30,000 Again

Following on from the posts about the 30,000th Guardian cryptic crossword last May, we just found our attempt at solving the final Genius.

Here is the scrappy thing...

Grantchester

 So.
Chaste Lord Archer is finally, and permanently, vegetating.

Northanger Dulwich

 A day after the visit to the Orange Theatre, we went to Dulwich Picture Gallery, to watch an evening performance in the grounds.

Northanger Abbey, or a version of it at least, was performed by the Moving Parts Theatre Company.  A small cast of seven, using a simple boxy but versatile stage setting, did brilliantly - they conveyed the story well, and were very funny.  

They also reached out, in the script, to other material - not just the gothic novels Austen was satirising and supporting, but also Regency guides to manners, and what was expected of young women.  

It worked well.  The cast also helped the audience to their seats, and ensured they were comfy - gave out the QR codes for the programme (!) and generally chatted.  Many of the actors also wrote or produced the piece - it is a small company.

Anyway, we enjoyed it very much indeed - and it was something of a relief after Black Comedy to have such a joyful experience.

Slot Cars

 An advert recently sent out by Rails of Sheffield...

Iceberg

 

Burnham Bounce or Farage Failure?

 Whether it is because of the recent reports of Farage's cooked dealings and undeclared donations, or the farce he has created in the Clacton byelection (where, as many have said, he is fighting a bin, and seems worried), or whether Andy Burmham has managed to connect in a real way during his first few days as PM, it does seem that the latest opinion polls show Reform's support going into reverse.  And Labour's increasing.

For more on this, see the Guardian from a few days ago.

Black Comedy

 And so to the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond, to see Peter Shaffer's Black Comedy.

We were quite keen to see this.  It is an early Shaffer, a farcical comedy with a clever conceit. 

When the light is on in the flat where all the action takes place, the auditorium is plunged into darkness.  But when the lights in the flat fail, the stage is lit, and the audience can see the characters difficulties, fumbling in the dark.

It could have been very good.  But, sadly, the production proceeded at a continuous loud bellow.  There were no moments of quiet, or calm to accentuate the comedy.  Instead, it was just loud and raucous through pretty much the whole 80-90 minutes.

Disappointing.

Although admittedly, the Guardian liked it.