On The Up!

 Friday 10th April. 2.35 p.m. Another sunny and warm day. The current temperature on the digital thermometer reads 21ºc.

Yesterday afternoon I went to see the musical "Miss Saigon" which is currently touring the country, and on at Milton Keynes Theatre (could they have found a more imaginative name? Merely calling it Milton Keynes Theatre does show a lack of not only imagination, but it just doesn't stand out.) It was a good production, and a show I've wanted to see  from the time when it was first on in the West End in around 1989 and running at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. I recall standing outside the theatre and reading the posters and looking at the artwork and not knowing what it was about. I believe that it was inspired by a photograph showing refugees escaping from Saigon during the Vietnam War in 1975. It is loosely based on the opera Madam Butterfly. It was written by the two who wrote 'Les Misérables', Claude-Michel Shoenberg and Alain Boublil, with additional lyrics by Richard Maltby. It is a joint production of Cameron Macintosh and Michael Harrison.

The show has clever staging, utilising modern technology, allowing pieces of the set to move around effortlessly, as well as a central revolving section, and a variety of bits of set flown in, such as banners and electronic neon advertising signs.

If I have a complaint, and it's not about the show itself, but is connected to the sound. In the first 10 minutes or so, it was almost impossible to hear the lyrics, and because it was so loud, it hurt my ears. Just a minor tweak might have made it easier to listen to. As a result, I couldn't learn where the story was going, although, as the show went on, this became apparent. I think the sound department should have done pre-show checks, which I know happen, as I have worked in professional stage management, usually in the hour before the audience is let into the auditorium. Not just sound, but lighting, set, props and everything to make sure the show runs smoothly.

I have found someone on YouTube who has seen this show during its tour, I think probably in Birmingham or somewhere in the Midlands. They also picked up on the sound issue, which, if that is correct, nobody has managed to fix the problem if it was some months ago, and it is still an issue when the show arrived in Milton Keynes. I think if I were the director of a show or producer, and I was checking up on my production, and this sound issue came to light, I would certainly get it fixed. Cameron Macintosh, one of the producers of this show, and who is so totally involved in all aspects of his productions, would seemingly want it fixed.

The Heat Is On

Thursday. 3.15 p.m. Okay! Okay!  Today's 'heat' or 'sun' theme for titles of blog posts. Any guesses where this one is from?  Marks out of ten . . .  no conferring . . . Phone a friend? . . . 50/50? . . .Ask the audience?  . . . The answer is 'Miss Saigon.

The payment for the market research I did yesterday has been paid into my bank account via something called Wish, which is similar to PayPal. You set up an account with a password, your email address, and so on, and details of your bank account, and the money is transferred into your account. Very simple and I was impressed by the whole process.

It's extremely hot and sultry at the moment. Thankfully the flat is far cooler since I've had the windows open and the electric fan on. I have made a further batch of scones that are cooling on the work surface in the kitchen as I write this. They look good! They also taste good, because I have eaten one.

Later. Just been watching 'Clarkson's Farm,' a new documentary series about Jeremy Clarkson, he of 'Top Gear' and charging around being crazy in cars and causing mayhem, attempting to get to grips with all things agricultural on his farm near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. He doesn't start off too brilliantly, buys a tractor that is far too big for his needs, has no idea what basic implements he needs to set about cultivating some 40 areas of land so that he can plant the seed for his first crop of corn. He is assisted by a very well-informed and practical young man who knows more than most about farming, 21-year-old Caleb Cooper, more knowledgeable and skilled than most people a couple of decades older. Quite hilarious in places and sad and a real revelation in other places. This is on Amazon, and far exceeds what you would expect on a BBC channel, where it would be vetted for political correctness and certainly doesn't tick all the usual boxes. Beware, though, if you are offended by strong language. It is full of expletives and the odd word that might get your granny upset, or, at least Daily Mail readers. One might ask, why Clarkson didn't get some sort of experience of farming before he set out on this adventure, how much money he has wasted on not only buying the farm but also on equipment and other expenses. Then one also ask, does he succeed and can he make a real living out of it? Obviously, you'll need to watch the rest of the series to find out. Is this likely to be the only series? Be a pity if it doesn't go to enough episodes so we see the journey from complete beginner through to making a real success of it.

11.55 p.m. So, it's hot, and I'm sitting here working on this because I couldn't sleep. I have done washing-up in the kitchen. The recycling is in its bag, tied up and the black bin bag out of the bin in the kitchen is likewise tied up, with a new one in the bin. Both bags are now ready to take out to the bin outside in the yard at the rear of Dexter House. Work surfaces wiped and are spotless, Kettle filled ready for tea and I've had a shave. So, at nearly midnight, it's noisy outside. Some idiot is driving around in a vehicle that must have a broken exhaust, speeding around on Strudwick Drive and probably Oldbrook Boulevard. Just crazy and dangerous. It would only take a mistake and he (or even she) could cause a really nasty accident.

Could it be anything to do with football? There's some football event going on at the moment, the Euros or something. The competition was postponed from last year, due to the pandemic. Some games played at Wembley stadium (I may be right, but it could be elsewhere, but I'm not a football fan and take no notice of what's going on. Anyway, what I want to know is, why are we being told we won't be able to get some of our freedoms after 21st June when this is going on? Also, a probably more important event is the G7 conference in Cornwall, with this taking place in St Ives. Just tell me this, how come this event together with the football, hoe is it they're now telling us (the scientists, not the politicians.) that Freedom Day, the day when lockdown restrictions will be removed, will not happen, probably for another month at least, with politicians of the likes of Joe Biden and goodness know how many of his entourage, which will include security staff, as well as many other world leaders, weren't supposed to travel internationally unless we self isolate and take goodness knows how many tests to show we're not infectious? It all sounds very contradictory to me and seems we're being controlled by people (the scientists,) who have no democratic right to turn the country into a totalitarian state.