José Raúl Mangual has been covering Munkustrap while Devon McCleskey has been off sick! Sadly it's back to the booth for them for a little while, but at least that implies the cast is gradually getting back on its feet after this batch of illnesses.
Love those shots of them and Tugger being adorable in the curtain call—and not only do I spot Sean McManus covering Skimbleshanks in the background, but I believe these are our first photos of Simon Lawrence, who was brought in to cover Deuteronomy after the lack of covers meant John Anker Bow (Gus) had to play Deut and Gus as a split track.
2021 US tour; posted by José 19/01/22, though the photos are clearly from several nights ago, since Sean was back to his regular role as Tumblebrutus on the 15th.
These two prints come from our recent acquisition 2020 Vision: Nineteen Wood Engravers, One Collector, and the Artists Who Inspired Them, compiled and introduced by collector Nigel Hamway, edited by English wood engraver Peter Lawrence, and printed in 2020 by Patrick Randle’s Nomad Letterpress at the Whittington Press in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, in an edition of 340 copies for the 100th anniversary of the Society of Wood Engravers. Hamway asked nineteen of his favorite engravers to choose a major artistic influence, write an introduction about why they feel this way and, wherever possible, to work on a new engraving which sits side-by-side in the book with an engraving or illustration by their inspirer. The result is a unique collection, linking past with present, and a fitting tribute to the skills of the engravers and the part played by the Society in the history of wood engraving. We will be showing more examples from this book over the next several weeks.
In chapter 19, English wood engraver Paul L. Kershaw writes about his inspiration, the British printer and founder of the Fleece Press, Simon Lawrence, a scion of the Lawrence family, manufacturers of fine engravers' boxwood blocks, and “a master printer” who “has set me the best example I could have hoped for; I’m blessed,” writes Kershaw. In an unusual presentation for this volume, the Lawrence example is a folded Fleece Press printing of these two wood engravings by Lawrence’s own inspirations: Piers the Dragon Slayer by George Tute and The Death of William Rufus by Peter Reddick. Of these two English engravers, Lawrence writes:
A few years before I found wood engraving, Peter and George collaborated on mythological subjects for the Reader’s Digest Folklore, Myths & Legends of Britain (1973). I couldn’t distinguish their work at that time and the two Bristolians seemed to form a strong regional style. These artists were among the few who kept the craft alive at a quiet time, & have always been among the brightest stars in the engravers’ firmament. The engravings have been printed by hand on my 1853 Albion Press, the type first printed on dry paper which was then dampened to take the engravings, as I always do. Simon Lawrence, March 2019.
'Who's on for what' is always a big adventure with the US tour cast at the moment. Today (14 Jan 2022), Megan Arseneau switched from covering Demeter to covering Jenny...
... and so Elana Valastro had a Demeter debut! So far she's only been on as Rumpelteazer and Sillabub.
(With fellow swing Kelliann DeCarlo in the first picture.)
Hoping Lauren Louis and Michelle Carter (first-cast Demeter and Jenny) are doing alright. Meanwhile, Chris Salvaggio misses Skimbleshanks and would like to come back please.
But Sean McManus (usually Tumblebrutus) is covering for him! Here with Michelle Carter, presumably from the 8th when he made his debut.
And here's the ins and outs of today's cast:
(Who is Simon Lawrence? I don't know! Presumably a temporary Deut cover, but I've never heard of him. Emergency covers have usually played the role before, but there wasn't anyone called Simon who played or covered that role in the 2019 tour or the Broadway revival! Whoever he is, Michelle mentioned him playing Deuteronomy yesterday as well, which was presumably his debut.)
An annoying pain is what he first associated Simon Lawrence with. Literally. It came as a sharp flare in a small spot behind his belt and only grew sharper that closer the man came. Felt like it was coming from that birthmark of his.
When Penn was a kid, he found that the birthmark resembled his zodiac sign. The strong coincidence had young Penn pretending he was a superhero with mutant powers. But the older he got, the more he realized that he was anything than that.
Penn hooked his left hand into the pocket of his chinos to press his thumb against the spot between his two hip bones inconspicuously. He thought to quip about indigestion but reconsidered it when the man raised his eyebrow. Didn't really look like a joking fellow. Well dressed though. Admirable.
"Penn Marion," he replied simply and shook the offered hand in a firm grip. This Simon character was someone he'd easily overlook had the man not come up and introduce himself. Not to mention being a literal thorn in his side. Letting go of the man, Penn fished out his phone and thumbed open an app customized by one of Christos' software engineers.
"Lawrence, eh?" He quickly looked up the name then back up. "You're in one o' the boat house rooms. Here to file a complaint? Too humid, showers don't work right, what?"
