Tuesday, 02-06-26

Morning, everyone, and for the first time in what seems like ages, I have woken up to rain.  It's quite steady, the ground is soaked and the garden seems to breathing a sigh of relief.  One can water regularly but it's just not the same as a period of steady rain that soaks down into the soil.

I think it might be a staying in and catching up with stuff kind of day.

So, yesterday I was off to London for Paddington the Musical.  I know the show was a sell-out but there was no-one beside me on the coach which means someone couldn't come at the last minute which was a real shame for them.  Nice for me though to have a bit more room to spread on the coach.
The journey both ways was easy, trouble free and, in the case of going into London at the start of the rush hour, surprisingly easy.  We were dropped about fifty metres from the theatre entrance and there was plenty of time to wander up and down.  It was very much theatreland so no posh shops, just plenty of eateries.
After a walk around, I went into Pret (my default for this sort of thing) and made a bottle of water and a bag of crisps last until it was time to go into the show.

I've never been to the Savoy before.  It was the site of the Savoy Palace in Plantagenet times, eventually the property of John of Gaunt (through his wife, Blanche) until it was burnt down by Wat Tyler's army during the Peasant's Revolt.

The site was used for other properties in the centuries that followed before burning down (again!!) in 1864, leaving only the stone walls and the chapel.

Richard D'Oyly Carte, he of Gilbert and Sullivan fame, bought the site and the Savoy Theatre opened in 1881 to showcase the works of the internationally famous pair.  It was a very modern place, the first public building in the world to be lit by that new fangled invention (discovery?), electricity.  

On February 12th, 1990, guests at the Savoy Hotel next door noticed smoke on the roof and gave the alarm.  Yes - fire again!  Is it beginning to look like carelessness or even an ancient curse?  😁
The safety curtain protected the stage and dressing rooms but the beautifully decorative auditorium was pretty much gutted.

As the designs were very well documented, the place was rebuilt as accurately as possible and opened again in July, 1993, with a performance of Wayne Sleep's specially commissioned ballet, The Savoy Suite.

Since then it has housed many award winning productions such as Legally Blonde, Cabaret, Fiddler on the Rood and now, Paddington the Musical.
(I got most of this from the programme - not cheap but well worth the money)

This was my view.  We were in the dress circle and I doubt I could have had a much better one.  It was fab.  There were opera glasses available but I didn't bother.
Can you see Paddington's hat through the window of Mr Gruber's shop?

As for the actual show itself, what can I say?

It was just a magical experience from start to finish.  Costume, lighting, staging, scenery - all amazing.  Fab acting, wonderful songs, dancing . . . the lot!
It was just a magical experience from start to finish and Paddington was just - totally Paddington.

For me, the knock out performance was Bonnie Langford as Mrs Bird.  Oh, she was so funny and what personality!  Mr Curry was very good too, really funny!  But they were all good.

You're not getting an informed review here, I know very little about musical theatre, but I'd go again like a shot.

If you get the opportunity, grab it.  You won't be disappointed!

 Just one down - there was plenty of merch including fridge magnets but, my goodness, the price!  I decided not to in the end but now I rather wish I had.  Oh, well . . .

Life must go on though, so today should be Groove but isn't because Lindsey can't do the class.  She has sent a pre-record and Chris is coming over to mine so we can do it together.

After that, I don't know - I will probably snooze at some point because I have slept well but not that long, waking at my usual time.  There's always some sort of clearing, sorting out, etc, to be doing and I'd like to dig out a few more recipes to try at some point.

Have a lovely day, everyone.  Have you got the rain today?  Take care, stay well, be happy!  :-)  xx