Opera: Céphale et Procris
Today, booked on another of Barrie's walks with the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners - this time, it was Mile End. But just yesterday, I saw London Baroque Music Lovers had scheduled a trip to see Céphale et Procris, at Grimeborn at the Arcola. So I booked that instead - it'd been too long since I'd seen them, and I hadn't actually paid for the walk anyway. Plus it was due to rain.
In the event, it didn't rain till evening - but I had such interest from recruiters all day that I was very glad to be home to field calls! Then there was a palaver with my energy company from the last place, who seem to think themselves entitled to open an account for me in the new place, despite me telling them I don't need one! I took it as far as I could - am I NEVER to get shot of that flat?! - but left it too late to eat. So I stuffed some chocolate in my bag, which I ate while waiting for the bus. The only rain I had was some drizzle while I was waiting to change buses:
And so, starving, to the theatre - grabbed myself a packet of Piper's from the bar and waited for the others. We were all in the balcony - me right at the edge. Don't quite know why I did that - seemed a good idea at the time, but then I'm frazzled these days.
The view is actually pretty fine, apart from missing the throne to the left of the picture, hidden behind the fixtures and fittings. No, it was the surtitles that got me! Regardless of the language, I cannot understand what's being sung when it's done operatically, so I need the sub/surtitles. Which were positioned, one behind me, one that black screen you can just about see on the far wall in the shot. Completely impossible to read the font on that screen - I used it to check when what was being shown changed, and every time it did, I swivelled around to read the surtitles over my shoulder. Very awkward - black mark for the Arcola, font too small! Mind you, I noticed a lot of free seats in the middle, where the others had sensibly sat, and swapped to a seat there after the interval. Where I could read not only the surtitles on both walls, but also a screen straight in front of me! which, ironically, seemed to have larger font than either of the others..
A long show, this, but it's terrific. Slightly mad plot, as ever - a pair of star-crossed lovers are separated because the goddess Aurora is jealous, and fancies the bloke (Céphale) for herself. Concentrate on the music, however, which is absolutely sublime, and even made up for me constantly twisting myself during the first half. I am still constantly amazed at the quality of performance you can find in theatres like this, all over town - and I pity anyone who can't avail of it. The production also makes fantastic use of limited resources - a very limited set only has as props a throne, a head, and some long paper strings hanging from the ceiling, which are pulled down, one by one, during the evening. Costumes are mostly either all-black or all-white. And several of the characters wander around in crinoline underskirts..
There's a trigger warning about partial nudity, among other things - all of that happens in the second half (after the interval, during which I had another packet of crisps). A trio of demons make a wonderfully camp appearance - their crinolines are red, appropriately, and they have red latex gloves. Otherwise dressed in black. And oh my, when Procris has to accept marriage to someone else - it all kicks off, with topless men waltzing about in black stocking masks. Very Eyes Wide Shut, as I remarked afterwards - certainly compelling stuff. Nicely re-energising too, at the end of a nearly three-hour show. Runs till Saturday - recommended! A drink afterwards had been mooted, but it was quite late, and we just had a chat, then went home.
Tomorrow, back with Laurence Summers and the 45+s, yet again - couldn't resist a walk around Glorious and Grimy Gray's Inn Road! I held off on paying his bank transfer, just in case I had an interview - but have done it now, reasoning that the most I might get tomorrow is notification of an interview next week. Fingers crossed. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again - where there are plenty of films I want to see, but none, it seems, on at a time when I can see them..
On Monday, I signed with London Socials again - I didn't count on me going, mind. They're off to listen to some music in the Archway Tavern. And sure enough, I came up with something better - during my long session with Ivan on Sunday night, he mentioned a fascination with Shakespeare's Globe, so I asked whether he'd like to go to a play there. And so it came about that we're now going to see Macbeth there, on Monday. I do hope he arrives in time to explore a bit!
On Wednesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Sara and Cariad's Weirdo's Book Club - a live version of the podcast by Sara Pascoe and Cariad Lloyd - at 21 Soho. Tickets from Ticket Text.
And next Thursday, I was to be back for the first time in months to Watkin's Bookshop, for an author talk: this is Pagans by Ethan Doyle White. However turns out The Hideout has a new group - London Hot 100 Socials, Music & More. So I'm heading off with them for a game of mini golf! At Westfield, where I haven't been in almost 10 years.. Well, I like The Hideout, so..
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