" It's All Go" as my mother would say.
Yesterday I met a friend for lunch. She is a new academic and was in need of a fresh pair of eyes to review some of her lecture plans.
We perused her notes in the pretty background of a country pub's beer garden , and I was treated to a fish finger sandwich as a reward.
Last night another friend and I went to see The Happy Prince at Theatr Clwyd.
It is a worthy somber film which explores the latter few months in the life of Oscar Wilde and it is a triumph for Rupert Everett who wrote, directed and starred in it.
Everett is not shy in giving his audience a warts n' all view of Wilde. From the get go we see Wilde as a bloated, alcoholic, shabby, predatory old queen who performs in the less salubrious bars of his exiled Paris for drinks.
In flashback we follow his fall, from his discharge from Prison where his loyal friends Robbie ( Edwin Thomas) and Reggie ( Colin Firth) spirit him away to France to start a new life. But this initial freedom and happiness is short lived, for Wilde is seen to be a selfish and fickle character who bites at his friends in order to reunite with the duplicitous Boisie ( Colin Morgan).
Everything , is downhill from then on. Wilde's wife Constance ( a nice but brief turn by Emily Watson) is humiliated by the reunion, and then cuts off her husband's allowance thus pushing him and Boisie into debt which subsequently sends the younger man running for home.
Everett plays Wilde as a tragic figure who doesn't quite accept that he is tragic.
And by doing so you do indeed get the flavour of the man behind the story.
Shambling along a Paris street he is recognised by a former friend Mrs Arbuthnot ( Anna Chancellor) who is distraught at his situation ( indeed it is her reaction that is far far more moving than his when he askes for five pound as "things are a bit tight" )
Its a tiny but pivotal part of the story... a story most of us didn't realise was so sad
8/10
I thought I'd show you a bit of Theatr Clwyd while I am here. It's only 20 minutes from home but it has provided me with a lifeline of culture since our move to Wales .
Located by the market town of Mold, the theatre comprises of 5 auditoria, which includes the 570 seat Anthony Hopkins Theatr and the 250 seat Emlyn Williams Theatr.
There is also a 100 seat art house cinema and an art gallery space, both of which I especially enjoy.
The theatre has taken on a new vibrancy since the new artistic director Tamara Harvey took over in 2015
So what is the order of today?
There is a folk concert on in the village today which I want to go to later, ( this is a national event) see http://www.therecordjournal.co.uk/
But I also have a family meal to go to in Prestatyn later....I wonder if the restaurant does tapas ?
Hey ho
Yesterday I met a friend for lunch. She is a new academic and was in need of a fresh pair of eyes to review some of her lecture plans.
We perused her notes in the pretty background of a country pub's beer garden , and I was treated to a fish finger sandwich as a reward.
Last night another friend and I went to see The Happy Prince at Theatr Clwyd.
It is a worthy somber film which explores the latter few months in the life of Oscar Wilde and it is a triumph for Rupert Everett who wrote, directed and starred in it.
Everett is not shy in giving his audience a warts n' all view of Wilde. From the get go we see Wilde as a bloated, alcoholic, shabby, predatory old queen who performs in the less salubrious bars of his exiled Paris for drinks.
In flashback we follow his fall, from his discharge from Prison where his loyal friends Robbie ( Edwin Thomas) and Reggie ( Colin Firth) spirit him away to France to start a new life. But this initial freedom and happiness is short lived, for Wilde is seen to be a selfish and fickle character who bites at his friends in order to reunite with the duplicitous Boisie ( Colin Morgan).
Everything , is downhill from then on. Wilde's wife Constance ( a nice but brief turn by Emily Watson) is humiliated by the reunion, and then cuts off her husband's allowance thus pushing him and Boisie into debt which subsequently sends the younger man running for home.
Everett plays Wilde as a tragic figure who doesn't quite accept that he is tragic.
And by doing so you do indeed get the flavour of the man behind the story.
Shambling along a Paris street he is recognised by a former friend Mrs Arbuthnot ( Anna Chancellor) who is distraught at his situation ( indeed it is her reaction that is far far more moving than his when he askes for five pound as "things are a bit tight" )
Its a tiny but pivotal part of the story... a story most of us didn't realise was so sad
8/10
I thought I'd show you a bit of Theatr Clwyd while I am here. It's only 20 minutes from home but it has provided me with a lifeline of culture since our move to Wales .
Located by the market town of Mold, the theatre comprises of 5 auditoria, which includes the 570 seat Anthony Hopkins Theatr and the 250 seat Emlyn Williams Theatr.
There is also a 100 seat art house cinema and an art gallery space, both of which I especially enjoy.
The theatre has taken on a new vibrancy since the new artistic director Tamara Harvey took over in 2015
 |
| The gallery space |
I rather liked this one
There is a folk concert on in the village today which I want to go to later, ( this is a national event) see http://www.therecordjournal.co.uk/
But I also have a family meal to go to in Prestatyn later....I wonder if the restaurant does tapas ?
Hey ho
Yes, 'The Happy Prince' is very dark, isn't it? - belying its title (which may not have been the best choice, though it does make it a further talking point, even though it hardly needed one).
ReplyDeleteIt was a most absorbing take on this final unexplored episode of O.W.'s life and Everett captures its bleak portrayal with enormous poignancy and, I'd like to think, accuracy.
Btw: I'd been wondering which one had been Anna Chancellor. Now I know that I hadn't recognised her in the brief part.
We are at absolutely at one on the overall merits of the film, JayGee.
I thought she gave it great depth
DeleteDid you also recognise Beatrice dalle? ( Betty blue)
She ran the Paris bar
'fraid I didn't/don't even know the name of Beatrice Dalle, but looking her up I see that I ought to have known. Eh voila! Tant pis pour moi!
DeleteYorkshire pudding tapas. Mushy peas? Thanks for sharing views of the theatre.
ReplyDeleteDuh I think we are going to an Italian.
DeleteI was wondering if the yellow dome was holding a _rump-baby-balloon. Just in case he decides to come your way.
ReplyDeleteLol..it is in fact a children's theatre space . The theatre does drama workshops for kids during the summer
DeleteSuch a wonderful arts space to have by a small town. We lack such a good space as that for theatre. I like the picture you featured. Enjoy your day x
ReplyDeleteThe theatre was designed as the leading theatre in north wales
Delete"as a bloated, alcoholic, shabby, predatory old queen" How dare you talk about me like that.
ReplyDeleteYou're not shabby
DeleteLove, love love Rupert Everett ever since I saw him in Another County at Windsor Theatre.
ReplyDeleteI think cinema doesn't quite know what to do with him
DeleteInteresting, I think that is the first negative thing I ever heard about Oscar Wilde.
ReplyDeleteAndrew's comment made me lol for real! :D
I don't think he was a particularly nice person steve
DeleteI think I said something similar John, and Steve. In fact I remember describing him as a bit of twat in a comment on my blog, he brought a lot of it on to himself.
DeleteI do hope you had the obligatory tomato sauce on your fish finger butty! X
ReplyDeleteTartar sauce lashings of it
DeleteThank you for the pictures. I haven't been there since the 1980's when we watched Tom Baker (Dr Who fame) play in An Inspector Calls. It is nice to see that the place is still vibrant after all these years.
ReplyDeleteI first went in 1981 or so ...Anthony and Cleopatra with Vanessa Redgrave
DeleteI have never eaten a fish finger sandwich John - it sounds revolting.
ReplyDeleteBloody lovely !
DeleteOh they are lovely Weave!!..if your not on the bloody Atkins like ive been on the last 4 weeks! I want one now!!
DeleteEven with all the activities you've listed... this post has an undercurrent of sadness......wishing you well John......
ReplyDeleteDoes it?
DeleteI will add this movie to my list of ones to see. I enjoy seeing photos of your stomping grounds. It's a really nice gallery space. Thanks for the tour. take care.
ReplyDeleteI will x
DeleteTheatr Clwyd looks marvelous! Having lived in small towns myself, I know how important such an "arts and culture lifeline" can be. I'm looking forward to seeing "The Happy Prince" too although I know it will be horribly depressing.
ReplyDeleteIt is bleak Debra .....not good if you feel a bit flat x
DeleteHow fortunate you are to have such a good theater nearby. I'm definitely going to catch that film. I've liked Rupert Everett ever since "Another Country," and that was 34 years ago!
ReplyDeleteWe are all getting older
DeleteLove Rupert Everett. He always seems to add a flair to anything he's in.
ReplyDeleteI loved him in my best friend's wedding
DeleteIs the folk concert the Karen Mathewson one ?
ReplyDeleteMatheson.
DeleteIt is ! and the wonderful Rachael McShane and Julian Sutton , hope you enjoyed it x
DeleteYou are right , but I went for the meal and didn't get back on time 😂
Deletethe painting in the art gallery reminds me of nights out with my friends as a teenager and wearing troublesome shoes x
ReplyDeleteIt's called a " night out"
DeleteI met Rupert Everett in an airport once, he couldn't have been nicer and even gave me a hug. This was pre-selfie time (late 90's).
ReplyDeleteHe had a strong hug and he smelled wonderful too. :-)
Omg
DeleteThank you for sharing valuable information nice post,I enjoyed reading this post.
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThat sounds like a brilliant film, I'll look out fof it at Cineworld ... although some of the best films seem to pass the Llandudno cinema right by.
ReplyDeleteJust what we all need.
ReplyDelete