People. This is one of my favourite times of the year as we visit the parks, check the spaces and choose the locations. Today I have enjoyed some of the familiar smells of Sydenham Wells, and made new friends in Hilly Fields - a spectacular and popular park overlooking Brockley. It reminded me that I need to say something about dogs and theatre. Obviously Bubble have some experience of the ruff and the smooth when it comes to canines, and in my next bulletin I hope to be interviewing some of the actors who have had some hairy moments with my hairy bretheren. But today I’d like to look at the well behaved and theatre literate dog (like myself).

If you look carefully at this picture - taken at a performance of The Odyssey last year - and focus on the lady in the light green top (who, now I look seems to be chewing her claws, but we will let that go). Anyway you will see, sitting in front of her is Scout, her dog who has thoughtfully brought her along. Now Scout is not only quite obviously a fan of a Greek myth, but he is also an impeccably behaved audience member and a model to you all. Attend people - Scout has deployed himself correctly, being one of the smaller members of the audience he has layed his rug on the front row and he is watching with ears pricked and eyes observant - as he did all evening. Indeed the actors will verify that the only sound Scout made during the whole evening came at that tragic moment when Odysseus’s dog, Argos, died. At that moment Homer’s portrayal of the complexity and depth of Dog was overwhelming and Scout was heard to emit a plaintive whine.

Scout, we hope to see you again this year. You’ll be interested to see another Dog starring in the Sirens of Titan - Kazak, the dematerialising space hound. 

Thank you people.  

MAY, June 2010