by Andrew Pilcher

Des Res

smith-pilcher-793-150504The last few weeks’ worth on strips have been very much drawn on the run, whenever I mange to snatch a few moments of drawing time at home, at lunchtimes, or during rehearsals. Especially during rehearsals.

Yes, I’m back on stage again, and after a fallow patch of doing rather staid old musicals that just don’t deserve the attention they get (The Sound of Music and the so-dire-I-didn’t-even-audition-for-it Carousel) The Hastleons are back doing a show which I think is absolutely wonderful and deserves a huge audience.

FBSisterActI’m playing the Monsignor, which means I get to play to my strengths: act a lot, sing a bit and do very little dancing. But the show really belongs to Deloris and the nuns.

SAR-836Above: Sister Act in rehearsal – Deloris and the nuns face down Curtis, Deloris’ gangster ex-boyfriend. By happy coincidence, the Hastleons’ rehearsal hall is a deconsecrated chapel, we still sit on the old pews which are set around the edge of the rehearsal space. The pews you see in this photo, however, are prop ones originally built for Guys and Dolls.

If you’re able to get to Hastings next week, see this show. It’s going to be fantastic!

by Andrew Pilcher

Cbunch

smith-pilcher-791-150429I’m always surprised by the response some of these strips receive. I thought this set of three crossword strips were rather weak, and were essentially filler, but this became one of the Sherpa editor’s picks in the GoComics Blog. It just goes to show that you never can never tell the worth of anything until you get an audience.

The word they’re searching for, indicentally, is ‘Clowder’. With a sounded ‘C’.

by Andrew Pilcher

Sitting in a box – sitting in a cardboard box

smith-pilcher-789-150424

by Andrew Pilcher

Growl

smith-pilcher-786-150417I have only ever heard Bella growl in one situation, and that’s when she’s guarding her feathery toy from Billy. The rest of the time she’s sweetness and light, but woe betide anyone that tries to separate her from her feathers before she’s ready.

by Andrew Pilcher

Mousee!

smith-pilcher-785-150415The phrase ‘It pains me to think we are of the same blood’ is a direct quote from Geoffrey Willan’s Molesworth books. Except, of course, Nigel Molesworth would have spelled it ‘it panes me to think we are ov the same blud’, as any fule kno. It’s probably an allusion to another quote, anyone know what it might be?

by Andrew Pilcher

Fishee!

smith-pilcher-784-150413Another one of Bella’s favourite toys was her Fishee. It’s a blue fish plush toy that came with a MacDonalds Happy Meal and she was devoted to it until she lost it one night by putting it somewhere completely irretrievable, and we’ve never been able to find it since. I’ve given it to Chumley, as it think it suits him, much to Smudge’s disgust.