'Tis hot

[mandragora]

And as usual, we're surprised by it. Despite the fact that five out of ten hottest summers on record in Britain have been in the past decade, heat really isn't something that we expect. Rain, we expect and are always amazed when we don't get it. Heat, not so much.

It's hot enough that I voluntarily went to the supermarket this afternoon when, really, I could have waited until next weekend, just so I could drive the air conditioned car. And enjoy the air conditioned ambiance in Sainsburys. Alas, the coolness is now but a distant memory.

Met up with some friends last night. We were going to see Stander (film about a confused South African cop) but it turned out that the internet listing was wrong and we had about 3 hours to go to the actual performance. So, we went to see As You Like It at the theatre instead. *g* One of the things I love about living in London is that such spontaneity is possible. We were right by Leicester Square anyway, on our way to a bar to have a drink and mull over options and, there was the half-price ticket booth. Quick instant change of plan, suggested by myself and the theatre it was. We rejected the musicals (okay, left to myself I might have voted for a musical on the basis that it was So Damn Hot and a musical was suitably mindless, but the Men were Not Going To Some Damn Musical) and went for the more highbrow. Again, my suggestion of As You Like It was accepted, mostly because no one else seemed capable of making a decision. One of the Men even said that it was all happening too fast for him. What is it with men and organising social events and why are so many of them so bad at it? (Not all, I know a few men who are very good organisers).

Rosalind was very good, Orlando okay, and the Shakespearean singing was surprisingly affecting. And, the theatre was air conditioned. Thank you, God.

Am trying to write long SGA story, whilst playing SGA Season 4 DVD in the background (again). Am up to The Brotherhood. Socially inept Rodney and Mensa snark here we come. But it's so hot am having trouble concentrating. Maybe I'll revise some earlier writing as opposed to progressing the story.

Back to wilting.

Comments

[raincitygirl.livejournal.com]

Ooh, tell me more about AYLI? Who was playing in it and who directing? Re: Orlando being merely okay, it's a bit of an icky role, isn't it? I've seen the play twice, and neither time was the Orlando much good. I begin to think that he as a character rather pales in comparison to Rosalind's fearsome competence and vitality. I find myself wanting Rosalind to get her man not so much because he is remarkable, but because she wants him and damnit, should have what she wants. But I'm sure there must be a way of playing Orlando that makes him more than just Rosalind's foil. After all, I used to think Orsino was an unplayable role (yet another love interest overshadowed by a strong comedic heroine) until I saw Toby Stephens's take on him in the Trevor Nunn film of "Twelfth Night".

Incidentally, will be seeing Love's Labour Lost next week, and As You Like It and Rosencrantz and Guilderstern are Dead later in the summer. We actually run to a bit of culture in the colonies, amazingly enough, although we're not lucky like London,a nd just able to spontaneously go to the half-price ticket booth and grab tickets on a whim to a world-class play or musical or concert. Not that I'm jealous or anything. Oh, no. Green's my natural skin tone; that's not envy.

I'm sorry it's so hot there. I've stocked up for summer, with a big standing fan in the living room and a biggish desk fan for the bedroom. Given how small my flat is, I think the two will create enough crossflow of air to keep it from being too oven-like. Of course, as soon as I got the fans, the weather promptly cooled. Bloody temperate climates, always being contrary just to spite the residents. Is there air-conditioning in the office where you're currently working?

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Okay, the cast were:
Helen McCrory (Rosalind), Sienna Miller (Celia), Dominic West (Orlando), Sean Hughes (Touchstone), Reece Shearsmith and Clive Rowe (Duke Senior).

The blurb reads:
This new production by Young Vic Artistic Director David Lan, designed by Richard Hudson (The Lion King), keeps the play in France where it is set but updates it to the late 1940s with music in the style of the great French chanson.

The time period worked pretty well, I thought, as did the songs. Hughes is a well-known comic in Britain and Rowe is known for musical theatre, as well as his performances with the RSC, which partly accounts for the excellence of the musical interludes.

I agree with you about Orlando. If only Shakespeare had written a male lead with the strength of Benedict, say (I absolutely adore the Benedict/Beatrice banter in Much Ado About Nothing - now there's a true marriage of equals). Ah, well, it's always a joy to see Rosalind strut her stuff. And maybe one day I'll see an Orlando who's worthy of her.

Glad to see that you're going to be taking in a bit of Culture in the coming weeks. The green suits you BTW. I don't take nearly enough advantage of living in London, but it is nice to be able to be spontaneous, on occasion.

I have an air cooler in the house, but it's not particularly good. Better than nothing, though. But, 33C in June - hottest June day since the Great Drought of 1976. And no, no air con in the office. I have started a campaign for it, mind you. *g*