Good afternoon Bloggets. Yesterday was a full day for us. Firstly,
we met with my family and had a lovely breakfast out. Then Hub and I, took a
taxi to our town as the theatre we were going to wasn’t one we would know. We
have never been to this one before. A grumpy driver grunted how much we owed
him. We asked where the theatre was, he pointed I said you will have to speak,
he said straight ahead. So, as we got out I listened to try to get my Barings.
We had LF with us. I took my white cane. There were so many people and up a
huge step, then down four steep ones. Then thankfully a lovely security man
came to greet us. It’s kind of a sad situation now days that you have to have
your bags checked entering the theatre, but, you do feel safer too. And, he was
so nice.
He guided us to the bar and we had a soft drink. We were
asked if we wanted to order anything at our seats in the interval, but we
declined. Then Megan came to see us she was the lady who I booked the tickets
through for the audio description. She was really lovely.
Then we were introduced to the narrators. Such nice people
who spoke queens English. One had to do ones best to speak with plums in one’s
mouth. Hahaha. Well, I tried not to speak in my Geordie/Newcastle accent. You
are aware that you do have to behave in a certain manner in such environments.
The people all around us were ladies and gentlemen. It was all very prim and
proper. Whether it was the play we were going to see, not sure, I don’t think
so, as it wasn’t highbrow. Here is a synopsis on the play and actors.
How the Other
Half Loves,
Following its critically acclaimed West End revival at the Haymarket,
Alan Ayckbourn’s
hilarious tale of matrimonial
mishaps and London’s funniest comedy of 2016 embarks on a national tour.
As Bob, who was the best actor ever, and Fiona who I, admired and not
because of her name, clumsily try to cover up their affair, their spouses’
intervention only adds to the confusion. William and Mary, Mary who is so cute,
and has the funniest voice, Featherstone become hopelessly stuck in the
middle, falsely accused of adultery and with no idea as to how they’ve become
involved. The plot culminates in two disastrous dinner parties on successive
nights, shown at the same time, after which the future of all three couples
seems in jeopardy…
The star cast includes leading stage and TV actor Robert Daws,
best known for the hit series’ The Royal, Outside Edge and Roger
Roger opposite Caroline Langrishe who starred
in Lovejoy, Holby City and Judge John
Deed, Matthew Cottle from
the Bafta-nominated Game On who transfers direct from the
West End production and Sara Crowe, whose West End credits
include Alan Ayckbourn’s Absurd Person Singular and The
Constant Wife but perhaps is best known for her role in the popular
film Four Weddings and a Funeral. Charlie Brooks who
starred in the popular British television shows The Bill, Bleak
House and Wired but is perhaps best known for her
role as Janine Butcher in Eastenders stars
alongside Leon Ockenden, who currently plays Will in
long-running soap; Coronation Street
Robert Daws is the most amazing actor I wish I could have a
neighbour like him, but reading up on him, I somehow don’t think what we can
afford will ever make us neighbours. But he was absolutely terrific. He can
make you cry with laughter, make your heart ache for him and he is just a
lovable actor who was perfect to the point of abnormality, abnormal because he
was too perfect. Nothing he could do would be wrong. Truly amazing. I love him.
I really hope I will get to see something else he will be performing in. As, no
matter what production he does, he will make it his own. Without taking the
limelight from the other brilliant actors that were in the play yesterday, he
just made it.
In the interval, our narrators came to see us and asked if
we wanted anything to eat, drink, and Megan asked if our Little Fella needed a
dish of water. He didn’t, as what goes in has to come out, smile. Same with me
to be honest…
Through the headset we wore, we knew exactly what was on the
stage. Just some of the description was down the hall, a stained-glass window
with beautiful flowers in the glass. Orange curtains with a matching arm chair.
A dining table with a white lace cloth and a brown satin cloth on top with cut
glass and silver wear. A chandelier with five arms of lights and in the other
house, another family, a baby play pen, with clothes everywhere toys in a large
basket and on their wooden table, plastic cutlery and shabby surroundings. The
contrast of the two houses was really interesting. The doors to the front of
the houses were described to us and the clothes that the actors wore also were
told through our earphones by the two narrators who speak perfectly when there
are spaces in the play. For example, expressions on faces, we would miss.
The first time I heard an audio description play, I wanted
to cry. With joy. So much for years I have missed before I learned about audio
description.
Though there was another person who requested audio, the narrators
just made us feel really special, rather than VIP’s, as in visual impaired
people, we did feel like very important people. They were so very kind.
I love the theatre, I can’t wait to go back. We took a taxi
home and thanks to the kind taxi driver, who didn’t speak English, not sure how
on earth he got his job here, but he was very honest, as I handed him two of those
awful new notes, thinking they were two new five-pound notes, I forgot I also
got some new ten pounds, and he told me “Ten. Ten. Twenty, twenty.”” From that
I stupidly learned that I had given him two tens rather than two £5 note. I
will have to be so careful. So, the new tens now have the Braille G, on, G,
why? Not sure, it stands for nothing, but at least in one tiny corner there is
a few dots, and on the new £5, there are no dots. I just hope the dots don’t
ware down in time. As I am sure they are the same size. They certainly feel the same.
We came in the house, I saw my Son for a while, and then we
let the dogs play for a few moments in the garden, then harnessed them up and
on our heals went for a meal. The walk was weird. The air was warm, but not
like in summer, or even the start of the Spring. It was like a very weak hand
dryer in public toilets. The smells of summer flowers were really sweet. The rustling
from the trees was pleasant in a kind of unnatural way. It was getting dark, I
think, and I knew when we walked home, it would be pitch black. Something when
I had sight I feared as I have always had my eye condition, but used to be
partially sighted though in the dark I couldn’t see and didn’t go out at
nights. Now, I can, because of my Guide dog and the fact I’m not so terrified
now of being blind. I can do the same as a sighted person, in the dark, only I
can’t see. As long as I know the route, we were and would always will be, fine.
The restaurant was so full. Our dogs went under the table
and were on best behaviour.
A walk back and Shamrock came around. We were both tired Hub
and I but had a lovely full day.
Today sadly our dog walker is ill. That is the first time
she has not come because of an illness. Bless her, I hope she will be OK.
I hope your weekend has been a good one. With love.
No comments:
Post a Comment