The Alchemist

The Alchemist
Originally uploaded by The Albanian.

Colin and I finally remember to attend something we’d got tickets for (unlike the last two times I’ve bought tickets and we’ve forgotten to go – don’t ask, I’m still annoyed about it now).

A Cornish theatre company have been touring with a stage production of Paolo Coelho’s novel ‘The Alchemist’, and I’d bought tickets when they first went on sale as I’d really enjoyed the book (Colin hasn’t read it yet).

I won’t give much detail of the story as I think that you should read the book; but basically it’s the tale of a young shepherd boy who embarks on a journey to find ‘his’ treasure and the people he meets along the way, including an alchemist.

It’s true to say that simple can often be best and this certainly fits the saying. A simple yet powerful story simply presented by six actors who are all on stage for the whole show. The set was moved by the actors and consisted mainly of four blocks and some large pieces of material – nothing more was needed.

I loved the programme, it came in a small plastic bag also containing sand (much of the story is the shepherd struggle to make his way from Spain to Egypt across the desert) and two pebbles – one black (?????) and one white (?????).

Even Colin enjoyed the evening and it was lovely to spend some time with him, especially since we had had the opportunity to walk into town and have a chat as well.

Spam, spam, spam, spam…..

One of my favourite bits of Monty Python’s Holy Grail film is the scene in which a French knight (John Cleese) taunts King Arthur from the castle battlements.

‘I fart in your general direction, your mother is a hamster and your father smells of elderberries’

Susy and I today went to see the stage show ‘Spamalot’ in London. Fantastic, possibly the funniest thing I’ve ever seen!

Lots of bits taken from the film, the Knights that say ‘Ni!’, ‘Bring out your dead’, coconuts and swallows, and a killer rabbit. Although also with lots of things that aren’t in the film – more songs and they even dragged a poor member of the audience up on stage (thank Bob it wasn’t me).

We both realised early on that most of the audience were laughing before things happened – knowing what was coming next! They were selling all sorts of ‘merchandise’ in the foyer, fluffy rabbits with very large teeth, t-shirts, Spam sandwiches, badges and small squeezy cows.

I had to have a cow! I’d have got the rabbit slippers for Colin but they were a bit out of my price range.

Swans

I wasn’t sure what to expect when Kath (at work) asked if I wanted to see Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake – but thank Bob I decided to say yes.

It was a shame that Neil couldn’t make it as intended (he was in Aberdeen for work, and was also a little disturbed by the fact that all the swans are male – he’s words were ‘I only wanted to go for the music and the pussy’ – but it was New Years Eve and I think he’d been drinking!).

What a fantastic event, obviously the music is amazing, but the dancing was mesmerising. The only problem was none of us had a clue what was going on!!

a haaaaandbag

a haaaaandbag
Originally uploaded by Merrony’s Moll.

Kate, Fred and I have been to a wonderful production of The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde this evening.

The production was by Heartbreak Productions from Birmingham and it was in the Botanical Gardens in Sheffield.

A wonderful picnic was enjoyed along with a couple of glasses of Pimms!!