We went to dinner and the theatre on Friday night. I’d booked a Christmas show and instructed my menfolk some time ago that they were to pretend to be pleased on the night. They dutifully delivered.
The show was “All the Angels” about the first public performance of Handel’s Messiah. Coincidentally it took place around the corner from the Smock Alley theatre where we went to see the show. All the big hits from the Messiah were included in the show and it did feel reasonably Christmassy but, sadly, one of the actors was indisposed (Covid, I bet) and his part was covered by someone reading from the play. Sadly, his part was Handel. In fairness, the guy reading did a good job but it did take from it. Still, the singing was nice. Michael gave his customary standing ovation at the end despite Daniel saying that you can’t give a standing ovation when one of the actors was reading from the script. Fair.
Then last night we went to the cinema to see a live streaming of a new opera – Eurydice – from the Met. Friends invited us and, to be honest, I was absolutely dreading it. Three hours of a new opera. It actually wasn’t too bad. No one is more surprised by this than I am. The staging was amazing, the libretto was clever and the music wasn’t discordant and jangly (though as Mr. Waffle pointed out, not a single tune).
I did some preliminary Christmas decorating. I think we’ll wait for herself to come home before putting up the tree.
Then today, I had bookclub in a back garden. Our hostess provided rugs, mulled wine and hot water bottles and it worked pretty well even though it was freezing. I don’t think I will ever again take the joy of seeing people in person for granted.
How was your own weekend?
