G'Day Mate!
I just returned from Jolly Old......New Zealand. Not quite England, and barely a relation to Australia, and certainly nowhere NEAR the United States. Trust me.
It's been a wonderful 5-week performance tour, in some of the finest theaters and renovated opera houses throughout both islands of New Zealand. The show, "World Festival of Magic" is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, and this show was simply a GREAT edition of the long-running production.
Most of the cast were Aussies, and they were a nice bunch to hang and work with. The "kiwi" crowds were fantastic and very often we were performing for sold-out audiences. Even with some arena shows in Wellington, we were just packing them in!
(PHOTO #1) - Chris Price, myself, and Todd Charles - Hanging at the restaurant, HAZEL, in Wellington, just around the corner from Peter Jackson's theater. Excellent food! (As were many of the 5-STAR dining establishmets we visited. Chris is the best host to tour the restaurants and also great to consult with when it comes to New Zealands wines. I don't really drink, but I must say for a "non-drinker", I was really enjoying the beverages placed before me. Also knowing I didn't have to drive was an added plus!
(PHOTO #2) - Onstage in front of another PACKED house! A beautifully renovated opera house which just gave your chills to perform in. Thank you New Zealand for a great time in front of thousands!
While taking a day off after some shows in Taupo, my buddies and I were walking around the shopping area looking for some lunch when we stumbled into Colin Mochrie in a small bakery. Colin was very nice, and was in town because he was performing in New Zealand as well during the same time and our shows crossed paths in several cities. We grabbed some photos and wished him well with his tour. Must say I really admire his "improv" brain. I basically grew up with the Groundling Theater in Los Angeles, and know just how hard true improvising can be to constantly pull it off show after show, and Colin is a sterling example of a very well trained improviser. The BEST!
There's more to come. Promise. Here's the deal -- I've been using the blog on MySpace, but there are times I really wish I could simply do my own away from that vortex of dysfunctional internet friendships. I swear it's as bad a cult as the Red Hat Society for older women. (Okay, not as bad....I don't have to wear a red hat.)
So, while I'm back to Blogger, you might still want to check out my rants and raves, pix, etc...over at MySpace. Here's the link:
http://www.myspace.com/chipperlowell
All the best! Drop me a line every so often and let me know how YOU'RE DOING!
Thanks!
Chipper : )
