Wednesday, November 07, 2012


Three Puds and a Train…

 
A train of coincidences that is.

On Sunday night I watched the last episode of ‘Downton Abbey’ - Laura Carmichael was playing Lady Edith.  On Monday night – with nothing new to read, dipped into my old copy of Sir Peter Hall’s autobiography ‘Making an Exhibition of Myself.’

Last night I read in the Daily Telegraph that Sir Peter, as a member of the audience, had interrupted Laura Carmichael’s speech in ‘Uncle Vanya’ by calling out:

 
‘Stop, stop stop!  It doesn’t work and you don’t work.  It is not good enough.’
 
Yesterday – according to a report by Anita Singh:

‘The 81-year old issued an apology.

 “I am mortified that I unintentionally disrupted the final scene of ‘Uncle Vanya’ and I have sent a personal note to Laura Carmichael offering my apologies. I enjoyed the evening and her performance immensely and my remarks were in no way directed at her or the production.  Being rather aged, I dropped off for a moment and on being woken by my wife I was briefly disorientated’.

 Sir Peter Hall is six months younger than I am and I have followed his career for decades and seen many of his productions.  Some time ago we went with the Art’s Club to Bath to see his ‘Lady Windermere’s Fan. ’ To my shame I fell asleep during a scene with Vanessa Redgrave and her daughter Joely Richardson.

Post prandial is often a snooze time for me, but the killer was a glass of wine at lunch.  So from then on, matinees were prefaced by no alcohol and strong coffee.

 I’m just so thankful that my lapses were comparatively quiet - apart from the odd snort.  I wonder if Sir Peter had had a hearty dinner.
 
The girls and I had lunch at The Bistro yesterday and the puds – we each tasted all three - were worth mentioning.  Jackie had an apricot and chocolate roulade with cream, Joy had white peach shortcake with cream and I had apple and cinnamon crumble with ice cream.  One is always given the option of cream, clotted cream, ice-cream or custard.
 
With the first course, in addition to the normal vegetables there is a choice of rice, mash, roast potatoes, chips or new potatoes.  The girls had a special pensioner’ lunch of chicken and leek pie but I wanted to try a dish which the charming owner had been describing.  An African beef stew with lots of herbs and cocoanut milk.  It was very tasty but more meat than I could manage so the girls tried it also.  So useful to have such a good place at the bottom of the lane.

14 comments:

Granny Annie said...

I have been so fortunate to view Season 3 of Downton Abbey on a UK blogger's site. Monday morning I watched the finale. It will begin to play here now and I just might go through the season anew. It was absolutely the best I believe. Now looking forward to the one day Christmas episode. Have also fallen in love with CALL THE MIDWIFE and advise everyone to catch it if they can.

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

That was tooo funny, what Peter Hall did.

I am fascinated by the things older folks do, I love to listen to their stories, experiences, thoughts, ideas.

Phew. I've just had breakfast...I feel even more full reading this
:-D

Pat said...

Grarnhy Annie: yes I agree - both those series are a pleasure to watch.

GG: so funny considering the title of his book. There but for the grace of God...

The Unbearable Banishment said...

Is he out of his mind!? What kind of behaviour is that? Good thing he apologized. "The Heiress" opened on Broadway last week to good reviews. "Downton Abbey's" Dan Stevens is in the cast. Those Abbey folks get work!

Pat said...

UB: funny things happen as one gets older and it is all too easy to confuse what one is dreaming with reality.
I read Dan Stevens was in 'The Heiress.' I wondered if he would be a bit bland. Go and see it and report:)
The original film cast takes a lot of beating - Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clift, Ralph Richardson and Miriam Hopkins'
Those immortal words:
'I have been taught by masters.' when she is accused of cruelty.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I found that story about Peter Hall rather sad. It certainly is true that one can get disoriented when waking up from a nap, but...
Well, still, it seems pretty sad to me.....
I am looking forward to "DOWNTON" coming I believe in January...I didn't like the second season as much as the first.....Still, I am looking forward to Season 3....

I Like "CALL THE MIDWIFE" very much!

As to THE HEIRESS, I saw the Original Broadway production---(100 years ago...) Which was superb...And have seen the play many times since---the most memorable and recent incarnation was with Cherry Jones.....It is certainly a great 'stage' piece.

Pat said...

Naomi: I'm sure he isn't cracking up and will probably dine out on it for months. I'd rather think of him as a grumpy old man than someone who is losing the plot. There aren't many of us left.
I do wonder what he really thought of the production.

angryparsnip said...

Goodness... when I take a nap sometimes in the afternoon ... I sometimes wake up disoriented but thank goodness I have never yelled out. But then again who would hear me but the Two Square Ones. Although they have been know to give me strange looks every once and a while.
The puddings look fabulous ! I am dieing here !

cheers, parsnip

LL Cool Joe said...

I've never seen Downtown Abbey. I know, I'm so out of touch!

Hmm Peter Hall screwed up badly this time! Me thinks he had a bit too much wine. At least he apologised.

Pat said...

Joey: it must have been pretty devastating for all - including his missus.

kenju said...

I have never seen Downtown Abbey; I guess it is on opposite something else that I watch, and we don't record anything for later viewing. There's little time for it, anyway. But if I ever rent Dvd's again, that is one series I will see.

Mage said...

What a lovely entry. I have been known to head bob over Mahler, and I always do coffee and matinees now days. :) Yes, it's great you had those girls with you.

Pat said...

Judy: it doesn't strain the intellect but is enjoyable.

Mage; I love the description - head bob:)

Unknown said...

Haha. I enjoyed this post immensely! "the odd snort". Classic. I wonder what Sir Peter was referring to when he exclaimed what he did.
Luna