Letter To Jacqui Somerville Dated 28 November 1992

                                                           28 November 1992
 
Dear Jacqui,
 
Congratulations once again on an excellent opening night.  Please pass on my compliments to the cast and John Moore.
 
I enclose some material for the party.  I very much regret I shall miss it.
 
FAIR WEATHER FRIEND
 
I recall that you like Carol[e] King songs, so I thought you may like to try this nasty little number.  It is hot off the scribble pad.
 
WE DIDN’T LEARN THE LINES
 
I felt very sorry for the cast trying to learn such a difficult song at such short notice for their opening night.  But no subject is sacred in News Revue and I think this version may raise the odd smile.
 
SONG TO PERSECUTE YOU
 
This is a little dig at John Random for his zealous blacklist of certain songs.  If you really want to annoy John, all you have to do is use songs like “Chattanooga”, “My Favourite Things”, “Maria”, “YMCA”……….
 
LUMPS
 
When Paula was directing the show, her cast very specifically commissioned this odious ditty.  Paula then spiked it, saying it was too nasty for public consumption.  However, in the privacy of our own News Revue party, I think the least that Jon and Paula can do to compensate me is to give the song one solitary performance before it is laid to rest.
 
NUDE FOR THOUGHT
 
Now that 0898 is personga non grata, perhaps Clive Gehle could use this song to entertain the crowds in his wonderful J Arthur Ranker character.  This song was never performed, so will be new to most of the throng.
 
Well that’s it.  I hope the party is a barrel of laughs.  No doubt I shall hear about it afterwards.  Meanwhile, I shall be telling all my friends how good the new show is, and shall come and see you all again before Christmas.
 
Best wishes to all