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blakes7-d Digest Volume 98 : Issue 109
Today's Topics:
[B7L] Re: costume exhibit
[B7L] Another traveller returns
[B7L] Re: SC: Re: costume exhibit
[B7L] Another traveller returns
[B7L] Power
Re: [B7L] New zines
[B7L] goodbye and thanks
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 98 04:54:00 GMT
From: s.thompson8@genie.geis.com
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Cc: blakes7@lysator.liu.se, space-city@world.std.com,
d.wilson114@genie.geis.com
Subject: [B7L] Re: costume exhibit
Message-Id: <199804110516.FAA06903@rock103.genie.net>
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Here's a little addendum to the discussion of the costume exhibition, from
my con roomie Donna Wilson, who's not currently on the lists. Quoted with
permission:
>I can add a little squib about the costume exhibition. Sounds like you got
much more of a tour than I did. But Rob did bring over Avon's jumpsuit from
Warlord for me and a couple other folks. It was a standard pair of
coveralls that they got from a department store, and they appliqued the
shoulder things on. These were in poor condition--cracked and worn.
Interestingly, Rob said a lot of the costumes were made in duplicate--as
this one was. One was for studio wear and one was for location work. He
owned the costume he was showing us. He said he knew it was the location
costume, because it still had sand from Betchworth Quarry in the pockets!
So he'd contacted the woman who purchased the other jumpsuit and told her
she had the studio costume.<
Interesting! So that should be an easy costume to duplicate, for anyone so
inclined. My, he certainly did look good in it. "Warlord" is one of my
favorite episodes for purposes of Avon-drool.
Wendy, can you think of any more costume tidbits that the rest of us may
have forgotten or failed to notice in the first place?
BTW, I saw some of Wendy's encaustic (wax) paintings when I ran into her in
the exhibit, and they are very pretty indeed. They should have been in the
art show! Have you decided on prices, and would the medium survive mailing?
Sarah Thompson
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 18:18:41 +1100
From: Sandy Douglas <scd@magna.com.au>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] Another traveller returns
Message-Id: <v03007801b154c954b44e@[203.111.85.91]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Find it hard to believe I'm finally back home. I am definately in love
with*my* pillow- not those rocks pretending to be pillows in some B&Bs I
stayed in.
I know there have been plenty of other con reports but please indulge.
I've only been back a few days and I still haven't been able to read all
the backlog of mail. My esteemed travelling companions were Pat Fenech and
Christine Lacey.
B7 highlights In order of appearance
Bought Seven Fold Crown in Canterbury
Bought from Smiths to listen to on our soujourn around England. I listened
on my walkman first. All excited listening to the theme music. That was the
best part!! First I didn't believe what I was listening to. It was rather
cringe making in places. Then I made Pat listen to it in the car. Her
opinion was the same. Actually on 2nd hearing it was still bad but not as
bad. The anticipation made it seem seem worse somehow. Hopefully the second
tape to be made later this year will be an improvement.
Trip to Betchworth Quarry
Call yourself a fan if you don't go and visit THE sacred sight. Cheapest
souvenir of the entire trip was a piece of the quarry- now a land fill. I
don't know what the poor man in his little hut thought of these 2
Australian ladies wanting to walk up to the quarry let alone what all the
truckies thought. But we could imagine Xenon, Exbar etc
Trip to Wookey Hole.
Not a bad place to go even if it hadn't been the site of the filming of
Project Avalon. Rembered Michael Keating's story about having to stop
filming every half hour to let the tourists through. Couldn't imagine the
techs carrying all the gear down the caves!
Guards Guards Blackpool
Gave up trying to explain to people why anyone would be going to Blackpool
just to see a play. There has to be some reason why anybody would go to
Blackpool voluntarily no matter what time of year. In my case it was to see
PD. It was such a relief to have really enjoyed it for the production's
sake. I do not think it is necessary to be a Pratchett fan to understand
what was going on even though I am have read the book as well as the 3
Guard sequels. Sometimes reading it beforehand can be a handicap as you
start to think that the character should have done this or been more like
that etc instead of accepting it for the entertainment that it is.
Back to the show. Right from the start PD had established a rapport with
the audience and showed a talent for light comedy that I had not seen
before. I especially like the scene with the Patrician discussing what the
possible cause of the death of the 2 robbers could be 'A wading bird!!!"
then his little chat with the camera.
Felt extremely sorry for the 2 extras who were trying to shift scenery when
the revolving stage decided to go on strike.
Followed Harriet to the stage door. This was definately a case of being a
follower rather than leader. Christine and I said " I will if you will".
Waited outside thinking "Sandy what the hell do you think you are doing.
You are standing outside in an alley with a pen and program wanting
someone's autograph (Rephrase that -wanting HIS autograph). This is what
teenagers do and I didn't even do it then". Then the doorman came out and
said that the cast had all been invited up to the bar and that we could go
up there. Much more civilized way of waiting. So we waited while all the
other actors came up the stairs and then Paul arrived. I know that people
have said how charming he is and I took that with a small grain of salt.
But if anything people have understated his personal appeal. We could have
just watched him being nice to people all night. Harriet had to rush to
catch her train but we let others go ahead of us. Method in our madness!!
The only thing I would have changed was that in learning we came from
Australia he did an Aussie accent which in a word was dreadful. Just an
aside is that most actors I heard cannot do an Australian accent to save
themselves.
Neutral Zone
This was not originally on the agenda but if you are going to come all the
way from Australia you may as well make the most of it.
First of all I will say that I enjoyed it immensely but this had a great
deal to do with the people than the actual con. If I hadn't had been with
friends this was not a good con to start with. First of all being
multi-media there were guests there that I had never heard of with a show
that I had never heard of- Space Above & Beyond as well as Stephen Furst
from B5. Again due to crazy TV programming a show I'd heard of but never
really seen. This was not a fault of the con. I am not so presumptious that
they can only have guests that I want to see!! However the problem was lack
of an alternative program. If it wasn't the guest panels it was watching
videos.
But as I said it was the people who made the con so much fun. Travelled
over with Pat (Fenech) and Christine (Lacey) and met Judith, Julia, Val ,
Chris, Linda and Harriet. Putting faces to names was one of the highlights.
Another thing I loved as an Australian was being able to buy things without
worrying about the bloody postage- although when it came time to pack it
was a problem. Worked out that I would post my clothes home and keep the
important stuff in the suitcase<g> One of the good points about being
surrounded by like minded people is when you should them something the
replies were more on the line "I want it as well" or the classic "You
bitch you bought the last one" rather than at home "you spent that much on
*that*".
One of the highlights of Neutral Zone was the room party. Thankfully my
children have gone past "Pin the Tail" so I will not have to explain why I
am bursting into fits of hysterical laughter when each little darling would
be having their go. As well being exceedingly grateful that I am no longer
a Gr 2 classroom teacher instead a computer and music teacher and do not
have to read out aloud. Reading excerpts from Forbidden Star was enough to
put me off reading for an audience for a long time. It is amazing how
offputting saying the words let alone trying to put expression into it can
be.
Meeting Gareth was very interesting. I was very pleasantly surprised that
when he stopped "performing" he could hold interesting discussions about on
a wide variety of topics.The other guests that I enjoyed listening and
talking to were Sheelagh Wells and Joe Nazzaro. I was listening to their
panel with Gareth and felt brave enough to ask a question about how they
started making their very enjoyable "Together Again" tapes. I must state
this was not a paid political advertisment- I really was interested! But at
the end of the answer Joe asked who asked the question and I put my hand up
to which he then came down from the stage and gave me a pound.
One thing that they did say was that all the profits from making the
cassettes went back into making new ones. So using Joe's money and more of
my own I went back and bought Elements. We were going to buy one volume
each and tape for the others but because we want them to continue went and
bought them individually.
One thing that I felt pleased about was the often repeated remark about the
B7 cast that it was like a big happy family did appear to be true. At
Blackpool I mentioned to Paul that it was disappointing that he wouldn't be
able to go to Deliverance- What an understatement -devasted was more the
word but that I would be seeing Gareth at Neutral Zone and he said to send
his best wishes to Gareth. Then when talking to Gareth about seeing Paul in
Guards he said that Paul was coming up to lunch with him and his wife when
Paul was playing it in Endburigh and then go on to see the play in the
evening. Then the next Monday saw Sheelagh and Joe with Janet Darrow at
Hackey Empire.
Guards Guards at London
Drove from Newcastle to East Horley (where Animals was filmed) near Gatwick
on the Monday. Long drive. Book into B&B then rush to Gatwick to catch
Gatwick express to Victoria Station. Then Underground to another station-
Can't remember which one except that its Murphy's law. Any other station
would have taxis outside not this one. Trouble is that show starts at 7.30
and its 7.25. Flag a taxi down and we get there about 7.45 , box office
about to close but the gods were finally smiling on us. Just sat down and
PD makes his first appearance and we were 3 rows from the front with a
terrific view. The only trouble was that in the scene where he is putting
on his trousers he forgot to do up his fly!! It is amazing how when you try
not to look at something your eyes keep going back to it. Kept saying look
up look up but wasn't working.
Interesting point about seeing a show more than once is the differences
that occur. In Blackpool , there was a scene with Vimes and the Patrician
in the dungeon with the Librarian. The Librarian goes through his charades
routine again with Vimes having to guess word by word what was happening.
Here in London they had the Librarian doing his stuff without stopping and
the Patrician nodding wisely and then stating to Vimes that he must rescue
Lady Ramkin. To which PD turns to the audience and asks "How the bloody
hell did you work that out?"
Didn't stay for the stage door trick this time after seeing Sheelagh, Joe
and Janet in the foyer.
Deliverance
Talk about the sublime to the ridiculous. Neutral Zone did not have enough
to keep one occupied, Deliverance had too much. Not a complaint but I would
have loved to have seen Stephen Grief and Jackie Pearce but went to Brian
Lighthill's talk instead. As well would have loved to have seen Mike
Keating's but also wanted to see the women of B7. I realise that scheduling
with guests arriving at different times would be a nightmare and the old
thing of you can't please all the people all the time but it would have
been nice to have done both.
I heard about the autograph queues very early on and in hindsight probably
did the right thing and didn't worry about it. I reasoned that I had
travelled upteem kms to stand in a queue for over 2 hours for no result. As
well I already had Gareth's from Neutral Zone and Paul's from stage door
standing.
I have higher hopes about the second BBC tape from listening to Brian
Lighthill although Barry Letts will still be writing it. He will take into
account that Vila likes drinking rather than food- who else cringed at
lizard burger and you have ketchup on your chin? , that Soolin & Dayna are
not squealing girlie types and no way does Avon have a "home". He seemed
quite interested that there was a canon clone of Blake out there. Though I
wouldn't be at all surprised if it ended up being 4th season as as he
admitted he knows the 4th season and feels comfortable with it. He also
said that he would bypass BBc policy and get an outsider ie a B7 fan to
read it to point out any glaring errors.
I must admit apart from the first evening I didn't get to see much off the
list members. Between the panels, returning to the dealers to see if there
was anything I missed, especially from the orphan zine table and once in a
while I actually managed to eat something apart from breakfast I do not
know where the time went. I think it should have been a week rather than a
weekend.
What I did enjoy was listening to others- at breakfast, in queues, lifts
etc and hear people discussing B7. It was heaven. You could have a
conversation to someone about the deep philosophical meanings regarding the
blackness of B7 to comparing good hair v bad hair episodes!
When all said and done Deliverance was a marvellous experience for me and I
will be hoping for the 25th anniversary!!
Guards Guards Newcastle Thursday
Look I've never seen PD perform on stage before probably never will again
so I'm making the most of it.
Again a couple of minor changes but the best part of tonight's performance
was watching PD nearly lose control on stage. For those who have seen it it
was when Carrot said he was going to polish his helmet and then he looked
straight at Vimes. Paul just looked back started to smirk and then had to
take a lengthy circular walk to get himself back under control to say "Good
Lad". That night Paul had to share the limelight with Errol the dragon.
Errol was in fine form , especially in the part where he is playing with
Paul's hair. The management is missing out by not having stuffed toy
dragons for sale or those dragon slippers- priceless.
Trip to Bamborough
Site of filming of Aftermath. Saw the white sands where Vere said Josette
would stand out so nicely. Saw the grass tufts where Avon mentioned that he
didn't care for water sports at the best of times. Took lots of pictures.
Just as an aside this was the place where Polanski filmed Macbeth.
Guards Guards Newcastle Friday
At Neutral Zone we won tickets for Guards Guards and a meeting with Paul. I
postphoned my trip home 2 days for this.
The highlight of the show was when Colon's helmet fell to pieces. Can't
remember the exact words but quite a lot of very fast adlibbing went on-
but very funny and perhaps not surprisingly PD had the last word by saying
when another actor repeated his lines and PD said "You've already said that
and we will get back to the text now" and on he went. After the show he
said that he and the others were told off by the director for too much
adlibbing and not sticking to the script.
Impressed by the fact that PD remembered us from Blackpool and he tried his
Australian accent again. Still couldn't bring myself to say don't bother.
Again I was impressed by his manner. He looks like he's lost weight if last
year's Neutral Zone photos are anything to go by and I don't care about the
bald patch at the back. I prefer to look at the front anyway. He happily
signed a couple of photos I had bought from Deliverance since one was for
my daughter who had asked me if I had met Mr Avon yet. So he signed that
one Jennifer, Love from Paul Darrow (Avon). She took it to school the day
after I returned for show and tell. Maybe I'll convert one of my children
yet!
Maybe its just as well its another 5 years before the 25th. My visa card
may have recovered by then.
As someone once said, "Thanks for the memories"
Sandy
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 10:41:18 +0100
From: Julia Jones <julia.SC@jajones.demon.co.uk>
To: space-city@world.std.com
Cc: blakes7@lysator.liu.se, d.wilson114@genie.geis.com
Subject: [B7L] Re: SC: Re: costume exhibit
Message-ID: <KeuyGHA+qzL1EwFp@jajones.demon.co.uk>
In message <199804110516.FAA06906@rock103.genie.net>,
s.thompson8@genie.geis.com writes
>Here's a little addendum to the discussion of the costume exhibition, from
>my con roomie Donna Wilson, who's not currently on the lists. Quoted with
>permission:
>
>>I can add a little squib about the costume exhibition. Sounds like you got
> much more of a tour than I did. But Rob did bring over Avon's jumpsuit from
> Warlord for me and a couple other folks. It was a standard pair of
> coveralls that they got from a department store, and they appliqued the
> shoulder things on. These were in poor condition--cracked and worn.
> Interestingly, Rob said a lot of the costumes were made in duplicate--as
> this one was. One was for studio wear and one was for location work. He
> owned the costume he was showing us. He said he knew it was the location
> costume, because it still had sand from Betchworth Quarry in the pockets!
> So he'd contacted the woman who purchased the other jumpsuit and told her
> she had the studio costume.<
>
>Interesting! So that should be an easy costume to duplicate, for anyone so
>inclined. My, he certainly did look good in it. "Warlord" is one of my
>favorite episodes for purposes of Avon-drool.
>
I've just bought the studio version of Soolin's costume (no Betchworth
Quarry in the pockets). Presumably that one's had a lot less wear and
tear, because the white net and bronze fabric are both in fairly good
condition. The base overalls are by "Wearwell Overalls, a division of
The World of Workwear", according to the label. Size 92R, in case
anyone's interested.
--
Julia Jones
"Don't philosophise with me, you electronic moron!"
The Turing test - as interpreted by Kerr Avon.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 12:42:44 EDT
From: ShelaB7 <ShelaB7@aol.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] Another traveller returns
Message-ID: <ba312e6a.352f9d85@aol.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit
I just finally got my own email account (YIPPEEEE!!!!). I don't have to beg
for time on my husband's account anymore. I'm so excited!!!
And the very first message I see is Sandy Douglas' wonderful, wonderful report
on her trip to England. It's written with such "enthusiasm" that it's obvious
a good time was had by all! Genuinely lovely report, thank you so much for
sharing, Sandy.
I'm going to England in a couple of weeks for the express purpose of seeing
Paul in "Guards! Guards!" and Steven Pacey in "The Things We do for Love" and
after reading this report I'm more anxious than ever to go; I'm about to
BURST with excitement!!! Don't laugh, I'm 23 years old and I've never been
anywhere.
I was going with some friends but our plans have changed and now I'll be going
with my husband. Hmmm, well, I guess it can be fun with him, too. *grin*
Hi! Carol McCoy, Carol K, Courtney, Berta!!!!! Everyone!!!
Shela Ma
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 13:13:05 EDT
From: ShelaB7 <ShelaB7@aol.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] Power
Message-ID: <a31b9d6b.352fa4a3@aol.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit
>> Courtney wrote:
>> Blake's 7, but Avon's a 10 <<
HeeeeHeeee, Courtney! where did you come up with this?
Shela
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1998 07:19:19 +1000
From: Kathryn Andersen <kat@welkin.apana.org.au>
To: "Blake's 7 list" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] New zines
Message-ID: <19980412071919.19575@welkin.apana.org.au>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
On Sat, Apr 11, 1998 at 04:25:00AM +0000, s.thompson8@genie.geis.com wrote:
> Here are the new zines that debuted at Deliverance, for people who
> would like to update their zine lists.
Strictly speaking, Refractions #5 debuted at Neutral Zone, but it's
new anyway.
> Multimedia gen zines with B7 content
REFRACTIONS #5 (Australia, 1998.3)
I really must review some of those zines I bought....
--
_--_|\ | Kathryn Andersen <kat@welkin.apana.org.au>
/ \ | http://connexus.apana.org.au/~kat
\_.--.*/ | #include "std/disclaimer.h"
v |
------------| Melbourne -> Victoria -> Australia -> Southern Hemisphere
Maranatha! | -> Earth -> Sol -> Milky Way Galaxy -> Universe
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1998 19:36:03 +1000
From: Fran Myers <algemy@ozemail.com.au>
To: B7 <blake7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] goodbye and thanks
Message-ID: <35308B03.2B53@ozemail.com.au>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Calle, could you unsubscribe me, please.
I've really enjoyed the B7 list experience. Knowing there were so many
other people in the world who shared my obsession...and all of them
intelligent and interesting people. ;-)
I have learnt a lot about B7, and even if I don't always agree with
other people's interpretations, it's always interesting to hear and
consider them. Sometimes I've changed my interpretation after hearing
yours.
And I have learnt about Fanfic and Slash. I still can't believe they
exist! Or how BIG they are. But that's just me.
Thanks for the arguments and the information.
I'm moving in a few weeks to the country (near Braidwood, about 100k
from Canberra) to my wonderful 17 acres of hilly bushland, where I hope
to live happily ever after as a hermit and self-sufficient
permaculturalist, and get involved in rehabilitation of injured or caged
native animals. I have wonderful views and lots of native and feral
animals for company. No water, sewerage, garbage collection, noise,
neighbours, house (yet) electricity -- sounds like heaven to me!
Unfortunately, no power (solar) or phone for several months, so I have
to suffer email and television withdrawal symptoms. I'll be very busy
all winter, building a garden area to plant in September, and
transplanting trees. Winters there get down to about 10 degrees below
(a mere 20 fahrenheit, for you Washington State and other cold country
guys! But VERY cold by Aus standards). Summers up to 40 (over 100F)
but most nights are cool.
I'll stay on the spin list until I move, but I'm so busy (it's a 500k
round trip to my land) I can't keep up with all the email.
Bye guys, and thanks!
Fran M
--------------------------------
End of blakes7-d Digest V98 Issue #109
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