However, to prevent ruining the experience for others I will not delve into what happened during the performance. It is better at any rate that you experience it for yourself. But I will say one thing. Derren is plagued with criticisms that he uses stooges in his tricks, I can vouch, as can anyone else who is in the audience that the likelihood of this is neigh on impossible. In fact, I believe that to use stooges would be a diminishing act to himself; he would find it a blemish of his own intelligence to stoop that low. It is perhaps only when you attend his live shows does this actually become apparent.
The performance was fantastic though. He is ever the perfect showman with an astonishing grasp of psychological intuition. You would fail to be amazed at his show no matter how much experience you've had of his stuff before hand.
I can also say he's a fantastic man. Incredibly nice.
We were just leaving the theatre to walk down an alleyway to be picked up when we came across a crowd of people. I immediately thought they were waiting for a taxi and looked on the road for the familiar white painted lines that indicates so. But there were none, just parked cars. And suddenly it dawned - this is where he would be leaving! Having followed him for 12 years and watched everything he's produced I naturally would have jumped at a chance to meet him. And so me and my mother joined the crowd and waited in the pouring rain. It wasn't so much pouring as the type that sort of sneaks up and soaks you without you realising. The only annoyance was the constant dripping from the buildings on to my coat. I hid my programme under my jacket and my mother covered my camera in hers as we stood waiting.
His PR alerted us that he'd have to make it quick on the account that it was wet and that we shouldn't want to stay out much longer. However, after some more waiting she poked her head out of the fire doors again to tell us that he would like us to come in in small groups to be sheltered from the rain. I couldn't believe this. Such a nice man. And so my mind kept whirling. I had to think of something intelligent to say. Something that would resonate with him that I understood his work and that I was an admirer. I also wanted to come up with some form of witty statement or something that would be good for any future performances. And so I sifted through the cobwebbed dark areas of my mind where some psychological content was still stored from that rather expensice degree I got in the subject. Yet I couldn't think of anything. And so when I got there. And I was stood in front of him I didn't know what to possibly say.
All I could think of was a) he looked older than I thought he would, b) he's such a normal guy you wouldn't know him if you walked passed him on the street and c) my name! The group in front of me joked that he looked like their drama teacher and could they get a photo. And then it was my turn. And all I could say was my name.
I even said it over him asking what it was! How ignorant am I! Then I said it again to make sure he heard and didn't get it mixed up with the person before who had a similar name to me, then I said it again in a whispered voice thinking 'OMG STOP SAYING YOUR NAME!!!!!'
He ended up having a photo with me, then I left without another word, and wanted to get out ASAP instead of goggling at him like crazy.
I can honestly say I'd never been truly embarrassed as I was that day. He obviously will never remember this moment, but I hope that he will understand my sheer admiration for him, lead me to be a...total goofball :(
However, at least I met him I suppose...though a part of me thinks that maybe my dignity would have preferred it if in future I take the long route away from the Stage Door....
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