If I thought this critiquing lark was just a lot of hacks pretending they liked the sound of their own voice (on paper at least) then one of our mentors, Andrew Haydon, decided to dispel my preconceived notions.
I remember saying “I don’t do classics”. It was somewhat indignant of me. In a room full of strangers, I laid out my stall. No ordinary strangers it has to be said. Assembled for their prowess of all things theatrical, including classics no doubt. Yet, here I was, with the same set of strangers only a few days later, watching a bona fide classic of the greek variety no less. How did I end up like this?
The paper clip.
The humble paper clip is perhaps the ultimate in design. I’d go as far as saying it is the ultimate in art. Functional. Simplistic. Futuristic. The clean lines in design. The way it has the ability to bring things together. Instantly recognisable. I’d go as far and say it is a thing of beauty.
We circled for some time without doing much damage on either side; the long, straight, needle-like swords flashing in the sunlight, and ringing out upon the stillness as they crashed together with each effective parry.
I was only partially successful, as a sharp pain in my left shoulder attested, but in the sweep of my glance as I sought to again locate my adversary, a sight met my astonished gaze which paid me well for the wound the temporary blindness had caused me.
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It’s just like the story of the grasshopper and the octopus. All year long, the grasshopper kept burying acorns for winter, while the octopus mooched off his girlfriend and watched TV. Also he got a race car. Is any of this getting through to you? I wish! It’s a nickel. Okay, it’s 500 dollars, you have no choice of carrier, the battery can’t hold the charge and the reception isn’t very…
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