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Allelujah! by Alan Bennett
Aug. 18th, 2018 06:11 pmYes, I'm back from London having seen five performances (various types) and visited four exhibitions (also various types). So be prepared for a number of blog posts.
First up Allelujah! a new play by Alan Bennett staged at the Bridge Theatre (which I like for its new seating, and the number of toilets, but I'm less keen on the clearly fashionable huge foyer for eating and drinking full of people who can afford the high food prices - I'd bought some cookies in M&S so was myself pushing the boat out a little). That being said I did have a good chat with the two ladies I was sitting next to, who were down from Manchester.
My main reason for seeing the play being Samuel Barnett was one of the actors, and I've enjoyed seeing him on stage, at that point I had a free evening during my time in London which was just waiting for a suitable play to fill it, and I could buy a decent ticket for £25. So I decided to go.
It was a good play, funny and thought provoking. Personally relevant, because it's set in the geriatric ward of a local hospital, so I could easily see my mother as one of the characters. And the basic question - should the small hospital be kept open, or should it be closed and the patients be sent elsewhere, in the case of the geriatrics to Tadcaster - is one that is very current. The result when it came was surprising, but worked very well. And with the daughter working in A&E the constant chase for beds also sounded very familiar.
The patients have been formed into a choir so there are bursts of song, and some dancing, which is fun. This was interspersed with the drama, which was played out in small episodes. The reviews have mostly been good, although there have been criticisms, and I can see where these come from. For me it was an enjoyable evening and worth seeing.
I enjoyed all the performances and the highlight of the play was when Samuel Barnett as Colin, the Whitehall consultant son of one of the patients (an ex-miner), sang "Blow the Wind Southerly". His rendition was lovely.
First up Allelujah! a new play by Alan Bennett staged at the Bridge Theatre (which I like for its new seating, and the number of toilets, but I'm less keen on the clearly fashionable huge foyer for eating and drinking full of people who can afford the high food prices - I'd bought some cookies in M&S so was myself pushing the boat out a little). That being said I did have a good chat with the two ladies I was sitting next to, who were down from Manchester.
My main reason for seeing the play being Samuel Barnett was one of the actors, and I've enjoyed seeing him on stage, at that point I had a free evening during my time in London which was just waiting for a suitable play to fill it, and I could buy a decent ticket for £25. So I decided to go.
It was a good play, funny and thought provoking. Personally relevant, because it's set in the geriatric ward of a local hospital, so I could easily see my mother as one of the characters. And the basic question - should the small hospital be kept open, or should it be closed and the patients be sent elsewhere, in the case of the geriatrics to Tadcaster - is one that is very current. The result when it came was surprising, but worked very well. And with the daughter working in A&E the constant chase for beds also sounded very familiar.
The patients have been formed into a choir so there are bursts of song, and some dancing, which is fun. This was interspersed with the drama, which was played out in small episodes. The reviews have mostly been good, although there have been criticisms, and I can see where these come from. For me it was an enjoyable evening and worth seeing.
I enjoyed all the performances and the highlight of the play was when Samuel Barnett as Colin, the Whitehall consultant son of one of the patients (an ex-miner), sang "Blow the Wind Southerly". His rendition was lovely.
