Proptastic

Match the prop to the play at the National Theatre shop. Did they have an insider at the wedding last week? Great minds and all that.

Boring logistics in the morning and then a trip up to old London Town for the theatre in the evening. That took 2 attempts as we arrived at the station to find there was a replacement bus service as far as Basingstoke. No ta. Plan B - drive to Putney.

The NT was only a shopping trip for books, cards and tickets to see DV8's John in the New Year. Somewhat diverted bus trip to Spitalfields Market and then a erm minor falling out over K's refusal to eat in chain restaurants. When it suits. And with a wide definition of chain sadly. Once we've walked past several restaurants he then has a tendency for nothing to suffice so we walk past loads, get knackered and irritable and then eat in somewhere less good than where we started. Pointing this out in an effort to save my feet was probably not my wisest move. Cue comedy (now) text and phone saga where I kept trying to find him hindered by half of London being seemingly dug up and him keeping moving so I was chasing my tail. Of course, my ancient phone chose the moment after an unhelpful text on my part to die a sudden death in sat nav mode. At that point I could only hope that he'd realise I wasn't just ignoring him and we'd find each other somewhere in the warren that is the Barbican. By that point, my feet had packed up so we predictably ended up eating somewhere rubbish AND having had a barny to boot*. Next time......

After all that, the play was just stunningly brilliant. If you have any possibility AT ALL get yourself to the Barbican this week only to see the fabulous Belvoir Theatre Company's version of Ibsen's Wild Duck. If you're an Ibsen fan like me you'll love it but even if you don't think you are yet, you will be by the end. If you like theatre at all it's a triumph of modern staging. If you don't believe me then Mark Ravenhill who was a few rows back tweeted the same after the show.

To top off the evening we bumped into an old tutor from an American Theatre course so a lovely catch up too.

Vx

* including a ridiculous argument over the definition of to flounce. In my book turning on your heels musical theatre styley and striding 180 degrees in the opposite direction fits the bill. It's amazing how long you can "debate" what happened and whether it constitutes flouncing off when you're both being idiotic. Miranda could make an episode out of this evening for sure.