Jacqueline

This was my second viewing after the live theatre performance. I found it a rather mixed experience. The first act was greatly enhanced for me, by the close ups in which so much more facial expression was visible. I sat in the Grand Tier and saw the Nunez/Gartside cast, so it was interesting to see the Watson/Cuthbertson combi. From a 'distance', much of the expression is lost and so much of the action, as was mentioned in reviews at the time, appeared overblown and at times, surely unintentionally funny. But close up, I found Edward Watson's portrayal of uncontrollable inner turmoil incredibly affecting, as was the incomprehension of everyone around him at his sudden change of mood. The second act I found as interminable as in the theatre I am sorry to say. My attention seriously wandered as for me, there is so little variation in the action and the score. I remember Perdita's opening dance and the rather haunting music at the theatre, but this didn't seem to come across at all last night. It was just far too much of the same peasant style dancing and lots of A-Z of ballet gesturing, pointing and standing around gurning at whichever peasant was doing his or her thing at the time. I still like the tree though. Some of the close ups didn't work so well, the shiny faced baby and that dreadful statue of the dead child. Also the sweaty costumes. What's with the tomato soup coloured trousers? Act 3 was again, quite affecting although a little rushed. I remember groaning inwardly at the theatre, when it began with more angst and Leontes appearing to be led across the stage by his ear. All lead performances were very fine last night, as they were with the cast I saw at the ROH. I would like to see the production again one day. I hope it will undergo some tweaking of the sort suggested on first viewing by critics. I feel it is something that needs to be seen live and on the strength of last night, I have decided not to buy the DVD.

Yes, good news. I hope all goes well for Husky in his new home, that he settles after a period of transition and has a peaceful, happy life. I hate the thought of any animal being mistreated, whatever form it takes. What is the matter with people?

I don't think good manners are particularly age related either. You either have them or you don't. They can and should be taught from an early age, but sometimes they are just instinctive. I have met the most delightful people and the most obnoxious from all backgrounds, all ages. Some people are plain ignorant and some seem to get a kick out of behaving badly, in the belief that it makes them look clever to their equally stupid friends. I agree that very often, by the time you say something about offending behavior, such as talking through an overture or rustling sweets, you may have reached a point of no return and can sound a little sharp. This offends the offender who is of course, terribly sensitive to criticism and then you are to blame. As for sweeties, I gather from my recent visit to the ROH, they have stopped giving out free cough sweets. I overheard somebody asking and the steward saying they don't do it anymore. I wondered why?

Unfortunately, I can't offer the dog a home either. As Janet says, I am also surprised the authorities have intervened as they are not usually interested in dog on dog attacks, even if it results in severe injury or death. It is hard enough to get them to take action when a person is injured, as I know from experience when myself and my dog were attacked earlier this year, by two dogs belonging to but not under the control of a local woman. The whole episode was extremely unpleasant and I sustained deep bite injuries to my arms and legs. All the while, she just stood there saying, "Oh, they're only playing". Okay then. I persisted in getting some action taken against her, mostly because of the thought of it happening again to someone less able to defend themselves. I know of several people who have witnessed their dog being attacked and nothing is done about it. This poor Husky sounds as though it has suffered months of misery, being in a situation where it is teased and tormented. I can understand why your friend is worried about where the dog might end up.Of course she must do everything she can to make sure it goes to a good home. Having the dog destroyed seems very extreme in the circumstances. There must be rescue places in the area. I have looked on the internet and can find at least two, one of which is a specialist Husky rescue. I will pm you with the names.

I was lucky enough to see Derek Rencher as Rothbart, many years ago, on my first ever visit to Swan Lake at the ROH. The way he moved around the stage in as I think I recall correctly, a rather spectacular full length cloak of peacock like feathers, was mesmerizing. I think Odette was Lesley Collier and Siegfried, David Wall. This was the kind of performance that made ballet magical. Derek Rencher brought a huge but subtle stage presence to everything he did. He made Rothbart a real character and young as I was then, believably frightening and powerful. Completely unlike the rather absurd figure he is in the current production, hindered in no small part by the ridiculous costumes.

Quite so. It is sad to hear of this tinkering with the nativity play, watering down of the story and introduction of meaningless characters. Presumably this is all part of the obsession with political correctness and not offending anyone's sensibilities. Somebody somewhere, will always be offended by just about anything. Even more absurd are those who seem to make it their business to be offended on behalf of others, without bothering to ask those others whether they are actually offended. Quite how a drunken spaceman - offensive stereo type anyone? - or Elvis fit into the nativity escapes me. Why not just remove religion from Christmas altogether? That seems to be the way it is going anyway. I am not religious myself but I do love the simple things about this time of year. The candles and the carols in particular, King's College choir singing Once In Royal David's City is incredibly moving. Christmas Eve still retains some magic as it starts to get dark and I remember the excitement of childhood and waiting for Father Christmas. I remember one year when I couldn't sleep, can't recall my age but I knew I was getting a bicycle. My bedroom door opened and I called out Is that Father Christmas? no reply. A little while later the same. About the fifth time at about 3am, the door opened, I asked Is that Father Christmas? No it bloody well isn't, now get to sleep! came the reply from my exhausted mother trying yet again to get the bicycle to the foot of my bed. Such magical times! Talking of Santa, what is the going rate for a visit to his grotto nowadays? Or at least, how much is reasonable? I was trundling round a local garden centre the other day and came across a shed with a bit of tinsel over the locked door. The sign read Welcome to Santas Grott (sic), Saturdays and Sundays, £5 per child. No mention of a gift included. Seemed rather expensive to me but I am somewhat out of date in these matters.

Thank you Janet. Remembering advent calendars of my youth, I decided to cheat and have a sneaky look ahead but up came the message No Peeking! Serves me right!

One thing I don't think the promoters are having much luck with over here, unless I am mistaken, is the child/baby pageants? There have been numerous documentaries ( loved the one by Ruby Wax ) over the years about these, in my opinion, ghastly events which are clearly very big business in America. There have been some press reports of children involved in English events, but these articles tend to be very critical and condescending of the mothers. Along the lines of many might consider it obscene to dress your child up like a mini tart and parade her around a stage for folk to gawp at. How do you feel about that? To which parent usually replies well, little 'Flossie Blue Belle' loves the attention and that's wot matters innit. Mummy loves the attention too of course. As the learned judge might tell the jury, some may think the spectacle a morally questionable, exploitative outrage but that is a matter for you to decide.

Just read in the paper about a new 'reality' series on Oxford Street. Don't know if this is general but the rickshaws there charge one pound, per person, per minute! Wowzer ! Makes the Travelcard look a bargain.

I quite agree. We do seem to lead the world, whether it is drunken street 'scenes' or hijacking of legitimate demonstrations to go on a looting and burning spree,or any number of embarrassments. Apparently, society is to blame. Around Christmas in this town, certain roads in the centre are closed to traffic after dark. This is to avoid the drunken revellers getting run over as they stagger through the streets. Buses etc. are rerouted and people generally inconvenienced as usual, because nobody need take responsibility for their own behavior. As for Black Friday, no the behavior is not imported - we provide that ourselves - but there has been a fair bit of coverage of similar scenes across America, Michigan was featured on Friday night. I gather people have been taken to hospital and I believe in a previous year,a member of staff at one store was actually killed in a crush. I don't suppose B.F. will be banned as there is far too much money to be made and that's what it's all about innit! I must say I did find the cheerleaders at ASDA giving it their all, while the mayhem went on rather amusing.

Oh, how disappointing LinMM! I nearly bought a ticket for Sacred but left it too late. Then I nearly bought a ticket for Sylvie's final shows but missed out there as well. Fatal hesitation ! I keep looking for returns but nowt doing so far. I may get lucky nearer the time, as is sometimes the case. Or can you only get returns direct from the box office? If by chance, two good seats come up I would get them both and you could have the other one! If not, I will be grateful for seeing her when I did, even if it was 'only' the modern stuff!

Ridiculous and quite shameful scenes on the news this morning,with people fighting over the 'bargains'. I think it was ASDA where that poor little girl was squashed against the doors, then propelled through as they opened. As people rushed in for whatever 'bargains' they thought they were getting, she just stood there, tearful and utterly bewildered, until what I guess was the 'responsible adult' accompanying her, grabbed her by the arm and marched her off into the scrum. What is wrong with people? All that for a cut price telly? Apparently, all the real deals were gone anyway,after the earlier bun fight. There was however, a £3.500 bargain quad bike in the foyer. Surprisingly, nobody was interested in that or the microwaves piled high. Well done to anyone who has managed to get a genuine bargain, but as the reporter said, with year round sales and no doubt further discounts to come from retailers desperate for trade, are we not just being taken for a ride? We should know these stores have warehouses full of stock they want to get rid of. Put in one or two real bargains and hope when they're gone, people might buy the rest of the crap. Give the big day a name and up the hype to hysteria level and millions will answer the call. Queue all night in the rain? No problem. It is a social event until the doors open, then the ugliness of human greed takes over. Anyone who can step over a distressed child in their quest for a 'cheap' telly - what a novelty these days! - deserves to be taken for a ride. Sorry to sound off, but the sight of that crying girl made my hackles stand!

I was in town with my husband a while ago, towards the end of the day. The flower man was selling off his last few bunches for a pound a pop. I had a pound coin in my pocket and chose a bunch. As he waited, flowers in one hand, the other outstretched for my money, I could not find the coin. I realised it had fallen through a hole in the lining of my coat and tried to locate it in the depths. Eventually I found it and tried to work it towards the hole. Flower man gave up waiting as I struggled. Then my husband, who had been standing behind me, decided to have a try at getting the pound coin out of my pocket. This meant both our hands were in my pocket and as we tussled, me mainly trying to get his hand out of my pocket, another man came up and asked if I was alright. He thought I was being mugged, which is probably how it looked. All was resolved and the police were not called. The positive side of this being the man trying to assist in what appeared to be my hour of need. He was a gent to help me.

Talking of people trying to get into unexpectedly available seats, on my recent visit to the ROH, the three seats to my right were empty for the Brandstrup. During the interval, the whispering, Malteser crunchers behind me decided to avail themselves of the opportunity to upgrade. He was able to climb over but the 'lady' was too fat and had to walk round. The usher/steward was onto them almost immediately, telling them very firmly that they were not supposed to be sitting there and would have to return to their own seats. I felt a quiet satisfaction! Two people turned up for those seats in time for 'Anxiety'. Unfortunately, the man was of the sort who can't keep still or within the boundaries of their own seat. At one point, he stretched right across me, completely invading my space. Towards the end, he put his left arm up and reached to scratch the back of his head. Both times I reacted and he did a hand out gesture as if to say sorry. I thought do it a third time chum, and you will be! The third empty seat was finally taken for the Wheeldon but was no trouble. As for alcohol, the woman on my left, whose partner spent a lot of time ostentatiously draping his beloved's shawl around her delicate, bare shoulders as if to show us how caring he was, gave off a curious smell of what can only be described as booze and hairspray. Perhaps she thought one disguised the other. During the second interval, I couldn't be bothered to get up so I people watched. I noticed in the front row of the stalls circle, two very life like dolls sitting there staring ahead, glassy eyed. I knew how they felt. I waited to see who would claim them and it turned out to be two little girls, aged about seven with some adults. They must have been bored out of their minds.

Many thanks Bruce. I found the review as you suggested and I did enjoy reading what Mr Crisp had to say. Both his and Jan Parry's reviews of this triple are excellent.

Yes, it was a sort of perfect storm of disappointment, stress and saturation. I live in Derbyshire and travelling, with all its annoyances is just one of those things, even with the psycho coach driver! But as you say, to not enjoy the performance was too much. I had also called in to the Covent Garden L'Occitane emporium on my way to the ROH, and treated myself to a few bits and pieces. These were wrapped in a paper carrier bag which just made it back to Victoria, before it fell apart. At least I didn't leave a trail of goodies somewhere along the route with only a soggy bag with a big hole in the bottom as a souvenir! That would have really been the last straw.

LinMM, no I haven't booked anymore trips as yet. There is nothing on the horizon I really want to see. I liked the look of this triple bill as it contained all new works for me and I thought why not? I didn't want to see Manon again and Alice, Don and the swans can pass me by. I liked Wheeldon's The Winter's Tale despite its angst , the new Scarlett sounded interesting and I would liked to have seen the other Brandstrup, 'In Vino Veritas' or whatever! So, off I went with high expectations of these choreographers. I also agree with Mary, while it is disappointing when a performance bombs, it is quite rare. I too, have spent many a happy hour and sometimes a sad one with the RB, seeing them do so much that is wonderful in so many ways, life enhancing, spirit lifting etc.I have many happy memories and I look forward to seeing them again sometime next year. Mary, I hope you enjoy the Ashton triple tonight. I would like to read Clement Crisp's review. Is there a way I can do this without registering on the F.T. site? I can't get past that sign in/ register box anymore.

Well, it was the oyster card in the end. The crowds at Victoria were horrendous. I got in a queue for travel info/tickets and my jaw dropped when I saw how much a travel card cost. Way out of proportion to what the bus fare used to be but obviously good value if you really use it.The guy at the counter was very helpful but it was so noisy. He advised me to get an oyster card as I would be able to get the £5 cost refunded if I decided not to keep it. I topped it up with enough credit to get to the Strand and back and have since decided to keep the card, to avoid wasting so much time again. The buses only went as far as Horse Guard's anyway, so I had to walk the rest of the way - admittedly it is not that far and it wasn't raining then. After the theatre, I found the number 11 was terminating at Trafalger Square, so I had to walk down Whitehall to catch one there. This was when I got soaked in the downpour. I was told that the new cashless bus system is meant to cut down on the delays caused by people not having the right money for fares, offering the driver £50 notes or whatever. I don't know whether this is true or if so, it has made any difference. All that queuing was a massive waste of my time and didn't help my mood one bit. Weather permitting, it really would have been quicker to walk. At least the coach journeys went smoothly, apart from the driver to London getting rather antsy in the traffic. Every time somebody cut him up or failed to give way when he thought they should, he threw his hands up in the air calling out "Really?Really?I'll give way to you then, shall I?". I thought this is London, if he can't hack the traffic perhaps he should get a different job. I imagine the job is stressful but a passenger doesn't really to want to witness the driver having a meltdown! All in all, it was one of my less successful trips to London ( see my review for more bad tidings ).

I was very disappointed with this triple bill. I left the theatre feeling utterly dispirited and got caught in a torrential downpour not long after, which sort of capped it! Anyway, here are my thoughts for what they are worth. I found the Brandstrup piece tedious. All style over substance. A little hand wringing, self absorbed angst goes a very long way and this seemed endless. Nothing much happened in the gloom. To my eyes much of what passed for choreography was wafer thin and meaningless, repeated gestures and lots of staring into the abyss zzzzzzz! Some of the lifts looked rather laboured and it all looked like hard work. This is not to criticize the dancers. Perhaps angst is meant to look like hard work. We should feel their pain whether we like it or not. The lack of 'curtain up' meant going almost immediately from the announcement about mobiles etc, into the 'action'. The woman next to me left it until the very last second to switch off her phone, so there was the distraction of screen light. The people behind me felt it necessary to whisper loudly for at least the first 5 minutes, before being shushed. They moved on to eating Maltesers from a box so you can imagine the noise. None of this helped to focus on the stage and I never felt engaged. The Scarlett piece was mildly diverting although I would say about ten minutes too long. I agree the choreographic invention ran out long before the music and was in any case a little short on anything memorable. It had a touch of Gene Kelly musical about it and would perhaps be better trimmed and inserted into a gala. All the dancers were excellent in this, Lamb is light as air and so expressive. I liked the way she climbed down from the bar by herself. None of the gents thought to help her and she seemed not to expect it. They weren't those kind of people. There were various choreographic nods to the radio and the bad/worrying news it might be conveying. However, I did not get the impression that these people were concerned for anything other than who was going to get off with whom. Aeternum is what it is, pretty enough but paper thin and instantly forgettable. I felt I had seen it before although I know I haven't. Perhaps it is just very derivative. Although the pd2 is attractive, as the third segment in a triple bill, it sort of petered out and left me thinking is that it? I did read the programme notes beforehand but I don't feel they made much difference to the proceedings. As I said, I left the theatre feeling rather depressed. I don't have to see something jolly to be uplifted, I like things that stay with you and perhaps make you think. There is a big difference between something being clever, inventive and even witty and just pretentious and vacuous. I am not familiar with the music but to my ears, the orchestra played beautifully. I would have been better to just close my eyes and listen.

Thank you for your good wishes. I am looking forward to the performance, at least the one inside the theatre! As I said, I don't go to London very often now for reasons that are too tedious to mention, so when I do, I tend to make a day of it, not least because it is a long way and takes a day what with travel and all. I go by coach which is the cheapest option as well as the most convenient for where I live. That means I can treat myself to a good seat - front row Grand Tier Left at the ROH does it for me! I take it you are in Australia? I have cousins in Brisbane who think my idea of a long journey is rather quaint!

Again, many thanks for the info. I have had a look at the maps and decided it is too far to walk, especially as I think it is going to be raining on Saturday. I will just have to get to C.G. early and have a look round the shops. Tough times!

Quite so MAB. We have a very different celebrity culture now. Achievement is entirely optional. Z listers being photographed doing the most banal things, having tipped off the photographer as to where they will be of course and then complaining about their privacy being invaded is a particular irritation. Who buys all those celeb filled magazines weighing down the shelves? I can't imagine how it would feel to lose one's anonymity. To be unable to leave one's home or relax on holiday in case there is a camera pointing at you. To think that some people are so desperate for any sort of publicity, that they seem unable to exist without it is beyond me. The difficulties of being a celebrity child or the offspring of a famous person, are well documented. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Unless that child develops a particular talent of their own or is spectacularly self - confident or both, wouldn't it be always wondering whether success or lack thereof, is down to who it is. So much pressure and expectation on the one hand and assumption on the other that you only got the job or whatever, because of who you are. As far as the Beckham child is concerned, he already lives in a world of publicity and what 12 year old wouldn't say yes to being a model, having everyone saying how wonderful they are, taking their picture and so on. I certainly wasn't attacking the child. Quite the opposite in fact. Despite the enormous wealth and fame, I actually feel rather sorry for those children and others like them. He did it last year, why not just give another child a chance this time? As for Burberry, didn't they acquire a rather unfortunate reputation for being a teensy bit 'chavtastic'? I remember that photo of a certain ex - soap starlet pictured walking down the street with her baby. Mother and child were dressed from head to toe in the Burberry uniform, even the buggy was Burberry. Infact, I think it is fair to say the only thing the mother was wearing that wasn't Burberry was her new nose!

I quite agree. Ever more fortune is bestowed on people who have already been incredibly lucky in life, seemingly on very little other than just being in the right place at the right time. Never more so now it seems in our vacuous celebrity culture where anyone can be famous despite achieving nothing in real terms. In this two second attention span society, one might have expected/hoped the empty Beckham star to have faded by now, so whoever is behind their marketing knows what they are doing. If people are prepared to buy an overpriced dress or pair of pants just because it has the 'name' on the label, more fool them but who cares as long as those tills keep ringing. Wasn't it George W. Bush who said, "You can fool some of the people all of the time and they're the ones you need to concentrate on."

Well, as always many thanks for all these helpful replies. I think the travel card will be for me. I am travelling in by coach to Victoria. I assume I will be able to get one (travel card I mean, not coach!!) at the coach station? I was also thinking that as the coach stops at Marble Arch I could alight there and walk to C. Gdn. I will have plenty of time but I think it may be further than I remember. I could also walk from Victoria of course. It rather depends on the weather and the coach journey going to plan. Can't see myself hiring one of BoJo's bicycles under any circumstances! Or along Park Lane and into Piccadilly? Probably much further on foot than it looks. I was thinking of combining the ballet trip with a visit to see the poppies at the T of L, but have been put off by the thought of all the crowding. One final question, can I buy a travel card for buses/tubes at my local railway station even though I am not travelling by train or do I have to wait until I get to London? Also, are they 'zoned' as in you pay so much but you have to stay within a zone. That's two questions! Now three! I meant to ask before if anyone has ever been on one of those rickshaw type things I have seen around Covent Garden. I wonder how far they will take you and how much they cost. I guess they are for tourists but I quite fancy being whisked down The Mall as long as it isn't outrageously Gondola style expensive!

I will be attending the matinee this Saturday at the ROH. I haven't been to London since May and am wondering if anyone could advise me as to how the Oyster card operates. I have looked on the site but keep being asked if I want to set up an account. As I only visit London once in a blue moon, I just want to get the number 11 bus 'to and from' with the minimum of fuss. I gather buses are completely cash free now, so where/how do I get an oyster card and how much is it? Also, are there any road closures or upcoming traffic shambles to be aware of, with it being Remembrance Sunday next day? Last May, there was some sort of event and Whitehall was closed. Buses were diverted along the Embankment and it was a complete and utter fiasco. Would have been quicker to walk. Anyway, I would be most grateful for any advice. Thanks in advance.