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	<title>Blue Anorak &#187; Comedy</title>
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	<description>Ponderings of an Essex boy exiled in Lancashire</description>
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		<title>Ben Willbond</title>
		<link>http://www.shrimper.org.uk/culture/2005/08/26/ben-willbond</link>
		<comments>http://www.shrimper.org.uk/culture/2005/08/26/ben-willbond#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2005 08:23:40 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[Comedy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Eleven and twelve years ago (i.e. from September 1993 until June 1994), I was undergoing my year abroad in Moscow as part of my degree course. I had the good fortune to share rooms with Ben Willbond (Pants Cat in the picture from the 1993 Hallowe&#8217;en Party) who was clearly more than just a young [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Eleven and twelve years ago (i.e. from September 1993 until June 1994), I was undergoing my year abroad in Moscow as part of my degree course. I had the good fortune to share rooms with <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lukebosman/14676405/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://photos13.flickr.com/14676405_c5b7c73fd1_m.jpg" align="left" width="164" height="240" alt="Ben Willbond is 'Pants Cat'" /> Ben Willbond</a> (<q>Pants Cat</q> in the picture from the 1993 Hallowe&#8217;en Party) who was clearly more than just a young man who knew a few jokes and enjoyed reading Bulgakov and Camus.</p>
<p>I was pleased for him when I saw, several years ago, that he had won the Perrier Award for Best Newcomer and cringed when I saw the short-lived <abbr title="television">tv</abbr> series on UK Play.</p>
<p>This chap consistently receives good, even glowing, reviews in the media, such as:</p>
<blockquote><p>The characters brought to life by Willbond and his co-stars, Jim Field Smith and Katy Brand, are fantastically funny. Each one is fully formed with their own verbal peculiarities, questionable motives and occasional forays into insanity. In front of a bare stage, the entire focus is on the characters – the only props to be seen are a lab coat, a chair, a Russian pistol, 2 grey wigs and a pair of dodgy Miami Vice style shades. All this is tied together with a clever narrative which draws the audience even further into the wacky, though strangely familiar, world which the characters inhabit.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>from <a href="http://edinburghfringe.thepodcastnetwork.com/2005/08/24/review-ben-willbond/">TPN</a> or the less glowing:</p>
<blockquote><p>Ben Willbond &#8211; comedic act with 2 supporting cast. Series of skits that all interlinked and he had some very amusing characters. Enjoyable to watch skilful acting and enjoyable dialogue. Worth a look.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>from <a href="http://www.blogberg.com/archives/2005/08/edinburgh_fring.html">Blogberg</a>.</p>
<p>Which leaves me asking the question: Will Ben ever perform a show in the North-West? Preston&#8217;s Guild Hall could do with some talent.</p>
<p>For now, Ben can be seen at the Pleasance Courtyard at the <a href="http://www.edfringe.com/shows/detail.php?action=shows&#038;id=WILLB">Edinburgh Festival</a>.</p>
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