Edinburgh

Well this is going to be a very long

Please note the parts in red might be of the most interest to you.

Sunday 17th August

The Journey

I had not had much sleep the night before I ended up going to bed at about 12.30am bad me and I kept waking up I was just way way too excited. I got up at 5am to be ready for Lynda coming to pick me up. She came for 5.45am and for once I was in fact ready and sat waiting so we could set off straight away. Now I live near Leeds and we had worked out it was going to take about 5 hours to get up there. We were seing the afternoon performance and that was on at 2.30 but we had to book into the hotel which was in Leigh and of course stop off for food. So Lynda sets off driving I'm sat next to her and her daughter Becca is in the back she has a big quilt and pillows and I have a blanket and pillow poor Lynda has to drive all the way with 2 people who couln't keep their eyes open.
Lynda wakes us up were just getting to the scottish border so we stop of and get very excited to see the sign Welcome to Scotland. I've never been to scotland and have wanted to go for some time. What better excuse than to see Billy on Stage then.
We get to Leigh and the Travel Inn at about 11.30 tried to book in but they said it was too early so we wash up in the toilet and get the bus into Edinburgh.

The Theatre

The bus stopped right by the Royal Lyceum and when we got off we couldn't believe what a lovley Theatre it was. We decide to go looking for reviews in the local papers so there we are with half a ton of papers looking though them at about 1pm in the lobby. The front of the theatre in all glass so we could see people giving us funny looks. I see the sign for the bar and say that maybe going there would be good. Lynda laughs at me and I explain I feel a bit weird and nerves and need to drink. So there I am drinking away and Becca and Lynda have just got juice. Lynda goes to the bar and I say to Becca I'm sure I can hear some people talking in the theatre maybe they are rehearsling. So off goes Becca to the toilet to have a good listen comes back to tell us that in fact she thinks it might just be some of the techincal guys at work. Lynda doesn't believe so goes for a listen but agrees that Becca is right. So I drink more and Lynda and Becca drink more juice then Lynda's son arrives he's taking the spare ticket we have and has been in Edinburgh for a few days for the festival. We go into the Theatre and I'm quite shocked to see that they already have one of the cast on stage. Were sat on the 4th row from the front in about the middle the theatre is a lot smaller than I thought it would be. It's very very beauitful though I love theatre's like that. We sit down and wait for the start. When Billy arrives on stage Lynda and I just stare at each other it seems a very sureal experience then when he is on the screen and we can see his feet that's even weird. I'm like totally freaked out but as I get more use to it I just begin to enjoy the play.

Review

I loved the play it's very hard to descibe it's still spinning in my head I'll try tell you a few things about it without it spoiling it as I've heard it being shown in October or November again. Please go see it. Most of the time the whole cast were on stage so as you were watching an main part of the scene you could also see out of the corner of your eye something else going on. It took a bit to get use to but then you began to enjoy the fact your eyes were kept so busy. Billy is playing the part of the play write David Greig. David is traveling to San Deigo to see one of his plays performed when he arrives there he is giving a car by a girl called Amy there is a lot of Amy's in San Deigo. David then gets lost and comes across the Pilot Kevin. Now from here is where the main story *see I'm avoiding the big spoiler* comes in Kevin has an Son Andrew who's an Actor and a Daughter Laura who is in hostipal with a problem she has of self harm. I have to say I felt this character really shone out for me and the actress Abigail Davies did a great job. Now I'm not going go in it detail to detail but just say a few things here and there. It was a really ride of emotional one mintue I was laughing the next I was crying yes I did cry that has never happened when I have seen a play before. I also have to tell you that everyone one of us cried. The humour came from a due that adopted an boy/man called Daniel as they tried to help the him make his way in San deigo. These characters were very funny and they broke up some of the more serouis stuff nicely. The end was an nice surprise and the play in total was 2 hour 50 mins. The set was well laid out and they made good use of the space in order for you to understand which parts were the hospital etc as well as the whole area looking the same. There was a lot of sound effects and sound track thoughtout the play which at times got a little much sometimes you just wanted a bit of silence. Costume was good simple yet effecive. Not one member of cast let the play down they all worked as a team to bring about one of the best plays I have ever seen and I've seen alot.

We left feel all weird and I of course went to the bar for more drinks. We then decided that we would drop some stuff we had got for Billy at the Stage door so we went there and they told use to come back before 7pm. We got back for 6.45 and were told we had just missed Billy. So she said wait on I'll see if I can get hold of him so there she is calling round for him and were looking at each other. Were just about to pass the stuff to her when Billy opens the door we just stare. He's like Hello I'm in a bit of a rush were like oh were really sorry we just wanted to give you these so we pass over the pressie and off goes Billy. Now here is were Lynda freaks out she thinks she's really upset him but I say he wouldn't of come down if he was pissed off. But she was still freaking. So off we go for some food at Pizza Hut and then for a lot of wasting time we walk the streets for a while but it begans to rain a bit so we decide to head into Starbucks. I think we spend about hour and half there. I really didn't think you could get kicked out of Starbucks but it seems that in fact you can maybe something to do with the fact it was passed 10pm and they wanted to close. we decided that maybe best to go back to the Theatre then and go to the bar ok ok that was my idea but they did nice wine. So we look round the bar and we can see basically other people well ok other girls doing the same as us. So were all quite then I over hear Dom's name so I look over at the girls next to us and smile then I talk to them for a bit they say that they don't really know the names of the LOTR people. They had just heard who had been seen one was Dom they had also heard that Viggo and Peter Jackson where here and that Elijah Wood was meant to be coming but that he was still in L.A. I can't quite believe that Peter Jackson and Viggo would be here so I think to myself they must just be confused. So we notice all the audience come out and go then a few stay in the bar then about 10mins later a few people are hanging round by the stair. Then I look over and what do I see but Viggo leaning against a Pillor I just could not believe it was him. I ask Becca is that Viggo and she say's yeah that's him Damn right it is. I'm in shoch he seems to be all by himself. So I get closer and I can see a back of an head I think I know that back of the head it's Dom. So me being me I make my way over I stand near by look round it seem the place is covered in LOTR people. Now I know I don't know the names and some I think I might have got confused with. I see who I think is Craig Parker who is stood with some guys who very much look like elves to me but I really don't know who they are sorry I'm into Hobbits. Behind me is Sala Baker and another guy who I've seen the face of before but I'm not sure of the name. Then I see Phillipa Boynes. I had yet to see Billy then I notice why he's been surrounded by girls. I think it was about this time that I saw our old favourite The Empire Girl yes and were all pretty sure the girlfriend. I stand here Dom waiting for him to finish talking to the person he is talking to. I then see Billy go over and give him a big hug and it's so nice to see them so happy to see each other. Then I heard Dom introducing a girl to Billy now I can't remember her name but it all seemed a bit weird and yes it was a girl even though I only saw her for a few seconds. I stood for a bit more but they didn't really talk before Billy went off with the comment "Where's Kathy?" Is this Empire girls name it could be. I then noticed that Viggo was stood on the stairs and who I preusm is Henry is stood by him he's a really big lad taller than his Dad. This is when Viggo disappeared. I'm still stood by Dom talking to Lynda she's still freakin out not knowing what to do she is looking at Billy but dare not go up and so I try talk some sense into her and then I decide that's it I'm going to try and talk to Dom. So then I notice that he's stop talking to a girl then I go talk to him I shake his hand and he really has the sexist hands I've seen I can't help staring at him it's totally mad. I ask him what he's been up and if he's going to see any other shows. Then he say's that Billy and him are going down to London the next day. Now I find this interest there is a odd mixture of LOTR people there an the DVD is released on 26th could something be happening! I'm then at a lost what to do so I in the end notice that Sala is kind of stood there and go up and talk to him I say how gald I am he's coming back to Collectormania and then ask if I can take a picture of him. He then say's sure but stops a bar man and asks him to take take a picture of us which I thought was very sweet. Lynda and I then notice Billy running out so we go out to the lobby and watch him go Lynda is a little sad. Then I say we should go up and talk to Viggo we notice he is sat on the side with Phillipa and who I think is Mark Ordesky.We decide against it as it looks like he wants to be left alone. Then Billy goes back and i shout Billy he looks then I say Billy again and he comes over. We talk a little and I ask for a him to sign some pics and to have a picture with him. He laughs as I show him the prints they are one's with him in the green shirt he is wearing. He laughs and say's it would be even funny if he was wearing the watch too. I ask him to sign it to Lynda as she's to shy to ask he smiled at her which I think really cheered her up. We then get a pic with him say thank you very much. Then say good bye. That was it out of the bar down the street scream not even caring where we were going to. So we then get a taxi and go back to the travel inn then end up dropping into bed at 12.30 hafter phoning lots of people.

Monday 18th August

Please contact me if you would like to display the pictures on your web site DON'T JUST TAKE !

No direct linking to pictures or page think of people's band width. No taking pictures and chopping the LOTR guys heads off and displaying the pics.

   
Me with Billy and Lynda Me and Dom Me and Sala yes it is Viggo honest it is and he was sat with Philippa Boyens and I think Mark Ordesky.

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