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britstarfan |
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Post subject: Classic image of Queen honoured
 Posted: Jul 16, 2007 - 10:45 AM
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Member
Joined: Mar 25, 2003
Posts: 6971
Location: 221B Baker Street London
Status: Offline
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A classic image of the Queen which has featured on some 200 billion stamps is being celebrated in an exhibition. The British Postal Museum and Archive (BPMA) show opens at the Royal College of Art in London on Thursday.
Arnold Machin's headshot of Queen Elizabeth II marks its 40th anniversary this year and is thought to be the most produced stamp portrait of all time. The exhibition traces the development of the design from its inspiration in the Victorian Penny Black.
The Timeless & Classic: Elizabeth, Queen & Icon exhibition, which runs until 15 August, includes original portrait photography and plaster casts.
Douglas Muir, curator at the BPMA, said: "This is a marvellous and unique opportunity to see the Machin design process in its entirety from the development of the coin effigy through the many stages of different designs to the final, timeless icon."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6899429.stm |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jul 16, 2007 - 06:05 PM
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Member
Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 6411
Location: Southwestern Connecticut, U.S.A Heroes: Bjorn Of Borg, and Bill, of course.
Status: Offline
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Oh damn, I thought they were going to honor the band Queen.
That would have been more cool. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jul 16, 2007 - 06:48 PM
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Member
Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 7679
Location: CA
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 ... 
OR
 ... 
The Official Freddie Mercury 60th Birthday Party
By Steve Coles
19.00 - Arrived at front of the Dominion Theatre, to be greeted by a red carpet running from the pavement through to the inside of the theatre. This carpet was there especially for the very people who helped Freddie attain his stardom, the fans. The huge statue of Freddie over the entrance was adorned with gold balloons, and as you entered the theatre, there were about 500 especially made LOLSOS balloons tied to the staircases. Everywhere were fans dressed up in fancy dress, some more outrageous than others, but all there to pay homage to “our” Freddie.
No sooner had I got through the door, I was greeted by 'G', QOL's administrator, who although was looking very busy, was still full of smiles, as he always is. Shhh, don't tell anyone, but I think he just loves the almost crazy levels of pressure of his job. He was actually, at the point of seeing him, racing round looking at all the people in fancy dress, trying to pick a winner out of all these fabulous get-ups.
The merchandising stores were all packed with people frantically trying to get the limited edition “One night only” stuff that had been produced for this particular show, and before 19.25, and when everybody had even entered the theatre, they'd all pretty much sold out of these items, a large portion of which went to the MPT. I'd just got to the front of the queue, and watched the last programme being bought, as I was asked what I wanted, when the three minute warning sounded.
I'd asked Peter Jones (Freddie's driver and friend for many years) and his wife to come along to the performance, and was just about to reunite with them when the two minute call was announced.
We took our seats ready for the performance. I noticed Anita Dobson walk past. As people acknowledged her and said 'hi' she was punching the air, obviously still very excited at seeing the show, and the reaction it gets. I think few celebrities “other halves” out there are as proud of their partner's work as this lady obviously is.
It's about 19.40 and the lights dim and the techno version of 'It's A Beautiful Day' comes over the PA. Everybody starts clapping in time to it, and you know at this point, that this is something different, something you might not have seen before, as this is halfway between one of those special nights watching the musical, and being at a Queen gig.
The music then moves on to the bass synths and drum rolls that start 'Innuendo', and the words '5th September 2006 - Freddie Mercury's 60th Birthday' have been added to the time line screens.
I think for once (probably the first time since the show started running), the entire audience participated in the Radio Ga-Ga handclaps, and not the usual 75% of them.
There were a couple of minor changes to the script in the first half, that seemed to cause cast members to temporarily lose their train of thought, and forget where they were. A lot of these were then played upon by the other cast members, and ad-libbed to, creating rolls of applause and laughter from the audience.
During the halftime interval, I stood out of the front of the theatre, and was passed by Ben Elton who I once again shook hands with and had a quick chat to (I'd met him previously when the show was still in previews all those years ago now). I then went up to the Circle bar to view the photo exhibition, where there was a huge collection of framed Freddie photographs, which I thought would look even nicer around the walls of my living room. Shame.
At this point, along comes 'G' again, STILL all smiles, this time trying to find the ones he'd picked as the fancy dress winners. He advised us that the second half was hopefully going to be full of surprises, and he wasn't joking either.
Next was the request to return to the seats, bumped into Ben Elton again on the way through the foyer, literally. As I went through the stalls door, I noticed Jim Beach was stood engaged in some chat, and when the opportunity arose, introduced him to Peter, who he hadn't seen since 1984. Neither Peter nor Jim initially recognized each other, that's the passing of twenty two years for you, but they soon started chatting, both obviously having such a good time tonight celebrating Freddie.
Walking down the aisle to the seats, I noticed the person directly in front of me, holding me up by chatting to someone, was none other than Anita trying to return to her seat. Small world, isn't it?
Second half started as usual with 'One Vision'. At the part where Killer Queen usually starts her “short” version of 'Don't Stop Me Now', McFly suddenly rose up through the centre of the stage on the platform singing their version of it, which generally was extremely well received. More of the occasional dialogue changes throughout the remainder of the normal set, and disruptions, the most notable being the audience picking up the beat of 'We Will Rock You' before the cast had finished their dialogue, so they waited for the crowd to simmer down before completing that part of it.
After 'We Are The Champions,' instead of the usual “Do you want Bohemian Rhapsody?” screen, they just went straight into 'Bohemian Rhapsody', and as the guitar solo started, you could hear the guitar was significantly louder than normal, and Brian appeared, rising on the centre stage platform to perform the solo. During the opera section, the 'Tottenham Court Road' tube station set rose from the below mid stage area, with Roger's drum kit in the piece of the set where Scaramouche normally disappears for her makeover during the 'Crazy Little Thing' segment.
As the opera section finished, Roger's kit was suddenly flooded with lights as he thumped out the hard rock section. The whole audience meanwhile had erupted, and everybody was going wild. Two of Freddie's primary workmates were on a stage playing a Freddie song especially for him again. The song finished, and the curtain dropped. The crowd was screaming for their return.
A minute or so later the curtain rose with Brian holding a 12-string guitar, and walking over to a pre-positioned stool. He told the crowd that he'd been listening to us all and asked if we have any voices left, as he hoped we might help him out with the next song. He started 'Love Of My Life' and sure enough the crowd helped out. At this point, I doubt there was a dry eye in the house, as Brian let the crowd do the bits that are traditionally their's.
At the end of the song Brian moved his stool a couple of yards from centre stage and introduced his "soul brother" Roger Taylor back onto the stage, to sing his 46664 song 'Say It's Not True' accompanied by Brian, which also got the crowd singing along. Ben Elton came on stage to give a brief speech about what an amazing night it was and as the show wasn't any dearer than usual, could people please donate a few coppers on the way out to the MPT. The impromptu extra set was closed with Brian getting his Red Special back and the band launched into a lovely version of 'The Show Must Go On' where Brian's lead work was cranked up to almost deafening levels. The main members all had their own lines in the song, and everyone absolutely belted those lines out, including 'Khashoggi' who got 'the' biggest section of the song “My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies” and amazed everyone with the sheer power he put into it. Definitely a very fitting finale to an amazing night. The cast, Brian, Roger, Ben and McFly all took bows,
As the house lights came on, we were treated to the customary 'God Save The Queen', and the crowd sang 'Happy Birthday' to Freddie before filing out of the theatre.
Well done, everyone. Cast, crew, band and fans. Freddie would have been well chuffed with that.
Between the three special performances of We Will Rock You that night, in London, Cologne and Cape Town, over a quarter of a million pounds was raised for the Mercury Phoenix Trust.
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ChuckD |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jul 17, 2007 - 06:16 PM
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Member
Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 6411
Location: Southwestern Connecticut, U.S.A Heroes: Bjorn Of Borg, and Bill, of course.
Status: Offline
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Great story and images! I wish I was at that show!
Thanks for posting that Littlestar.  |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jul 17, 2007 - 07:27 PM
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Member
Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 5435
Location: Corn country in Illinois
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Thank you for the information on that Britstarfan!
That was interesting.
DianaG |
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"Jesus said to her I am the Resurrection and the Life ..." John 11:25
"O Death where is thy sting?.... the Victory is thru Jesus Christ." I Cor. 15:54-56
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