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.
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.
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:
Fiddler on the Roof review – Trevor Nunn’s magnificent revival
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
5 stars5 out of 5 stars.
Cruelly topical … Andy Nyman as Tevye at the Menier Chocolate Factory, London. Photographs: Johan Persson
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.
The weekend action at Griffin Park featured the visit of WBA with one ‘Baggies’ supporter sitting next to me. Unfortunately for Joe he could not get a ticket to sit in the away supporters end and had to accept sitting with me and the Brentford supporters.
It was not a good game with both sides playing poorly and making errors. WBA scored a good solo goal but rest of the performance was limited.
But it was good Dad and son time. A fine cycle in history as of course Joe holds his allegiance to WBA as it was his first game I took him to when we lived in the West Midlands. He was nearly or a little more than 5. The first game was against Nottingham Forest. I think he lasted until about half time. I took him again but I cannot remember who against when he lasted longer.
A grown up family event, though by rights one should be taking children to Panto. I am not sure that Joe still counts. However there were plenty of other ‘unaccompanied adults’.
Shaz enjoyed the event with her shouting at the stage, hissing the baddy and clapping along.
It was all very traditional and fun, just as was expected. Paul Merton was very good both in his portrayal of Widow Twanky and his ability to ad-lib in general.
So last week I was happy to support New Zealand when they played England, and as it happens, won in a tight game that really England should have won.
This week the All Blacks play Ireland. Assessment of the merits of each time probably give Ireland the edge in the contest.
But emotionally who do I want to win. With me drifting more to my father’s origins maybe it is less easy to support the ABs this weekend.
At the same time I still evoke the ‘I’m too old to invest too much emotion in these things’ mantra.
Ireland can repeat Chicago win over New Zealand, says Rory Best
• Joe Schmidt’s side beat All Blacks in the US in 2016 • Captain Best says injuries will not have big impact
Liam Napier
Ireland players celebrate the win over New Zealand in Chicago. Photograph: Phil Walter/Getty Images
Rory Best is confident Ireland can repeat their history-making efforts in Chicago by claiming a maiden win over New Zealand on home soil despite suffering more late injury dramas.
Already without the Lions flanker Sean O’Brien, who broke his arm against Argentina last week, Ireland suffered another major setback on the eve of the match with the loose forward Dan Leavy ruled out. Leavy’s absence adds to a growing injury list which includes O’Brien, the influential half-back Conor Murray and Robbie Henshaw.
Another day of note as Isaac moves on to a new place and the numbers in the apartment reduce to three.
So Isaac went to Groningen on Sunday to study at Hanze University to study Fine Art. Then plan way back when in New Zealand was to study in the Netherlands though plan A was The Hague when there was no plan B. After a few tos and fros with the option of foundation courses in England Isaac settled on the offer of Hanze after his ‘challenging’ interview. The benefits are the same as originally desired: not studying in NZ, cheaper fees as a EU citizen(1030 Euros for year 1), learning in English and a very different experience.
So an adjustment required on both sides. Isaac is already in the midst of international intro week and it is quieter and different at home. However, Joseph can get a word in now.
