I dunno what show it was, where the last seat in Row P of the University Concert Hall was at the edge, and there was a seat behind it. There definitely was one - but Madama Butterfly wasn't it! Possibly we decided against that other show in the end. For this one, we had seats beside each other. Mind you, it took me an age to find the confirmation email..
We decided to eat beforehand, as usual, in the bar of the Castletroy Park Hotel, just across the road. Parking was very busy, but we eventually got a space by the delivery entrance - they have an enormous car park, it turns out. As we passed the main entrance, looking for a space, two doormen waited at either side of a red carpet, with a little rope barrier on either side. They were gone by the time we came back, but sure enough, we walked right into an enormous wedding reception. This is actually par for the course here - a large sign outside proclaims the hotel "Munster's Premier Wedding Venue"! Well, we carefully skirted the bride's train and made our way into the bar..
..It's been a while since we were here, obviously. They've taken down the end wall and knocked through to reception, enlarging the reception area. They've also put up new, black-and-white wallpaper, taken down the traditional ornaments and photos of sporting heroes, and replaced the lights with what look like antler chandeliers. Very nicely done, in fact. However, the place was thronged - mostly with wedding guests wetting their whistles while waiting for the dinner bell - and we despaired of getting a seat, never mind getting served. We were actually on our way out when an elderly lady pointed out that they were about to leave, and we could have their table - we gratefully accepted the offer.
We caught the eye of one of the waiters, and it wasn't too long before we had ordered. We were actually relaxed enough about it - we had come early, and were prepared to cut them some slack, what with the crowds. Our alcove table provided ample scope for people-watching, and weddings are great occasions to analyse fashion trends. There were some very fancy hairdos, and I admired their tidy appearance, given how windy it was outside. We noticed a definite trend towards jewel-coloured, fitted, lace gowns - and indeed, along with other styles, we saw very many lovely dresses. And very many atrocious shoes. I mean, they were stylish and all.. and horrendously high..! Weapons, they resembled.
As for dinner, I had sirloin steak with pepper sauce, my mother had salmon, with sauce on the side. Except it was my sauce that came on the side, not hers. Never mind, it didn't seem to bother her - she's only worried it won't agree with her. We had wine, and for once, had time for dessert - a tangy white chocolate tart for me (with a scoop of constrastingly tangy ice cream), a chocolate and orange mousse for her, accompanied by another scoop of ice cream and one of sorbet. Apart from a string of unchewable fat through my otherwise very tasty steak, it was an excellent meal, and I couldn't really fault the service - although it slackened off after the crowds departed, following the dinner bell.
Of course, we were only minutes from the concert hall, and were there quite early, finding a space quite near the entrance. We were in time to bag the coveted sofas in the bar - I see they've removed two of the four now! They're great people-watching vantage points, right beside the stairs, and with a glass partition so you can spy on all the folks coming in. The patrons were not so fashionable here as at the wedding - and wore much more sensible shoes, might I add. Mind you, much of the fashion was hidden under warm winter coats, and we did see some nice pieces when we got to the auditorium.
For once, they didn't announce when the doors opened - but we moseyed along at ten to, and got in. We had aisle seats. Unfortunately, there was a group of four inside us, two of whom didn't show up until after the interval - and one of them decided she was bored, and left within half an hour of the start of the second act! So lots of up and down to let people past.
I love Madama Butterfly - the music is beautiful. And this was a lovely production, with a dashing Pinkerton - the dastardly American who marries the Japanese Madam Butterfly, but doesn't consider it a real marriage, and deserts her to marry a "proper" American bride. The singing was top notch, and the costumes gorgeous. Count on Ellen Kent to have a good production! The entrance of Madam Butterfly, with her coterie of maidens, all in traditional Japanese dress and singing, brought a tear to the eye. Comedic award of the night goes to Madam Butterfly's son, a toddler plonked on a cushion to the edge of the stage, who took a quiet moment in the production to wave to the harpist, sitting just below him. Whose hands were occupied, but she laughed while harping merrily on.
It was too late to blog last night, and today we headed for the Abbey Tavern again (gee!). We were a bit early - food starts at 12.30 - but we came straight from Mass. I had the turkey this time, which was ok, but a bit dry, and the sauce had a skin on it, so must have been left. The stuffing and ham, and accompanying potato croquettes, were delicious. Oh, and well done to them for their enthusiasm in putting up Hallowe'en decorations, they're great!
For my flight, I was delighted to hear that welcome announcement that the flight is very full, so if anyone wants to check in their hand luggage for free..! I wasn't the only person to make a dash for the gate staff at that point! The flight itself was a little bumpy, made more so by the fact that I got the back row again - but not too bad. And I have to give credit to Heathrow Terminal 2 - the walk to baggage reclaim, especially when not dragging a case, was no distance at all! I was on the Tube 15 minutes after the plane landed - and this despite being literally the last person off the plane, and having to collect a bag!
Tomorrow is the first of the James Plays trilogy, and the last I'll have seen, because of the demand for tickets: the National is showing these, based on the lives of Kings James I, II, & III of Scots. Tomorrow's is James I: The Key Will Keep the Lock, and supposed to be the best of them, so I'm really looking forward to it, as the others were excellent. There are only two more performances of this, and both are now sold out. I was lucky to get the cheap £15 Travelex tickets for all of them.
Tuesday, I'm back to the opera - The Marriage of Figaro, at the Coliseum. Wednesday, I'm going to Shakespeare: the Kings at Cadogan Hall, and Thursday, I'm braving Necropolis; Journey of the Dead, in the tunnels underneath Waterloo Station. With all the talk of extreme haunted house immersive experiences, I'm glad we go through this one in groups..!
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