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The Mountain Comes to Mohammed(or Beckett in the Bedroom)Dateline: 21st September, 2008This is not the first time that BTG has featured an unbelievable story centred on Blanche Marvin. This redoubtable octogenarian thinks nothing of travelling overnight to Edinburgh on a coach for a theatrical experience, nor of coming home the same way 24 hours later. The sprightly American is well-known to first night audiences in London, carefully choosing her colourful costumes to fit in with the theme of the evening. On a slightly more serious note, she is a critic and also the lady behind the Empty Space ... Peter Brook Awards, which have proved so valuable to many fringe theatres over the years. There has always been a suspicion that at the very minimum, Blanche was bionic and now, she really is. The proud possessor of a new hip she has been struggling to recover and needed a fillip. Her ambitious friend, Paul Taylor of The Independent, does not do things by halves and rather than sending over a couple of DVDs, went one better. He contacted David Lan at the Young Vic and between them, they coerced an instantly willing Kathryn Hunter into rushing from The Cut to St John's Wood between performances on the last day of the run. There, in the reportedly stunned and rather tearful Blanche's bedroom, she performed Peter Brook's version of Beckett's Rockabye to a very appreciative and audience of one. Apparently, this is the first time that any Peter Brook production has been seen in a private home, which is a measure of the respect that all involved have for these unique personality. It may be a few weeks away yet, but the London theatrical community is already eagerly awaiting the return of bionic Blanche. In the meantime, they are thinking up the least likely performances that might grace her bedroom while she recuperates. The rumour that the whole cast of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert has been invited might well be unfounded but it would not be wise to bet too much money against something equally unlikely occurring soon. In the meantime, we wish her well. Philip Fisher
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