Monday, June 29, 2026
Abigail's Party
This review contains a spoiler.
Ferring Amateur Dramatic Society presented a production of the Mike
Leigh play "Abigail's Party" which was originally a 'Play for Today' on
the BBC.
The play is very representative of its time, right down to a lava lamp centre stage.
The Abigail of the title never appears. The party is next door to Abigail's house and includes a very worried Abigail's mother played excellently by Lina Grinstead.
A neighbour, Angela played by Julie Cleasby, adds humour to the production, especially with her unforgettable dancing. Her monosyllabic husband, played by Steve Baker, finds her such an embarrassment he allegedly suggested she could do with sellotape over her mouth.
The man of the house, played by Niall Conlan, is a local estate agent who is worked to death, quite literally.
The star of the show is Beverly, the excruciating host, played superbly by Sue Burroughs. A seventies' suburban party which starts out moderately dreadful deteriorates and deteriorates under Beverly's influence.
This is a first class production.
The play is very representative of its time, right down to a lava lamp centre stage.
The Abigail of the title never appears. The party is next door to Abigail's house and includes a very worried Abigail's mother played excellently by Lina Grinstead.
A neighbour, Angela played by Julie Cleasby, adds humour to the production, especially with her unforgettable dancing. Her monosyllabic husband, played by Steve Baker, finds her such an embarrassment he allegedly suggested she could do with sellotape over her mouth.
The man of the house, played by Niall Conlan, is a local estate agent who is worked to death, quite literally.
The star of the show is Beverly, the excruciating host, played superbly by Sue Burroughs. A seventies' suburban party which starts out moderately dreadful deteriorates and deteriorates under Beverly's influence.
This is a first class production.
Saturday, June 27, 2026
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Things not to do
When submitting work to a magazine, which I do all the time, do not include the phrase "No AI was used in this writing. My robot told me to say that. :)"
They have no sense of humour about this.
Friday, June 05, 2026
Quiz Answers
1 Which planet
is furthest from the sun?
Nobody knows
(many planets are outside the solar system) but I will accept Neptune
as an answer!
2 It takes five
men six hours to dig seven holes. How long does it take one man to
dig half a hole?
You can’t dig half a
hole
3
The straits of Gibraltar are between the Atlantic and ?
A The
Mediterranean
4
A yellow ball in snooker scores?
Two
5
Which sport uses a foil?
Fencing
6
What does a dosette box contain?
A Pills
7
In Thomas the Tank Engine, Henry is which colour?
Green
8
The Aran islands contain how many islands?
Three
islands
9
Where is Wadebridge?
A Cornwall
10
Which planet is famous for the Great Red Spot?
Jupiter
11
What is Cafe au Lait?
A White
coffee
12
Joe Davis was a world champion in?
Snooker
13
Who wrote the book “Tom Jones”?
Henry Fielding
14
What is a penstemon?
a
flowering plant
15
Which was Daniel Craig’s first James Bond film?
A Casino
Royale
16
Marzipan is made from?
Almonds
17
Where would you find seas with no water?
On the moon.
18
The chemical element with the abbreviation Br is?
A Bromine
19
The Hoover Dam is on which river?
A The
Colorado
20
What is a Manx Shearwater?
A
bird
And the ever-popular grid. You need to find groups of four. All words have capital initial letters by tradition.
|
Police |
Trouble |
Jeopardy |
Ponce |
|
Lear |
Christmas |
George |
Top |
|
Phantom |
Paul |
Poor |
Bed |
|
John |
Water |
Jump |
Money |
Box – Police, Christmas, Poor, Money
Double – Trouble, Jeopardy Top, Bed
Saint = John Paul George Ponce
Jet = Lear, Phantom, Water, Jump
Thursday, June 04, 2026
Rage
I notice that after calling for people to "rage", millionaire Nigel
Farage made sure he was well away from the racists who were raging in the
streets with bricks and bottles.
It would have spoilt his suit.
It would have spoilt his suit.
Quiz
1 Which planet
is furthest from the sun?
2 It takes five
men six hours to dig seven holes. How long does it take one man to
dig half a hole?
3
The straits of Gibraltar are between the Atlantic and ?
4
A yellow ball in snooker scores?
5
Which sport uses a foil?
6
What does a dosette box contain?
7
In Thomas the Tank Engine, Henry is which colour?
8
The Aran islands contain how many islands?
9
Where is Wadebridge?
10
Which planet is famous for the Great Red Spot?
11
What is Cafe au Lait?
12
Joe Davis was a world champion in?
13
Who wrote the book “Tom Jones”?
14
What is a penstemon?
15
Which was Daniel Craig’s first James Bond film?
16
Marzipan is made from?
17
Where would you find seas with no water?
18
The chemical element with the abbreviation Br is?
19
The Hoover Dam is on which river?
20 What is a Manx Shearwater?
And the ever-popular grid. You need to find groups of four. All words have capital initial letters by tradition.
|
Police |
Trouble |
Jeopardy |
Ponce |
|
Lear |
Christmas |
George |
Top |
|
Phantom |
Paul |
Poor |
Bed |
|
John |
Water |
Jump |
Money |
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Thursday, May 07, 2026
Second Hand Books
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)