Endgame.......

So it was with much trepidation that I approached the latest West End production of Samual Beckett's Endgame. I can't claim to be a Beckett fan or hater cos I just don't know enough about him. Somehow I'd always avoided the restagings of Waiting for Godot cos it just didn't appeal. I can't explain why except to quote an Australian satirist Rob Sitch who said in an episode of Hollowmen, "Once you realise Godot isn't coming, you're just really waiting for it to end". Yes, I'm a philistine.... but a very happy philistine.

So why did I agree to go... well many reasons. My primary reason for doing anything is that it beats sitting indoors watching the telly. Although I am very fond of the telly as a medium, every evening at home.....????? Unconscionable. And so out I went to a production that I was very unsure of. I'd experimented with a similar decision making process last week and ended up at Raoul at the Barbican... outstanding but more on that later.

This production of Endgame was directed by Simon McBurney and featured Mark Rylance, Tom Hickey and Miryam Margolyes. And its was outstanding. I love voices. I find them very seductive. Its probably why Sean Connery who I don't find physically very attractive although I completely see why folk are weak at the knees...for me its his voice. And so it is with Mark Rylance. I've read lots of articles about this man and heard great reports but it wasn't until I saw him in full fight that I understood. He has the most beautiful voice, in the wonderful traditions of Richard Harris, Richard Burton and my personal favourite James Mason. His performance was wonderful and I really engaged but it was the voice that swung it for me.

Miriam Margoyles deserves a Bafta that she will never get cos she was only on stage for about 10 minutes. As a Paddy (I can say it cos I am one... it follows that same usage rules as "nigger"), I freeze as soon as a non-paddy tries out a paddy accent. In recent cinematic history Tom Cruise and Gerard Butler spring to mind as the great offenders but there are many undocumented who have continued the shame. So when Miriam (I feel like she's one of ours now... adopted like) started up, I had that sinking feeling that we were about to tour the provinces.... but she was magnificent. She was note perfect... she wont be formally honoured for her achievement but she should be... she was wonderful.

Tom Hickey spoke in Irish at one point... I don't know the Endgame well enough to know if its in the script, considering when it was written I'd find that hard to believe..... I felt like I was in on a joke that no one else in the Duchess Theatre was getting and it was bizarrely, very special.

So £29 well spent. I'll be making more forees into the wonderful world of London culture and commenting on this and anything else that springs to mind.... right now I'm formulating my thoughts on Michelin Starred restaurants.

Hugs and kisses.

Thames Festival 09

I've decided that after all, its time to start keeping a blog on my experiences of moving back to London after an absence of 10 years. I'm not working at the moment so as funds are tight I'm not living the high life. Of neccessity for the moment, this will be the ramblings of an itchy mind rather than a searing account of life in the fast lane.

So I'm just back from the Thamas festival. Londoners don't know they are born... there is so much cool free stuff to do all the time. Landed in Tower Hill and even just crossing the river (via Tower Bridge) is a thrill. Not quite so thrilling to have to wait in a crowd while the bridge lifts for a passing boat. Got to the south side and followed my ears to the swing dance band/ djs. I'd arranged to meet Michelle there so started to circle the dancefloor looking for her. Not much point in calling someone who's in the process of executing the lindihop, tends to need all one's focus. Sure enough there she was, out on the floor. V. impressed that she was attempting some seriously tricky moves in hiking boots. Tough to stay on the balls of your feet with rigid soles. But she was managing it. Stood on the sidelines taking it all in. There were some fantastic dancers and even better outfits doing the rounds. Bizarre thing is the range of eras represented.... there were the charlston kids, war brides and rockabilies... hair, clothes, shoes all perfectly in keeping with their chosen era. And then, as always in these cases, there are the folks that dance to beat of their own drum.... in some cases, to the endangerment of those around them, quite literally.

The music ended and we decided to head up to the Carabosse fire garden outside the Tate Modern. If you ever get a chance to see one of these exhibitions in your town, GO. Its was absolutely beautiful. Its amazing how mesmerising fire is... its really is alive. If you're planning a winter city break, find out where these guys are exhitibing and go see......