This is a little bit Mel, isn't it?

Dear Certain Indie Director,

I am writing you a letter of sincere concern regarding your last Major Motion Picture about a certain Indie Excursion starring three certain brothers to a certain land in the occident. I was certainly somewhat disappointed with it, and feel the need to point out, as formerly a Numero Uno Fan, what I felt could have been done to improve this certain situation.

1) You needed a better script. Certain Indie Director, You Mini Auteur, you Young Scorcese, you have a visual sense akin to the greats - Fellini, Bergman, Tati, Lynch, but your scripts... Your scripts... how can I say this? Lack Heart. You need a certain Mainstream Hollywood Star to certainly help you to recreate the magic that once breathed so freely in stories that were obviously inspired by a certain hermit novelist. This certain Mainstream Hollywood Star seems like a nice man, has a dog, and certainly does not seem to be up to much of anything, which is why I think he would jump at the opportunity to work with you again on this or any project. You make a beautiful pair, and you should certainly be working together again in the very near future.

2) Please don't be so rich. Something about how rich your characters always are is starting to irk me - being a middle class so and so, it definitely did not irk me when they were middle class so and sos, but your characters wealth is beginning to accumulate out of all possible realms of feasibility or sympathy, and to be honest, I no longer care.

3) You need stronger female characters. This has never lacked in your previous films, but this certain Indie Epic Adventure in a certain land in the Orient felt like the most mysoginist and woman hating of all of your features thus far. I know this is not how you mean to be perceived, and have more faith in your abilities than that, so for both of our sakes, just consider a strong young lady in your next film. May I suggest... (or is it too obvious) a certain ex-pregnant teenage Canadian so and so who was nominated for a certain Academy Award?

4) If all else fails, try a tv series. I've always felt you had it in you. Think Twin Peaks but better.

If you adhere to any of these four stipulations I would be ever so grateful, and return to being your Fan Numero Uno. If not, then, Certain Indie Mini Auteur, I thank you for the joy your early films have already brought me.

All the best,

Miss Pearson

PS: Three words and three words only... The Cohen Brothers. Sic Transit Gloria is a choice, not an inevitability.

Updates Galore.........

So - dear Bloggy friend - welcome back. There is much to update you on, it being well into March of 2008 - I've gotten a little older, had another couple of shows on, got some things moving, worked with some fantastic people, and have a few other projects broiling away, including (Thank You Andy) a free venue for experimentation at Edinburgh, being co-run by mr Andrew Field, ready and waiting for you at http://www.thearcadesproject.blogspot.com

He's written an inspiring post about what we're doing and why we're doing it that I thoroughly reccomend all hot blooded theatre makers immediately check out.

But that's not what this post is about. Having recently platformed my play "Long Sentences" at Shunt (just last weekend - I'm sorry you missed it!) I am more aware than ever that us young artsy types Need a place to shakily peacock our feathers (do you like them? I really hope you like them) without a financial risk. I can feel nothing but immense gratitude that Andy and I will be providing the opportunity again at Edinburgh this year, and I am bursting at the seams to see what kind of work the young ragamuffin companies come up with.

But again, Not what this post is about.

Ach... what is this post about?

I have, as some of you have noticed (and commented upon!) Not been using this blog much since last year's Forest Fringe. For a variety of reasons, definitely not lack of interest, or a lack of belief, or even a lack of time, though I don't nearly have the time I wished I'd have, but because I have always found it hard to bridge the Professional importance of this kind of a thing (I'm a playwright.. the blog title declares it!) with my desire to just write about weird stuff that has absolutely nothing to do with theatre. Of course I want you to know I have a show coming up, of course I want to hear from anyone interested in vollunteering or participating in Forest Fringe, but I'd also like to compose sonnets to attractive pictures of dead poets, or write essays on philosophers I don't nearly understand.

So Just Do It Pearson! Do It , continue doing it, and Stop Yer Whining!

Whoah boy, fine, cool your boots, will you?