Henry V at Tolethorpe

Preparing to picnic

Excellent evening out and very enjoyable performance - I'd forgotten how much comedy there is in this play, as well as the more serious matters of state and war. 

     

Music at Gretton Church

Chris Hills (piano and organ) and Frances Hynes (flute and Chinese flute)

A varied programme reflecting the theme of the flower festival, "All around the World". The music was played in a light bright church, full of the scent of flowers.

 

The Remains of the Day - film, then book

We watched the film with Anthony Hopkins in the role of Stevens, the butler to Lord Darlington during the post World War I period, and later to his American successor.

A fascinating performance as Stevens rationalises his life in service to a man who becomes an apologist for Hitler's regime for the best of motives - promoting peace and understanding among nations. Alongside this runs the story of the unresolved relationship between Stevens and the housekeeper  Miss Kenton.

Playboy of the Western World by JM Synge

I thought this was excellently performed by Stamford's Shoestring Theatre company.  I was quite able to suspend disbelief and be carried along by the story of Christy Mahon and his fearsome murderous deeds.  I particularly enjoyed the Widow Quin character, though all were well-played. The scenery of the shebeen, with a view of the Mayo coast beyond was perfect too.

Interesting too to read about the play's reception when it was first performed in 1907.  It seems political correctness is by no means a modern invention.  Nationalists claimed it wasn't political enough, and others saw the use of the word "shift" as a reference to Kitty O'Shea's adultery with nationalist leader Charles Parnell, and as an insult to the women of Ireland. And the premise of the play - that a village would idolise a man who claimed to have killed his father - was taken as a terrible insult to Irish peasant life.

All in all though - very entertaining and full of humour.  And I hadn't realised that "playboy" meant "trickster.

French music in Stamford

Set in the salon run by Singer sewing machine heiress ... a very enjoyable eevening. Will have to check details, since it was a while ago (Carmen?)

Roderick Williams in Stamford

In April 2014 . . . singing English songs . . . excellent.

Jane Austen - Northanger Abbey

It's been a long time since,I read any Jane Austen, but my curiosity was aroused by the recent project to have the books rewritten by modern authors.  Val MacDermid, the crime writer,is to tackle this one.

Northanger Abbey is an easy entertaining read - a parody of the Gothic novels of Mrs Radcliffe and others as well as the wry observational comedy of manners for,which Austen is well known.