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We took a trip to The Lowry Theatre to see The Wizard of Oz this weekend. Each year at about this time the Lowry do a show, usually a classic kids' favourite like the W of O. So, not unreasonably, the assembled throng expected a panto.
The assembled throng were wrong. What they got was a straight lift of the Wizard of Oz from the film - starring Lorna Luft, Judy Garland's mum, as the Wicked Witch of the West. And I say straight lift, because that was what it was. This confused the audience who had dressed up in costume for the occasion and bought 'light-up' wands with them for the dark parts of the show.
It confused me too. Do you boo or don't you boo? You see in a panto there is interaction, so when after being bood the Wicked Witch of the West just got on with her next line without raising an eyebrow, the audience simply didn't know what to make of it.
A pity really, this was a really good show. Not a panto though; which we all would have rather liked.
The evening was saved though by the Grandma, Daughter, Grandaughter (approximate ages 35y, 20y and 5y) sat beside me. Each had that indomitable Salford pedigree that made them doggedly determined to have an interactive experience. They must have spent months, no years, learning the entire script of the film and they hooted and howled the lines along with the cast. And their enjoyment seemed to be enhanced by the contents of the innocuous looking soft drink bottles that were passed between the two adults at regular intervals.
The youngest of their party was named Lewis. Someone sat in front made the mistake of speaking a little too loudly when they said,
"It must have been where she was conceived..."
Their partner added
"What the Scottish Island?"
And in true Mancunian style, the young lass's mum responded
"Nah Luv, the store in the Trafford Centre - John Lewis, I used to work there."
Now that's entertainment!
You know how you casually scribble things in your diary so you don't forget them?
As we get nearer Christmas the jobs mount up. So I found myself having to visit Asda on the way home last week.
Here is what was written in my diary:
- Vodka
- Pogo Stick
- Dog Treats
- Toilet Cleaner
I think I'll package it as an exercise for a creative writing course - feel free to blog your scenario suggestions.
I knew, even before I tasted it, that I'd love the Wholebake 9 Bar. The sample in the post was accompanied by a letter from Wholebake. The twenty or so people employed in North Wales bake - and it is bake rather than make or produce - the delicious carob topped, seed bar; but what convinced me wasn't the fabulous tasty delight of the thing but rather that I liked them, the bakers.
This is important because when I sat down to give a serious appraisal of 9Bar I found myself thinking the packaging dull and the chances of it competing with Kit Kat or Mars bar to be slim. That was when I realised that the key was in the letter - this is a snack for people who think food is more than a means of providing your body with the means to go on. 9 Bar is for people who care about where their food comes from; care who makes it and care about what they are putting in to themselves.
So, if 9 Bar is a little bit harder to find than the brightly coloured confections near the tills, look a bit harder, it is worth the effort.
It is also perhaps worth noting that Wholebake can also make you a bespoke snack, branded to your own requirement. I quite like the sound of 'Crofty Crunch'. I also thought that, seeing as Fuel My Blog have arranged these reviews, they might like 'Fuel for Your Blog' bar.
Gosh I'm good, I should be in marketing!
I have written before about my admiration for the skills of the advertiser, so when I discovered I had a relative in what must be one of marketings biggest challenges, I just had to go and investigate.
The relative in question sells ice: party ice; he sells ice for a firm that well, makes it. Apparently there are only three leading brands of ice in Europe and his firm makes all of them - which in turn raises its own questions but let's not get distracted.
I was initially aghast to discover that such a product even exists, until I was put in my place by our Australian relative who said that any self respecting Antipodean would not be seen dead without their cool box packed almost to the brim with party ice into which are plunged 'tubes 'o lager' - apparently you wouldn't want a warm beer. I did try to correct her but she was immovable on this point.
Anyway, I set to wondering how the varying brands of ice compete with each other, and to be honest, I ended up a little disappointed. The principle seems to be: 'It's just ice, buy it if you like'.
Still, it didn't stop my imagination running riot when it came to the potential plethora of ways in which you could reward your loyal staff at Christmas. You could give them all vouchers - for Iceland; or what about taking them to a show - High School Musical, On Ice of course. Or what about the different musical tracks you could play in the factory: Cold as Ice, by Foreigner for example.
Then it hit me - the obvious marketing niche. The North Pole is constantly whining on about how it is melting, so why not simply sell them some fresh ice to replace it. And with the scale of this global warming it's obviously a growing market, you could ship the stuff out by the ton - even better, fly it out there: it would be quicker so wouldn't melt as much.
Here's a thing: I wonder whether the excellent people at Fuel My Blog might like to approach the company for product reviews by our esteemed team of reviewers?
Just in case you think I'm not taking this seriously enough and in the process doing my relative an injustice, here's a link to their website so you know which variety of ice to buy in the supermarket. Just don't be disappointed when you get it home to find you have a bag of water.
