Not many people know or understand why I use the name "Lampboy" as my site's name or an any other contexts, so I will let you all in on the secret. It is more of an inside joke than anything, but certain friends know me only as Lampboy and call me that to this day.
It all started while I was attending the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in the one-year post-graduate acting course (which I was actually a junior in college, but was able to attend none-the-less). We studied acting technique, Shakespeare text and performance, stage combat (my favorite), etc., and put on five in-studio shows that year (one of which was actually done in their main theatre). The last point is the most important involving the creation of Lampboy.
I was cast in The London Cuckolds, by Edward Ravenscroft, a restoration-era play. The plot is based on three couples who think they've found the best way to keep their wives virtuous. It's a a super-sexual comedy full of innuendoes and puns, and was directed by Aaron Mullen. I played the role of Roger, a servent.
This was the most fun I've had on any production. Our director was hilarious, and referred to me only as "A" and would poke fun at me and, well, most everyone in the cast constantly. He crafted the comedy in this play masterfully and we had a great time with it. He reheares one scene where all I do is walk out, stop, say my signiture line "Sir, there's a lady's maid wishes to speak with you...wahee" and leave, over, and over, and over again. But, I nailed it! He also heavily criticized my cockney accent quite openly, and reffered to it only as a bad rendition of "Dick Van Dyke" (think Marry Poppins, but worse). This was fairly deserved as it was pretty bad, although (and he complemented me on this) even with my bad accent, my character was 100% and I think pretty funny. I digress a bit, though.
My character, Roger, was used throughout the play mostly as odd comic relief as only a dumb servent could be (and I play dumb quite well, thank you), one scene of which I was sitting by a lamp post and was mistaken for a "lampboy" and given money, with the line "Lampboy, put out your light and go your way" so the gentleman could have his way with his lady or something. I took the money and left like any good con-artist would. From then on I was simply called "Lampboy" by the cast and the rest of the "D" class, and it has lived on today with still a few friends who will not call me by my real name (although clearly I enjoy it).
One last note on this production, during the performance I had a severe case of the flu and was extremely ill and during the show would run off stage to vomit and was on heavy meds for my headache. Also, due to the exessive amount of my master hitting me over the head with a cane (slightly padded) I did receive a slight concussion. Awesome, huh! Maybe I perform better sick? Either way, that is the lengthy reason behind why I use the name "Lampboy" for things. Now you know, and knowing is half the battle!
