I do have to say, that, as a whole, I enjoyed Hamlet. But some performances, mainly Ophelia and Horatio, made no sense. I wasn't v. fond of Laertes or Gertrude either. Also keep in mind that I am super-critical of theatre. Cumberbatch played a v. empathetic Hamlet, which I think is a hard thing to do.

Also Una Stubbs, who plays Sherlock's landlady, was there. Our other "celeb" sighting was the comic Rob Delaney while we were at Five Guys. I only recognised him because I just watched Catastrophe last week.

That said, I wold recommend Oresteia over all of them...BUT it is 3 hours and 40 minutes long and incredibly intense. But it was v. well done. All the acting was pretty great, especially the actors who played Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, and the design elements were amazing. It's a modern retelling of the Greek tragedy, and they managed to make it so gripping and relevant. We only went because we got £10 matinee tickets and I had FOMO after reading it's reviews. I am so glad we went.

Sue, I was in London last week as well! In fact, a week ago tonight I also saw The Oresteia in the West End. SO GOOD. Impressive as hell. (Also long as hell: I was very glad I had pre-ordered a glass of wine for the second intermission.)

Halfway through my first week back at work, and just now beginning to re-adjust to PDT. Woke up at 4:20AM or so and finally got up at 5AM this morning. Tomorrow my coworkers are taking me out for coffee (and pastries?) tomorrow to celebrate my hiring, which is nice. (I'm sure my Nemesis will not be there, ptooey.)

So close to having my kitchen be complete! Actually, it is, but I need to move some furniture around and paint a bookshelf and re-hang art, and hire cleaners. And yet I still invited friends over on the weekend. Foolishly.

I wouldn't say I am super-critical of theatre, but I go often and like to see fresh takes on things. Like Imelda Staunton in Gypsy blew me away. The Oresteia sounds good; glad you both got to see it.

Welcome back, Consuela! New kitchen! Permanent job! Yay!

Yay Sue! Yay Suela's kitchen!

I am so over traveling. But the next several weeks are insane. Especially until next Thursday--I got home Monday (in time to see Fran's signing!) and left again yesterday. Get home tonight, work in Seattle (but not at home) tomorrow. Then Friday I drive to Portland d for a dance convention, get home sunday, leave for Omaha Monday, Wednesday fly to Dallas, Thursday fly home...start the whole again Monday...ugh.

I am going to this event shortly after Halloween, and I'm tempted to wear my Eternal Scout costume to that, too. But that might be weird.

I think it would be the opposite of weird for that event.

I'm peaking misanthropic but am hitting awesome swim times.

Might've unloaded on my officemate and his boss about a current situation that they have only a small part in fixing.

I think it would be the opposite of weird for that event.

You're probably right!

Thanks, Nanita! It's nice to be home in my own bed, where I sleep better than in hotel beds, no matter how tired. (Middle age is when you realize that insomnia can keep you up even when you're exhausted, argh.)

The Oresteia sounds good; glad you both got to see it.

I'm so glad we went. Our friend T goes to London for two weeks every few years, and she said this was the best thing she'd seen this year, so we took the leap. It wasn't that expensive: about $40 for tickets through the half-price booth in Leicester Square, and we had second-row seats (!). Cheaper than Berkeley Rep, and one of the cast was Sibyl from Downton Abbey. Very good production.

Although the changes they made to modernize the text did affect some of the interpretation; for instance, there's no references to Paris or Helen, and the war with the unnamed enemy appears to be of long standing, rather than instigated in a fit of masculine jealousy by the king's brother. This certainly changes things.

But the ending is amazing, and now I want to go back and watch the first act again...

If I get any worse, I will be calling Grumpy Cat Girl and Pee Lady that to their faces (rather than just mentally.)

This will break, it's gotta break.

I'm so glad we went. Our friend T goes to London for two weeks every few years, and she said this was the best thing she'd seen this year, so we took the leap. It wasn't that expensive: about $40 for tickets through the half-price booth in Leicester Square, and we had second-row seats (!). Cheaper than Berkeley Rep, and one of the cast was Sibyl from Downton Abbey. Very good production.

I was actually at the Thursday matinee performance. Our cheap tickets were for the last row, but since the house was only half sold, they moved us to the fifth row.