Play: The Deep Blue Sea

Oh dearie me. Well, I suppose the tv schedules can't always be good.. nothing really worth watching, after the main evening news. So I headed for something that Up in the Cheap Seats were watching on Friday - The Deep Blue Sea, presented by the National Theatre.

So, this is written by Terence Rattigan. Set in 1952, it's the story of a woman (played by Helen McRory), who left her stable, dependable, respectable, and adoring husband a year ago, it transpires. I guess things had got too safe. Instead, she hooked up with a dashing and exciting pilot, with whom she's now living in rather more modest circumstances. However, things aren't all rosy - when we meet her, she's passed out in the sitting room, where her neighbours find her; lucky the door wasn't locked, as she was trying to gas herself - and might have succeeded, if not for forgetting to put money in the gas meter!

What follows is the most marvellous character study. It's revealed that she has a talent for art that was never realised - this was a time, of course, when her best course of action was to marry well. We also get a real insight into her boyfriend's character, thanks to a wonderful performance of his drunken reaction as he vents to his friend about this vexing suicide note she left, and spends most of his time whining about how it'd make him look if she'd succeeded! A grown-up with a child's reactions, he also resents her for tying him down. In complete contrast, of course, is her still-adoring husband, who is telephoned by a neighbour who doesn't know whom else to call. Always smartly dressed (and sober), he rushes straight over - and makes obvious how much better her life would be with him. So she has a few options.. but which will she choose?

This really hit close to home - I used to be involved with someone very, very like her boyfriend. And it is quite devastating to see desperate she is to keep him. Sharply scripted, it gives each character enough space to develop, while allowing for some real verbal tennis among her and the men in her life. Absolutely marvellous, one of the best things I've seen in ages. Highly recommended. Quick though - they only leave these shows on for a week, and have a new one every Thursday..

Same-o situation for Saturday as for this past weekend. Funnily enough, highest on my film list now is Fleabag! (which I've already finished a season of, on Amazon Prime Video). I tried to start Season 2 - and would you credit it, it's not licensed here! Bah humbug. I ended up having to buy a dvd boxset of both seasons - it's being delivered from Germany. I couldn't bear not to see the rest - won't be delivered for a couple of weeks or so, though. Next up - on the same platform - is The Fall. About which I hear good things.