Tom Jones: “Shining like a beacon in this naughty world”

It’s that time of year again – outdoor theatre in a medieval castle. This year we are doing Fielding’s Tom Jones. Hence the signs which read “TOM JONES” in large letters, then, slightly smaller (and bracketed) “the play”, to avoid any embarassment with ladies queuing with their underwear ready for the great man to strike up with “It’s Not Unusual”. Yeah, Tom Jones plays Lewes Castle… Great.

No, it’s an adaptation of the novel that we’re doing, and the director’s worried about how the good people of Lewes will react to all the sex. The landlady of my local stopped by and looked over the wall. “Very Lewes” she said, seeing the bawdy goings on, so that settled that. Several spectators with younger children were leaning over the wall enjoying one of the more energetic scenes Molly “thanks” Tom for his kindness. No kids were whisked away by shocked parents.

I’ve put the pictures I took at the dress last night over on PicasaWeb (still trying it out). Unfortunatley my batteries ran flat before I could get any decent ones. I forgot to charge them up.

Aug 15, 2006 – 8 Photos

It should be a highly enjoyable show (provided the weather does what it’s supposed to… by no means guaranteed). Gates open 6.30pm, bring a picnic; the performance starts at 7.30pm and is over by 10pm. Descriptions here and here and you can even buy your tickets online for tonight, tomorrow, Friday, or Sat.

About Simon Wood

Lecturer in medical education, lapsed mathematician, Doctor Who fan and garden railway builder. See simonwood.info for more...

3 thoughts on “Tom Jones: “Shining like a beacon in this naughty world”

  1. I clicked on your Black Horse link, and found (under “other pubs nearby”) the Tally Ho, Lewes (0.4 miles). I’d never heard of it €“ how is this possible! Little Storping should be careful not to pull such surprises on its delicate readers.

  2. I didn’t realise Little Storping had delicate readers. I am now wet, for although it stayed very pleasant during the show, while we were sitting out at The Lewes Arms it has started raining! What splendid timing.

    The director spotted two well dressed black women with an eight year old, and suspecting they may have been Church of God down for Big Move, warned them that, being Tom Jones, it had scenes that might not be suitable for the child. They came in anyway, and the little girl clearly not only enjoyed the sex scenes (she wriggled out when they tried to cover her eyes) but also the violence too. There are no signs, no warnings in the programme. Good. I forgot to include this article by David Edgar when I posted.

  3. I didn’t realise Little Storping had delicate readers. I am now wet, for although it stayed very pleasant during the show, while we were sitting out at The Lewes Arms it has started raining! What splendid timing.

    The director spotted two well dressed black women with an eight year old, and suspecting they may have been Church of God down for Big Move, warned them that, being Tom Jones, it had scenes that might not be suitable for the child. They came in anyway, and the little girl clearly not only enjoyed the sex scenes (she wriggled out when they tried to cover her eyes) but also the violence too. There are no signs, no warnings in the programme. Good. I forgot to include this article by David Edgar when I posted.

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