
Dr.Anna Kennedy and Steven Smith at the Autism’s Got Talent show 2023
What is your favourite song?
Whitney Houston’s I’m Every Woman. I want it played at my funeral and for everyone to dance!
If you could dance at any Pride in the world, where would it be?
New York or Rio look fun! I would love to be on float at Pride.
Thank you for your time Dr. Anna Kennedy, 2Shades are thrilled to you on board!
Stay tuned to Anna’s column for more information on Autism awareness and the initiatives she takes to cater to the neurodivegent community.
Addiction Therapist and Chemsex Specialist, Mike Power
Addiction therapist and counsellor in London, Mike Power sheds light on a crisis crawling in the streets and clubs of London.
The culture of chemsex has been prevalent in the United States, Australia and the UK over the years. Mike believes that there is a gap among therapists to handle chemsex clients.
He said, “That kind of inspired me to be a bit of an activist, I suppose. I’ve seen it in the United States. I’ve seen it in Australia and it’s coming to London, and I thought, I want to do what I can to save London.”
Mike Power
Chemsex is the usage of drugs to enhance a sexual experience, and it mostly occurs in MSM (Men who have sex with men) relationships. There are three commonly used drugs in Chem sex, Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth), Mephedrone (Meth) and GHB/GBL (Gamma Hydroxybutyrate/Gamma Butyrolactone).
These drugs are usually smoked or injected, where the needles are shared and unsafe sexual practices take place. It carries the risk of exposing one to HIV or Hepatitis C.
After a tragic event took place in Mike’s life, he shifted his focus to chemsex. He said, “There was one good friend and two people that I’d worked with that died in the space of a year. They were all 35 or three of them died of a heart attack.
People who use steroids often have heart problems, add a powerful drug like methamphetamine, and you’ve got the recipe for disaster.”
Mike has sense of compassion towards healing chemsex that pierced through me as an interviewer. He really stands for the lack of awareness people have about it and feels compelled towards the cause for a very soulful reason.
I admired his fearlessness to admit having been down that road in the past as he said, “I had a colourful life. My reason for taking drugs wasn’t specifically for drugs, I just wanted to escape and get wasted.
But I found my own recovery while travelling. I started going to meetings in Los Angeles and in Australia, I went to rehab. I was just travelling around the world to make my life less colourful and change every aspect of my life.
We dove into several reasons behind why men who have sex with men feel the need to go the extra dangerous mile. We discussed possibilities of it being a deep-rooted feeling of shame/rejection.
Dating apps like Grindr have unfortunately become a hot spot for the exposure of chemsex. Frequently used as a medium to liberate one’s trauma through chemsex by making it easily accessible.
Mike added, “I started to understand how complex chemsex is. Chemsex is often a symptom of something much, much deeper trauma.
It could be trauma, minority stress, internalised homophobia, body dysmorphia, sexual anxiety, AIDS and HIV, the epidemic and the belief systems, and that’s created within the community.”
After going to the University of Bath for four years, Mike had over five placements during his degree. He worked at the LGBT and generic drug and alcohol services.
Mike Power on his graduation day at the University of Bath
He also worked at the sexual health clinic at St. Mary’s Hospital in London and is now an LGBT+ Addiction Counsellor.
He has an abundance of experience in this field and in life. He wishes to help people with the wisdom he gathered from travelling the world.
He illuminates a very grounding and humbling aura to him that makes anyone want to instantly open up to him. And it reflects the sincerity of his work.
He is on a mission to heal people and to keep the conversation going about the horrors of chemsex.
As we continued our conversation, Mike walked me through the process of his sessions as a counsellor.
He said, “It’s a real deep sense of loneliness with a real need for intimacy. With a real fear of vulnerability that intimacy takes. I have to create a connection, an instant connection that dispels all those fears. To be intimate but not intimate.”
Meth is the kind of drug that creates this instant intimacy for people to enjoy for a brief period. It induces a false sense of confidence, desired sexuality and a feeling of being invincible. At the cost of it robbing the user’s natural ability to feel these aspects within themselves.
Mike classifies his clients into three categories; problematic, very problematic and dependency. The very problematic and dependency stage is when a person is really hooked on the drug. The behaviour associated with sex and the drug are confused as one.
He shared his approach to handling these stages and said, “Imagine a bronze ruts being twisted into a big knot. And remember these sessions happen weekly, not daily. Part of the treatment as a therapist is to untangle the twisted ruts and it’s hard, it requires a lot of patience and vulnerability from the client.”
The treatment Mike offers is roughly between 8-12 weeks, depending on the consistency and progress made by the client.
Uncovering the layers of sexual identity, sexual fantasies, what they like and what they’d like to do. And he works on redfining intimacy with them.
As the client moves out of this zone and is ready to explore organic intimacy, Mike speaks about his breakdown of cycles.
He said, “I came up with a cycle called erotic desire cycle, to build connection. And what is connection, it’s transparency and boundaries with sex on a first date. Or if it’s casual, to ask for a more meaningful experience. We all have oxytocin, that needs to create a bond with someone where there’s longevity and not just a quick release.
And as the relationship thickens with someone else, the oxytocin builds and they feel like hanging out more with the person. Which creates a secondary erotic desire cycle, I call it the double whammy. It’s where you have sex, you have orgasms and the primal parts of sex goes down. Maybe just touching and talking, being a bit more vulnerable, there’s something about that that creates a sexual desire.”
LGBTQIA+ activist, Ben Kaye speak about his chemsex addiction journey
After digging into the mind of a therapist, it’s established that we need more counsellors who specialise in chemsex in the UK.
Mike couldn’t agree more and expressed his concerns for the younger clients who have never experienced intimacy. And for chemsex to become a dangerous epidemic in the UK if people aren’t aware about it or know how to reach out for help.
He is part of a small community of counsellors that addresses chemsex cases and his purpose is to spread the word. He believes more therapists need to train to handle chemsex clients and not just drugs and alcohol addictions.
Due to his own experiences, he wishes to give back to his community. To use his knowledge and empathy and reignite the essence of a healthy relationship with oneself and with others.
In conclusion Mike said, “That’s what people who’ve had chemsex are looking for. They’re looking for longevity, they’re looking for safety, they’re looking for eroticism and they’re looking for a way to be vulnerable. To believe in human connection.”
George the play written and acted by Léa Des Garets and more at the Criterion Theatre, London
The play took me back to the 19th century where the protagonist, George Sand challenged gender norms by living her life as a man.
It confirms that regardless of the era, the illusion of societal norms could never tame the mind of a free soul.
George Sand, aka Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin, was a French novelist played and written by talented young writer and actress Léa Des Garets, from France.
Léa Des Garets as George Sand. Photo by the incredible, Benjamin Graham
Léa stumbled upon the vague details of George’s story of being a pioneer for change when it came to self-expression as a woman and a writer.
In a fascinating chat with Léa herself, she enthusiastically describes to me her introduction to George Sand. She spoke about how George didn’t have the best image and she wasn’t very well known in her lifetime.
As Léa dug into her autobiography, she found enigmatic layers to her character. She said, “There were extracts from her autobiography where she’s saying things in the 19th century which I’m still talking about today. About equality and freedom of being yourself.”
George Sand was a pseudonym she carried to be identified as a man. It was the only way to establish herself as a writer with the likes of Victor Hugo as her contemporary.
She dressed like a man, wore trousers and jackets to blend in with the men who had the privilege to be out and about. Explored multiple romantic interests and also divorced her husband at the time.
George was unafraid, and that’s what compelled Léa to craft a story around her life and embody her presence in this world again.
Léa Des Garets as Gabriel. Photo by Benjamin Graham
Léa shares, “She’s really cool. I feel really privileged, two centuries later, to talk about the feelings she didn’t have the words for and to act as her, I love acting. I just needed other brains with me, to create together. I am a team player. So what started out as a solo journey, ended up being teams who just came together.”
Léa is supported by a wonderful team who brought George to life again. The play was directed by the kind and graceful, Rute Costa, whom I had the pleasure to meet after the showcase.
The cast consists of Léa Des Garets as George/Gabriel, Iniki Mariano as Marie Dorval and Conor Dumbrell, an extraordinary actor who played six different male roles effortlessly with a touch of physical comedy.
Conor Dumbrell as the snappy editor. Phot by Benjamin Graham
Marie, played by the elegant Iniki was George’s biggest cheerleader; she was a young actress who was mesmerised by George’s way of life.
They were quite close as friends, some believed they were lovers. Léa found the relationship between them intriguing and believed that there was an immense love between them.
She added her flair of a possible romance between them in the play. As the two seemed to share flirty banter and gentle intimacy on stage.
The intimate friendship between George and Marie. Photo by Benjamin Graham
Léa mentions, “What struck me in Marie’s letter was how strong she was, and how George was diminishing herself in a very reverential way towards Marie. George shows her how dependent she was on Marie’s affection and how much that means to her. Marie believed in George’s work, just as much as George believed in Marie’s.”
The play was primarily about Marie hyping up George to come up with her next best work. With her snappy editor, played by Conor, breathing down her neck for fresh material.
Marie suggests that George should write a play and they both tailored the script of a prince named Gabriel, who’s actually a girl at birth.
The play split into two sections at this point, Léa created a cutaway to show the world of Gabriel. She takes on Gabriel’s role alongside Conor who brilliantly shifts roles amongst Gabriel’s grandfather, cousin and assistant.
Léa as Gabriel and Conor as Gabriel’s supportive cousin. Photo by Benjamin Graham
Gabriel, who’s an heir to the throne was brainwashed by his grandfather to believe that he was a boy. As he was the only child and successor for the inheritance of the family.
Marie and George had a perfect exchange of ideas for the plot of Gabriel’s character. But George began to use it as more of a personal mission to speak her story.
This created conflict in their relationship as George overlooked Marie’s efforts to revive her career. Marie was to be an actress in the play but her contribution to the script became less important as George overindulged in Gabriel’s story.
Léa explained, “There’s a sense in the play that, George, to me, what I wanted to convey was that we are in George’s head. As they built it together, she found so much freedom.
She finds a platform to explore what she’s able to explore, which is kind of the defying of binary theory when it comes to gender. And I think she doesn’t realise how much she has sidelined Marie until every time Maria is the one who brings her back to reality.”
The complexities of Marie and George’s relationship really stood out in their final dialogues. After George sends in her work and forgets to sign Marie’s contract for her future, the faith of their relationship starts trembling.
The stunning Inika Mariano as Marie Dorval. Photo by Benjamin Graham
Regardless, Marie celebrates a positive response received by the editor for George’s script. But George finds the response ignorant as the editor refers to her works as “little lady stories”, questioning George’s integrity as a writer.
While Marie thought their work was marvellous, George felt her work was reduced to the perception of women that most men carried in that generation.
Marie then delivers a powerful dialogue claiming that George who wears trousers and jackets doesn’t make her better than other women. And that there is nothing wrong to be recognised as a lady, as she is one.
However, George travelled a path where she only wanted to be seen as a writer and not a gender. She never meant to belittle anyone, she wanted only to do justice to her soul’s purpose and desires.
George and Marie reading a letter from the snappy editor. Photo by Benjamin Graham
Léa pointed out that it was at this stage that their love languages struggled to meet. It truly was a story of desire, love and purpose between two powerful women who fought for authenticity in a world that made no sense.
The entire team have done an exceptional job to merge conversations from the past and conversations we have today around gender fluidity.
In my conversation with Léa, we discussed how we wish we didn’t have to talk about these things still. And that it’s no one’s business how one wishes to express themselves.
She beautifully envisioned how she wishes the audience to perceive her and her team’s work with me.
She passionately said, “I want people to be daring to be themselves, to be authentic, daring to deconstruct society’s expectations. For them to look inward, to look outward. To be outside of a lane that’s been built. I’ve embraced my queerness in the past few years and you can live queerly in so many ways. It doesn’t have to reflect your sexuality or the way you envisage your gender.
It’s to treat other people’s voices with compassion, their ways of being in the world and not just impose what I think is right onto them. And let fear dictate how I interact with others. And I hope they can see that through Marie and George that they were trying their best to live out of restrictions, just as we all are.”
The love George and Marie shared. Photo by Benjamin Graham
Léa, Iniki and Conor and the whole team have extraordinary talent that deserves higher accolades.
The writing, the direction, the acting and the bond they share amongst themselves radiates on stage as a group of revolutionaries.
“You will feel homicidal if you miss this little gem!” by Steven Smith
Rating: xxxxx (Axe-wielding 5 stars!)
Having just sat through one of the worst musicals in my living memory a few nights before (The time travellers’ wife), the prospect of a rock musical based on a true crime did not exactly fill me with excitement, especially one about the notorious Lizzie Borden who allegedly killed her father and stepmother with an axe.
Only the fact that a friend had seen the opening at, what is fast becoming the out of town must go to venue, “Hope Mill theatre” in Manchester, raised my interest. https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk (Has this team ever put anything bad on?).
“Lizzie” is now playing at the delightful Southwark Playhouse Elephant https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk . Just to fill you in and I won’t ruin the whole story, but the musical looks at the reasons why she allegedly murdered her father and step mother.
And at Lizzie’s defence with the help of an expensive legal team and the support of her sister Emma, maid Bridget, and friend and lover Alice.
Set in 1892 Fall River Massachusetts, the dark atmospheric set complete with an axe puts you in the mood for a something creepy quite early on.
However, nothing can prepare you for the thrill ride that the show is about take you on: the cast of “Lizzie” are about to blow your socks off.
This might be an old story, but the cast bring something unique and exciting to the stage. Five minutes into the performance my mouth dropped open and I had to hold myself down as I wanted to dance along with the cast.
Directed by William Whelton and written by Steven Cheslik-de Meyer, Tim Maner, and Alan Stevens Hewitt my hat goes off to them
Lizzie looks at some pretty dark topics such as abuse, interwoven with truly touching moments. The love story between Lizzie and Alice is beautifully handled.
What really makes this a ‘must see’ is the cast, and there are only 4 actors plus a tremendous orchestra. Trust me “four” sure out-does “six”
With the cast raising the roof, you are forgiven for imagining you’re at the Globe theatre, watching some incredible classic acting that has been hijacked by an awesome rock concert! This is what makes the show so unique. They even manage to bring a comic element in the shape of Mairi Barclays, who plays Bridget the maid, without ever going over the top.
Lizzie is played by Lauren Drew (The Voice!), who is so tremendous in the role she deserves every award going, as do the whole cast to be honest.
Shekinah McFarlane plays Emma, her older sister who tries to be a guiding light to Lizzie. Shekinah is a powerhouse of talent you just can’t believe you’re lucky enough to watch. Her solo, “What the F**k Now, Lizzie?”, is one the highlights of the show.
Maiya Quansah-Breed is Alice, Lizzie’s lover. Again, she leaves you spellbound; the handling of the love between them felt so real it was touching. All the fab four should be at a theatre ten times the size.
But lucky for me and you, they are not for now.
There is not one thing I can think of that is not positive, except when it got to the interval I felt like a petulant child, “NO KEEP GOING!”. Even the clever costume designs deserve a shout out.
For sure I will be going back to see “Lizzie” again and you should go too!
2Shades Magazine 