Thanks for those Sharon. Definately getting into the pantomine mood! Sue

The Kings have said they're still deciding what to do about the pantomime.

 

However they added that Gerard Kelly's name would stay on the posters as a mark of respect.

 

It looks like they'll go ahead and one of Gerard's group of close friends in the comedy world will step up to the plate.

 

Andy Gray who was in City lights with him as a young man and a firm friend and trusted colleague ever since, is going to replace Gerard as the narrator on the Glasgow leg of the Rocky horror Show.

 

I think half of Scotland still can't believe he's gone.

that would be a nice gesture, and probably some tribute at the performance, minutes silence or something, it would be impossible to continue as if nothing had happened at a theatee he had been doing panto for so many years really

It was something like that that killed my Dad. Only it was his aorta rather than his brain. Terrible but dieing slowly may be easier on the ones left but terrible for the one who's gone

According to the Daily Record article about Gavin replacing Gerard, rehearsals started on Monday.

Maybe why he's not doing Kingston. Unless someone is hiding something

Gerard Kelly's replacement

 

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/west-central/2...panto-revealed/

Thanks for that Bramley. Sue

It's a shame that a sadness now comes with the panto.

It must have been very hard for Gavin to step into Gerard's role. He was very distraught at the funeral. He'll have the support of his fellow panto Scottish panto stars wherever they are this season and the Kings is a family theatre with a management who are very supportive too.

 

The new poster with Darius, Julie (Snow White) and Steven (Henchman) was up on the subway billboards in town, but the little ones up the escalators were the original ones featuring Gerard.

 

I was late for my lunch date so I didn't have time to notice any others.

 

 

It just makes me think that D's philosophy is right. Live for the now, do what you want and follow your heart, because no-one can know what's around the corner. For many years I've wished D had gained much more commercial success with his own music, but I can see now, that as much as he would have loved a string of number 1's and number 1 albums, he's lived and chosen to do the things that suited him at the time they did.

 

I'm at a point in my life right now where I've got some decisions to make regarding my future. On one hand I feel I should squirrell money away for our retirement, on the other, I feel I should do my living, experiencing and spending now, as who knows if we'll even see retirement, especially as the age seems to keep shooting up :unsure: One thing that would really hack me off is dying with lots of money in the bank, especially as I have no children of my own to leave it to. There are a few charities I'd like money to go to, but I feel Lyn and I deserve to benefit from our hard work as well as supporting good causes.

 

Sorry for going so off topic.

I think that Darius's outlook on life was changed completely by two great earthquakes in his life - Booth's fightback against terminal cancer and its knock on effect, in that with his new mindset, he was able to wholeheartedly take the decision to put his dreams and ambitions on the backburner for the woman he loved, with the added responsibiltiy of family life.

 

I think deep down as a fan, I felt frustrated for those abandoned ambitions and thought that he must have been wracked with doubts. However, any time I did see him in those years, he was exactly the same as always, brimming over with passion for the latest and different challenge he'd set himself and excelling at whatever he did. I became more relaxed and accepted it was his choice to make.

 

His touchstone has always been his music and that's for himself. If he shares some of it with others and it means something to them too and makes them happy, that's a bonus.

 

I admit that I still get white hot angry when members of the media try to write off Darius as an incompetent, novelty reality TV act.

 

Doing panto is a big risk for him because panto in England is quite unfairly mainly seen as a knockabout fun activity for soap/TV actors, singers and comedians to have a laugh before they get back to their day jobs and there's a stigma wrongly attached to doing it.

 

You just know that Darius will be one of those singled out for the undeserved snidey, snobbish articles that always abound, articles mocking those who're working harder than ever doing two shows per day to entertain families.

 

Panto in Scotland has always been dominated by stage actors/comedians and more firmly rooted in vaudeville tradition and is more valued. It's something Scotland's best are proud to have on their CVs, particularly the Kings, Glasgow, a 100 year plus theatre which was built for that purpose and has never deviated from it.

Edited November 18, 201014 yr by Baytree

agree, BT - I think Darius sets himself different priorities, which in the long run mean more than chart, or huge financial gain.

 

and I honestly think Hey Jude is a better song done the way Darius and the RPO did it..

Sorry, I posted that bit about Hey Jude in the wrong thread so I edited it.

As I've said before - some of the best west end actors are in panto. It's a long running form of musical theatre. It's good that Darius is so good somewhere like the Kings Theatre want him to take part.

another experience darius can add - the things he has experienced are amazing once you start listing them -

another experience darius can add - the things he has experienced are amazing once you start listing them -

 

And long may that continue. Sue

But continue with one bit added - someone letting us know what is going on.

that would be a nice gesture, and probably some tribute at the performance, minutes silence or something, it would be impossible to continue as if nothing had happened at a theatee he had been doing panto for so many years really

 

They're going to do a tribute night for Gerard at the Kings some time next year.

 

The programmes for the rocky horror show had a memorial page inserted. I think they'll do the same with the panto programmes. Maybe one of the photos of Gerard in his last panto costume as Muddles?

Wonder how rehearsals are going? What date does it actually start, I've forgotten, is it 4th December? Sue