Theatricalities

I saw Anna Popplewell at A Streetcar Named Desire this week. It was a great production, Rachel Weisz was terrific.

There were other luvvies there but I could not recognise them.

Other highlights were the production of Samson by Handel at the Royal Albert Hall. My Proms attendance is continuing apace. Had much hilarity checking out the Promenaders. I hate to say it but gosh, what a large contingent of weirdos. Politer thing to say would be people marching to the beat of their own drums. Lots of beards, people reading books, having a snooze, chatting to each other. Endless entertainment. And the music was fantastic!!!

Finally, I went to the first day of the Fifth Test at the Oval. It was great fun but tragedy, of course, has since struck and we have lost the Ashes.

Must I leave? Yes, cruel girl...

I went to see the Royal Danish Opera's production of Partenope at the Royal Albert Hall last night. It starred my favourite opera singer, Andreas Scholl. He sang an aria Ch'io parta? that was so beautiful I was in tears when he finished. You could have heard a pin drop in the hall while he sang, it was so still. When he finished, there were cheers and shouts of Bravo! It was amazing. Four standing ovations as well at the end. Wonderful stuff - I will always remember it.

I found this clip on YouTube of Andreas Scholl singing this aria. I will be buying the DVD when it comes out in September.

Culcha Vulture 2

Over the last few weeks that I have not been posting I have been to a fair few theatre things and concerts. Quite liked Beyonce (to my surprise). Saw some good stuff at the National too. The Doll's House at the Donmar was a highlight, Toby Stephens, Gillian Anderson and Christopher Ecceleston were excellent. Thanks to R for the tickets!!

The theatre pinnacle, of course, was Jude Law as Hamlet. We had waited over a year to see this and I was ready to rip him to shreds since last year's handbag incident. I have to admit, it was a good production and Jude was pretty good. It surprises me to say so but 'tis true.

One last star spot before I sign off... L and I saw Elaine Paige this week at Nicole Farhi's while having lunch. We were celebrating our fifth anniversary of joining the mothership.

William Hurt

On Wednesday Mum and I went to see Madame de Sade starring Judi Dench, Rosamunde Pike and Frances Barber. Excellent Play - did not deserve the bad reviews.

Anyway, we had great seats in the fifth row of the stalls right in front of the centre of the stage. Sitting to my left was William Hurt. He was there on his own.

Mum and I could not speak properly from the sheer weirdness of a Hollywood superstar sitting right next to us.

The seats were narrow, Mr Hurt got up to take his jacket off, in the process elbowing me. "I'm sorry," he said, as he reached down and touched my shoulder. "That's ok," I muttered back.

We then proceeded to have a conversation about how narrow the seats were in this theatre compared to others in London. He then asked me if I had seen the play before. I said no. He said he had. I replied that this production had had some really bad reviews but that friends of mine had seen it and enjoyed it.

"In my experience, " said William Hurt as he looked me dead in the eye, "most critics are old farts".

I laughed, because he said it dead pan and it was funny. Then the play started. And that was it - the end of my conversation with William Hurt. This means I have a Bacon number of 3. Very cool it was. I had a crush on William Hurt once upon a time. You know, if Mum had not been with me.... ah sigh, another of the roads not taken.

Priscilla!!!

1. What an AMAZING show was Priscilla! We had the best time, it was brilliant fun.

2. Getting my hair done. It always feels great walking out the door and my hair has been cut shorter. Love it!

3. Dinner with Mum and Dad to celebrate my birthday. Went to a great Chinese restaurant near where they live, half of the town was there. Really looking forward to going to see Dame Judi in a few weeks with Mum.

AND in a state of nervous excitement. I have put the offer in on the house, sealed bids, I find out tomorrow. I am trying to brace myself for the inevitable rejection.

Culcha Vulture

This week's cultural highlights included:-

1. England People Very Nice at the National Theatre. The play has garnered a lot of criticism because of its language and perceived racial stereotypes. The play was an overview of the last 400 years of immigration to Great Britain. The thing is, no nationality or religion comes out of the play looking good, none of them! I thought it was great and am very glad I saw it.

2. Enjoy! by Alan Bennett starring Alison Steadman. I thought the play was weird, to be honest, although there were moments of mirth. I am not a signed up member of the Alison Steadman fan club - she murdered Mrs Bennett and my view is she overacts. Alison did not redeem herself in my eyes on this occasion but hey ho, a lot of it was probably down to the play which WAS NOT GOOD.

3. Just finished my first Georges Simenon novel. Not sure I will try another but it was good to dip my toe into the water.