Panto Chronicles: Merry On

[peg22]

2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

December 25, 2007 - AP

The Christmas party hosted by Britain's most intellectual pudding, Stephen Fry, has taken a turn into the annals of Page Six scandal. And that seems to be okay for the ebullient Fry, who could not be reached for comment. Yet.

The party, touted by some to be THE EVENT of the holiday season, boasting an RSVP list that included , Hugh Grant, Hugh Laurie, Hugh Jackman, both sides of Starsky and Hutch, David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser (sans his Captain Hook 'stache) as well as a smattering of London's brightest social winds, not to mention the rest of the cast of Peter's Friends (sans Kenneth Branagh), was scheduled to begin Christmas Eve at the pastoral estate purchased by Fry in the late 80s.

Unfortunately, the party got off to a rather rocky start when Fry, three fingers into the Christmas cheer, mooned the exiting  matinee audience of Glaser's Peter Pan panto at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley. David Soul hopped out, grabbed his former partner in crime fighting Glaser, and tossed him into the back of the limo, where at least a dozen people reported seeing Hugh Grant, Hugh Laurie and Emma Thompson, and then the limo, carrying what could arguably be considered Britain's comedy brain trust, careened through the streets of Bromley, finally disappearing in the holiday traffic on the motorway.

One mother, who had tossed her jacket over her four year old twins Augustus and Alfonse, as to not "burn their tiny eyes," also said, "It's the most disgusting bum I've ever had the displeasure to see. Gah . . . the hair on that thing . . ."

Later that evening, Fry and his long time partner, Hugh Laurie, were photographed coming out of a petrol station lavatory. They hopped back into the limo, and as they drove off, one onlooker swore she saw "David Soul flew me the bird out the back - bloody hell. Just wanted a quick peek into that car - see if Starsky was in there with him, that's all. Fucking full of himself, that one is."



Still later that night, the fire brigade was called to the estate, where Captain John Fizzelgerst reported that "they had set fire to the Christmas tree."  Mr Fry reported that Mr. Glaser, demonstrating a new yoga position to Mr. Jeremy Irons, had inadvertantly knocked a bucket of ashes into a roll of Christmas paper that then rolled under the tree. The mishap went unnoticed until Mr. Hugh Laurie, deep into a heated discussion about goose versus turkey for Christmas dinner with Mr. David Soul, smelled smoke.

"Although how I ever noticed was a Christmas miracle, given the way Soul goes on like a bloody chimney every second. I don't think I've seen the man without a cigarette dangling yet."

There was minor damage to the settee and the ivory mantle clock, and Mr. Soul was compelled to take Mr. Glaser upstairs for a "breathing treatment," but  there were no other serious injuries.

Carla Wasserstein, AP

Comments

[lauramcewan.livejournal.com]

Breathing treatment. Oh, yes. Of course! :wink:

[peg22.livejournal.com]

very therapeutic I've heard . . .

[mashfanficchick.livejournal.com]

Oh, good Lord!

Kaye, I've been waiting a week to find out just what did happen at that party, and you've made it well worth my wait. From Fry's mooning to Soul's smoking (and the--ahem--"breathing treatment" *g*), this bit was painfully, perfectly, disturbingly funny.

Now, not to whine, but...what'd they do for New Year's, huh? Dish!

Thanks again for the wonderful "report"!

[peg22.livejournal.com]

well, the news is slow out of the UK . . .

the New Year's report should arrive tomorrow . . .

[aesposito.livejournal.com]

OMG I just peed myself again... it read so much like a news report I had to do a double-take for a moment... bravo!

[peg22.livejournal.com]

oh deah . . . but thanks - I just report the "news that's fit to print."

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

Very hush, hush, eh?

Brilliant. I'm so glad we have you as our intrepid reporter for such events. Here's to the New Year missives and more "breathing treatments"...

[ancastar.livejournal.com]

You are a very silly individual. And I love it. How can I get an invite to a party like that? I can be obnoxious with the best of them.

Happy birthday by the way. :-) May 2008 bring you all good things.

The Panto Party Story

[(Anonymous)]

Gee mate, thanks for making me look like a real goose! I posted the page regarding the party at Fry's on one of my S & H groups as a mention of them, bit of Bromley goss..............the general concensus is that I was naive and that this was just some blog BS. Or a Fry hater dishing the dirt on the guy. Sheesh! That's the last time I'll quote this stuff - I thought this was a quote from a reliable source. BTW, I like your fanfic.

June.........juneparry05@hotmail.com.au