Wednesday April 9, 2025
Dear England
Despite a limited interest in football, I have been thinking about seeing this play ever since it's first run - and the return to the Olivier at the NT gave me the opportunity to do so in one of their unbelievably low budget seats at the front of the stalls. (I love these seats - you are practically on the stage with the actors).
Anyway, it was a truly wonderful experience full of joy and pathos and excellent acting - and altogether charming.
To be fair - even though I assumed there would have been a change in cast, I did not really realise there had been a substantial rewrite of the second half (to keep up with current events). But the cast... what can I say? The footballers - and "Southgate" were remarkably distinguishable by their hair cuts alone, but also pulled off amazing likenesses by their body language - this is particularly noticeable if you look at the photographs of the production, where, as stationary figures, they look nothing like the real guys. I know I shouldn't be surprised - they are all actors after all, and I know acting isn't just about mimicry ... but all the same...
To my mind Gwilym Lee's portrayal of Southgate was without a doubt the most astonishing - my companion remarked that he had started to wonder if Southgate himself had made an appearance as the likeness was so uncanny. I always regarded Lee as a run-of-the-mill TV actor - based entirely and only on his appearances in Midsomer Murders - his acting abilities clearly by-passed me entirely since I had never even linked him with his character in "Rogue Heroes"...
Anyway I can't recommend this enough - emotionally uplifting and charming - the good guys always win (if only!) - read the excellent Guardian review by Mark Lawson.
Posted on April 9, 2025 at 8:56 PM. Category: Art and Culture. | Comments (0)
Wednesday March 5, 2025
Conclave
Another "proper" matinee performance at the Everyman for "silver screeners".
I have never read the book but Robert Harris can always be relied upon for a riveting plot - and so it was. Great performances all round - full of suspense - which was some feat given that large portions of the film were given over to a very tediously slow voting system (though not at all tedious somehow!) - and fascinating to see how it's done - no wonder it all takes so long...
Posted on March 5, 2025 at 11:38 PM. Category: Art and Culture. | Comments (0)
Wednesday December 25, 2024
Christmas Day
A jolly gathering...
...and a dusting of late night snow.
Posted on December 25, 2024 at 6:45 PM. Category: Days Out. | Comments (0)
Tuesday December 24, 2024
A Christmas Eve Table
My sister's beautiful table.
Posted on December 24, 2024 at 9:22 AM. Category: Days Out. | Comments (0)
Thursday December 5, 2024
Dr Strangelove
I had my reservations, but I wanted to see this NT production with Steve Cooghan - who is always excellent - and - of course - it was terrific. A most entertaining comedy.
I was never so enthusiastic about the now classic Dr Strangelove film - so much so that I had forgotten Peter Sellers played 3 roles! However, I think this play actually works far better than the film. It adapts so well to the stage, having many scenes in confined indoor spaces, that I was inclined to wonder if it had started life on the stage. But no - I find the play is based on the Stanley Kubrick 1964 film, and was (most excellently) adapted for the stage by Armando Iannucci and Sean Foley.
Even the most challenging (impossible) scenes in the aircraft flying over Russia are delightfully dramatised. Actually I say "most challenging" but of course the most challenging part must have been staging and managing Cooghan's multiple roles - especially when the characters are called upon to be on stage and interacting at the same time. He not only took on the 3 Seller's roles, but added the stalwart (if not insane) aircraft pilot (memorably portrayed in the film by Slim Pickens).
Posted on December 5, 2024 at 6:15 PM. Category: Art and Culture. | Comments (0)
Tuesday November 19, 2024
A Christie for Christmas
So I went to a publishing event - an interesting experience. I had hoped to have company but everyone else was mysteriously busy doing other things (!).
We all (some of us) dressed up in suitable "Golden Age" costume - with a prize given to the lady who sat in front of me in the front row wearing a large hat (not that I'm bitter).
In fact I found the interviews with authors most enjoyable - especially seeing Stephanie Merritt and Sophie Hannah in person(s), of whom(s) I am a great fan. Their insights into the world of writing and publishing were most amusing - I particularly liked Sophie Hannah and Bella Mackie discussing the title "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?" against modern publishing "rules" - suggesting it would have become "Evans!" or even "Why?!"
(actually - are exclamation marks even allowed? - I don't know!*)
* irony ... maybe
Posted on November 19, 2024 at 11:18 PM. Category: Art and Culture. | Comments (0)
Saturday October 26, 2024
Knitting in Shoreham-by-Sea
Today I went on a little tour of the south coast by public transport - a trip down memory lane. The Shoreham Knitting and Needlecraft store were having an open day with Martin Storey and ... well I couldn't resist could I? Apparently they were the first independent yarn store in the UK to stock Rowan yarns, and I first went there in the 1980s.
I spent a few happy hours there, gushing over Martin and purchasing the latest Rowan book (and, inevitably, some wool!), before nipping along the coast to Chichester to meet my sister for lunch, after which it was off home by train and bus. A thoroughly satisfying day's outing.
I was very pleased to find that the Rowan magazine (76) has a big feature on the Textile Garden of whom I have long been a fan with their beautiful buttons.
Martin getting down to the serious business of book signing! [Note him sporting "Shoal" from the Union Collection - currently on sale from English Yarns.]
Posted on October 26, 2024 at 6:19 PM. Category: Knitting and Crochet. | Comments (0)
