A record of wanderings
A book that I really liked- having given it to EQ as a Christmas present.
It tells the reality of living under different political structures when Albania ‘transitioned’ from one to another. The story strips out the bullshit of what democracy is and what it has to offer. A socialist state had its strengths.
The sad thing was of the stage when so many people were trying to leave the country. They knew how to go where they wanted…. but did not know why or what was at the destination.
A very seasonal trip to the Old Vic to see a version of the very famous story.
A great performance by Stephen Mangan.
I loved the whole thing
Late to the piece but last Friday IQ went with me to the Barbican for the annual trip.
Shaz was indisposed awaiting the result of a PCR which was reported as negative just as the show was about commence.
It was a smaller scale affair with only 26 in the choir and the music played by a sinfonia rather than full orchestra. Despite this the acoustics of the venue helped project the sound thought the variation in tones was not evident as it can be with a larger choir.
The audience was reduced- fear regarding infection I suppose.
From the Barbican website:
‘Handel’s glorious Messiah holds a special place in many people’s hearts over the Christmas period, but perhaps it will be even more significant in 2021
After a year without the triumphant ‘Hallelujah’ chorus ringing out in churches and concert halls, Britten Sinfonia will give an intimate but impassioned performance. A star-studded line up of soloists joins conductor David Watkin and the Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge.’
A trip to the musical which is laying at the Barbican Centre. Great fun, lots of energy, silly humour and great dancing. I can see why it received its rave reviews. Great escapism. Shaz loved it and a second visit a possibility with the baby in tow.
The long running LesMis production has just moved to the Sondheim theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue. So Joe’s and my return to the show was at a different venue to the one that Shaz and I watched in last year.
As with these it events it was full. We were near the top rung again but not so high and uncomfortable as with other shows.
The show was great and the apparent innovations introduced worked very well in my eyes. The projection of the sewers and the falling off the wall of the policeman to his death.
A wonderful experience for both of us. I would happily see again.
Another family trip, all five, to the musical venue. The show was a mixture of classic carols and well known Christmas populars.
Good fun for the most part and of course a bit cheesy in places. There were plenty of opportunities to sing along.
The Christmas binge goes on and Friday night was Panto night at the Questors in Ealing.
A trio for five that was fully enjoyed. It was a different style of performance from last year when Shaz, Joe and I went to Wimbledon Theatre to see Paul Merton among others.
The actors were mainly children from the Questors young person’s school. There were lots of their mums and dads in the audience I think.
The Pantones was funny, good fun and beautiful. Very different from last years but good all the same and still the same classic format.
Cool.
This was a second time visit and this time with the boys.
It is quite a different event with readings interspaced with music both of the easily recognised and the less typical.
The reading came from the Bible but also thought pieces on believe and religion. There readers were well known – in particular Celia Imrie and Clive Myrie ( BBC journalist) who both clearly are well practised in delivering words.
Mostly beautiful music in Latin, German and English. The traditional carols in English and a selection of others sung by the choir with a very beautiful combined voice. The German version of Silent Night, Holy Night in German (Stillest Nacht) was great. Not all the offerings worked but that is how it goes.
One more event in our procession of Christmas orientated events. Keep it going.
Our annual experience with the classic event at a classic venue.
We sat in better seats this time, closer to the action on the central area.
The choir was powerful and the philharmonic was classy. The performers all seemed to warm up in the second half.
Another positive experience. Here’s to more in the future.
A lovely idea by the boys to treat me to a trip to the theatre for Father’s day. Four months after the event but so what. I was partly to blame as we are on holiday too often!
From the Guardian:
Menier Chocolate Factory, London
With antisemitism on the rise, Tevye’s struggles with the tsar’s thugs are powerfully topical in this note-perfect production
Thu 6 Dec 2018 13.53 GMTLast modified on Thu 6 Dec 2018 15.40 GMT
Although much-loved and often revived, Fiddler on the Roof has been charged with excessive sentimentality and piety. As the poor Russian-Jewish milkman Tevye attempts to marry off five daughters, several of the songs have the form of prayers, and a startling percentage of the dialogue is delivered upwards.
We saw the performance at the Playhouse Theatre as the production had transferred for a limited run. I did my preparation by reading the synopsis and listening to the songs. Some were familiar and the story is easy to follow. The show was very good though the duration of sitting in the hot cheap seats with restricted leg room made a difference.
A great night out with the boys who also enjoyed the show. So all were getting out there to enjoy something new.