1974 January FEBRUARY March April May June July August September October November December

MY WORLD by David Bowie A WEEKLY DIARY EXCLUSIVELY WRITTEN FOR MIRABELLE MAGAZINE

2nd February 1974

   As I promised last week I am going to tell you about the wonderful time I had when I went to see 'The Monty Python Flying Circus Show' at the Drury Lane Theatre recently.

   One of the sketches I (and the audience, too) really seemed to enjoy was 'The Election' one. After all the seriousness of the past few weeks, it was great to have a good laugh at politics. In the sketch there are three parties running The Sensible Party, The Silly Party and The Very Silly Party. The Silly and The Very Silly Parties candidates all had the most way-out names and their voices were quite something else!

   Another part of the show I really enjoyed was a kind of false interval when John Cleese suddenly appears in the aisle dressed up as an ice cream salesgirl with a difference. Instead of selling ices and soft drinks he's offering albatrosses!

   Another speciality offered to the enthusiastic audience was a visit to the Ministry of Silly Walks. In case you missed seeing this on your television screens I'll try to explain what it's all about - but it is a little difficult. Michael Palin goes to see John Cleese who works at The Ministry of Silly Walks to try to get a grant so that he can develop his own silly walk. But John Cleese insists it isn't really silly enough and shows his special silly walk. But as he can tell Michael Palin is really interested he says that he'll run a film to show silly walks of the past. The cinema screen at the back of the stage suddenly shows the most crazy, outrageous walks you can imagine. These are all speeded up to create a very fast effect.

   The screen was used a lot during sketches and in between sketches while the small cast hurriedly changed themselves and the scenery.

   The whole audience were clearly devotees of this talented team, because on leaving and entering the beautiful old theatre they were imitating the cast.

   I think I should add that some parts of the show are just a little bit shocking and obviously on the stage the cast can get away with more than they can on the BBC. But all in all that was really a night to remember.

9th February 1974

   There is one thing I really want to tell you about today... I've just bought myself a house in Kensington - that's exciting enough, but for me this house is really a dream come true. I saw it first when I was at art school, and fell in love with it. I promised myself then that if ever I became successful and rich enough, I would buy that house, and I have! It's wonderful to be able to fulfil a wish that one has had for so long. I just can't wait to move in.

   Angie loves the house too - even little Zowie gave his approval, though I'm not sure if he really knows what it's all about! He's so used to moving about that he takes it all in his stride.

   Really it's been a very exciting time lately, not just for me but for Angie, too. Have you ever heard of Jipp Jones? Well, you may think you haven't but, in fact, you know her quite well by now. That is the name that Angie is intending to use for her professional work. She is going to be doing some acting in the near future. It's something that she has wanted to do for quite a while, and suddenly everything is beginning to fall into place. She has been going over to the States and talking to various people there and now is all set for some guest appearances on television serials. She says that she isn't really intending to be a very serious actress because she won't be doing that sort of acting. But one thing I can vouch for is that she is going to be very good, on top of the fact that though I say it myself - she is going to stun everybody with her beauty. Angie studied classical ballet for quite a few years, which accounts for the beautiful way she walks and holds herself. She was thinking for a while of becoming a dancer, but then decided that there were other things she wanted to do more.

   I have so many plans for the future that I often wonder how I am going to find time to fit them all in. At the moment I am working on two musicals. One is called 'The Ziggy Stardust Show' and the other is called '1984'. I'm not quite sure what we are going to do with them. They would both make very good TV shows or stage shows and '1984' could even make a film.

Created: July 1997 © Paul Kinder

Last Updated: 16/7/01