Hot

The Interview

I have just returned from my interview, and it seemed to go well. I didn't actually get to talk much, the manager did most of that. It seems very much similar to the job I was recently sacked from, though slightly less money it is £1.50 more per hour and on a 4-on 4-off rota, so more time off and it works out at about £2000 more a year. There are some drawbacks to the position that is available at the moment, I could be sent to any site in the area at short notice, but mostly it seems better.
At least I won't have to make a quick decision, and I have next weeks interview to compare to this job too. Let's hope that it is not pissing down then too!

Dean Arcuri

My mate Dean in Australia has kindly sent me a link to an article in Bnews, a gay / lesbian magazine based in Melbourne, which features Deano himself. I have been searching for reviews of the 2 shows that Dean is involved with to no avail. Read for yourself at the site or in the copy below a brief interview with the Deanster himself.

At last year’s Comedy Festival, Dean Arcuri dipped his toe in the pond as an openly gay performer in the controversial show, Who Needs a Vagina Anyway.
For this year’s Midsumma Festival the writer/performer is plunging himself in the deep end fully clothed producing his own play along with a new stand-up comedy cabaret.
Arcuri wrote Rewind in response to gay-themed theatre that he feels is obsessed with sex. The play explores the coming out process from a straight perspective and was inspired by a friend who waited three years to disclose his sexuality.

“To this day I’ll never understand why,” says Arcuri.

“After I’d come out to him and he’d seen me out at clubs, he would just leave – for some reason he had a fear of telling me.” Rewind marks Arcuri’s foray into serious script writing. In the story, two straight guys stumble across their friend’s gay pornography shortly after his death. Arcuri says he wanted to explore the dynamic of straight/gay friendships along with feelings of awkwardness and deception.

“We’ve all got secrets that we hide,” he says. “For these guys, the immediate reaction is to question whether or not they really knew their friend and why he has not been honest with them.” The play is performed by Ross Farrell (‘Roscoe’ – former JOY presenter) and Steve Sparks. The two actors are gay and straight respectively, providing an interesting subtext to the on-stage drama. Arcuri says his intention was to write a play that both gay and straight people could relate to.

“It’s about opening our culture up to all of society,” he says. Arcuri studied contemporary dance and dramatic arts at Deakin University. After a stint in children’s theatre he travelled to the UK to pursue acting and along the way picked up skills in scriptwriting. But while Arcuri maybe flexing his writing skills in Rewind, he’s certainly not giving up on the comedy cabarets. Now Boarding, directed by Deborah Langley (A Tragic Diva, 2005 Comedy Festival) is the follow-up show to Who Needs a Vagina Anyway. The show is accompanied by Anastasia ‘Starz’ Russel-Head, who worked with Arcuri on Who Needs a Vagina Anyway. Now Boarding sees Arcuri completely embrace his sexuality on stage.

"It’s set on a plane with me as a Trolley Dolly talking about my ex-boyfriend – you can’t get more gay than that,” he says.

Rewind

Vibe on Smith, 123 Smith Street, Fitzroy

Until February 7

Now Boarding

The Artery, 87-89 Moor Street, Fitzroy

February 8 and 9

Details: www.quebfegyproductions.com

by DAREN POPE

Interview

I have an interview today at 13:00 and, what do you know, it is raining and really, really windy outside. I just hope the weather calms down a bit by the time I have to leave the flat. I haven't got a coat that will go over the suit and I don't want to carry a bag with the jacket in and have to swap it when I get there, and it is far too windy for an umbrella!

To The Last Man

Tonight is Torchwood night, and I have just finished watching this the third episode of the new series. So far, so good with the series. Each episode is great with excellent writing and superb performances by most, with just a few hiccups along the way.

Tonight Toshiko, Naoko Mori, was the feature character, about time, as she falls for a young soldier from World War I trapped out of his own time. The soldier himself, Tommy, played by Anthony Lewis, is a bit of a handsome devil with typical early 20th century looks, pale skin and red lips, but the body and the handsome face pull this look off making him attractive, masculine and vulnerable at the same time. The story of the interaction between him and Toshiko was excellently written, and well performed by both. I almost shed a tear.

From the moment I saw Anthony he looked familiar and then, when he spoke, I thought he sounded familiar too. I immediately thought of Neville Longbottom from the Harry Potter films, but he was far too handsome to be that actor. After checking up on Anthony on IMDb, I find that yes I have seen him act before, on Emmerdale, when he was still a teenager, playing Marc Reynolds. Not only that, but his real-life brother Matthew is the actor who played Longbottom! Spooky, but at least I don't have to feel guilty for seeing a resemblance.

Just when I thought that Russell T Davis would let a whole show go by without some gayness, he threw in a totally unnecessary kiss between Cap'n Jack and Ianto. Please don't overplay it, this isn't Queer As Folk you know!

John Barrowman, for me, sometimes falls back into his theatrical style with his acting and especially his posturing. I think he needs to remember that he doesn't have to play each scene for the people at the back of the theatre who might not be able to see as clearly what is going on! Sorry John.

I loved the brief glimpse we had of two former Torchwood employees too. Considering Torchwood was founded by Queen Victoria we have seen very little of its history and I would love to see more, maybe in a Christmas special! Hint! Hint!

Another One

It must be the week for actors who play super heroes to celebrate their birthdays this week. Today we have hot Welsh-born, English actor Christian Bale who is 34 today. Christian first registered on my radar when I saw him in the great American Psycho, which I must see again, having only seen it the once. He was entirely convincing playing the role of Patrick in this film and that was as enticing as the numerous naked shots of his incredibly fit body throughout the film.

I later found out that Christian was the same person who had starred in Empire of the Sun as a child (although I have never seen that film, there was a lot of press coverage about it at the time it was released). Christian is also the current portrayer of DC's dark, brooding super hero Batman.

I have only just found out that along with the upcoming Dark Knight film, he is also starring in I'm Not There. Both films being released this year and both also starring Heath Ledger. Both actors showing their enormous skill at playing extremely diverse characters in immensly diverse genres of film.

Happy Birthday Christian

Birthday Super Heroes

Today we have two bone fide super heroes celebrating their birthdays, or at least the actors who portray him are!

Firstly we have Justin Hartley, who is celebrating his 31st birthday today and on top of being a blond haired, handsome, boy-next-door, hunky man (just my type), he also happens to look incredibly hot in his Green Arrow costume on Smallville, which I saw him in for the first time on Sunday. Hot! Hot! Hot!

Also today we have hunky, hotty Thomas Jane, who portrayed the Punisher in the film of the same name, but who, unfortunately, will not be playing him in the second film! Such a shame because this was a brilliant film that appeals to both comic book fans and "normal" action film fans alike. Thomas is 39 today and first came to my attention in the film Deep Blue Sea.

Late Again

We were all relieved late from work, yet again. It always seems to be the same guys who come in late and nothing is ever said! It may only be 5 minutes today and 10 minutes yesterday but why should I have to work extra every single shift?
Oh! And forget what I said about the new starter yesterday, I wouldn't still "do him." He may be young and not badly put together but he is so very annoying, he never shuts up talking a load of bo****ks, and he thinks he is such a ladies man because he had bedded over 50 women at age 21! I thik I had had more men by that age, and I only started at age 19! AND, I don't go around saying I'm a reformed "player!" And he is a lazy f**k which is even more annoying because he will be on my shift and so I will either have to cover for him or squeel him up. Roll on Thursday afternoon and my first interview!!
I also got another reply to my 7 application letters today. Unfortunately it was saying that there are no vacancies at the moment, but they are keeping me on file, so another good result. Four answers out of Seven is great. I wish I had tried this approach to job hunting earlier. If none of the applications I did send work out then I will have to do some more research into other suitable companies in the City and see what they bring me.

I feel old

I was discussing at work today how time flies when you leave school and have to start working. I cannot believe that as of 24th June this year, I will have left school for 20 years now! This was depressing enough withouth the new starter reminding me that he is only 21! I keep hoping for a really cute guy to join so that I have someone to lust after during the shifts (especially the night shifts) but he is far too young and not my type at all but, if he asked nicely I probably would!! There is another new starter next Monday, so I'll let you know about him when I've had a good look!

Stressed

I had a bit of a stressful afternoon today at work. As usual, on the first day back after a few days off, I really didn't want to be at work. I hadn't had a good night's sleep either, waking every couple of hours, which obviously didn't help.
Late in the morning, just after the site manager left to go to the other site that he manages, I noticed that he had changed my shifts this week yet again. He had confirmed my hours to me last Wednesday night as I started a night shift. Apparently he had changed the hours again on the Thursday morning, but I had been off since then and he had only put the changed schedule up on the board about half an hour before he left site. He had changed my 2 night shifts on Thursday and Friday to day shifts, meaning that I would miss my interview on Thursday at 13:00! How bloody typical I thought!
I began to get really wound up, that he had done this to me again without asking or even telling me. I began to consider all my options:

• Do I tell him I have an interview and hope he doesn't cause friction for me at work?
• Do I lie and tell him I have a dentist or optician appointment and risk only getting a couple of hours off?
• Do I say nothing and just call in sick for the day?

I was really getting wound up with my bad luck and getting really angry about it too. It seems that I just cannot get a break lately! When he eventually got back from the other site I just mentioned it to him and he immediately said he would change it back! Just like that! I had been stressing over nothing! The Bastard!

He later asked if it was for an interview so, as he had not created any more hassle I was honest (probably the wrong thing, but I am not good at telling lies, so the best option for me I guess!).

Bored

Totally bored today!