Jill! The stars aligned today and for the first time I listened to you while I was driving, and let me tell you, you & I had a great time. From the safety of my vehicle bubble I could shout “No cauldron?!”, and “That’s a different fucking play then!!” at the top of my lungs. I did so much head shaking & eye rolling that I was dizzy when I reached my destination, but my goodness was it worth it. You’ve made my day, thank you. I hope you’re not left feeling too Tender by your co-op run in 😬❤️
I saw a modern dress production in London recently. Brilliant. The cauldron was played by an electric blender, and the witches were three blokes. It actually worked very well. It strikes me that those young people who had "got" Macbeth had only got a pale imitation made by people whose hubris 8s beyond belief, beyond satire. Sorry you had such a rotten time, but I enjoyed your review
Less bothered about the witch substitute than Duncan ... but a blending cauldron sounds like a kitchen implement that my life is missing and could really do with, tbh. Glad you enjoyed it Terry!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Sadly, I'm awake in the middle of the night reading this, which was a bad idea because now I'm thinking about all the ways that you could have given him a copy of wordsmoke (there are none, but the idea is funny to me) to make your encounter even more awkward.
I was thinking it had to be Blur or Oasis and assumed they had all been to rehab, but I imagine Liam Gallagher would have been more of a dick? Still, I am sure that Damon gets asked for stuff all the time, so brushing shit aside is prob second nature, like testing a reflex. Good for you to try.
Also...Damon...kind of a fitting spooky name. If only the Macbeth production could have liscensed a blur song ...naw...too gen x, kids wouldn't like it.
I feel like I keep running into your comments like an excitable little boy that proceeds to fall on his face. It seems appropriate, I'll try and keep it up.
🫣🙇🏻♀️ I’m SO embarrassing. For myself, and everyone unfortunate enough to be around me, even momentarily... glad you enjoyed it though!! ❤️🙏 thanks Rebecca xx
Ah that was good. Listened to it in the car and on the ferry on the way to the dentist. Driving while laughing!
My wife is involved in trying to get a community pool built. Like the Cotswolds, we have our share of reclusive people of means, in our case people with last names like Costco and Microsoft. Your celebrity adventure was so relatable! Forwarded to her.
That Macbeth sounds just awful. How did you stop yourself standing up and screaming 'This is fucking awful!' before you walked out? I saw a production of Mozart's Requiem recently that had dancing in it. From beginning to end. Distracting? Just a little. You know, just when you want to let the Lachrima wash over you, here comes some gyrating men and women, free expressive movementing all in front of the choir. It truly shocked me into horrified silence. When I was working I lived in Oxford Mon-Fri. Wherever you go in Oxfordshire there are celebrities cropping up. I once stood on that old and infamous Top Gear presenter's foot in a restaurant. I didn't apologise. I. wished I'd done it on purpose.
It was TRULY awful. I have no words (actually, I do, you’ve just read them. I have no *more* words.) Honestly I did feel like screaming in the theatre. I often feel like the child in the Emperor has no clothes - and this was no exception. As for Oxford slebs, they really are something else... except for Simon Cowell, he was a joy (honestly, won’t hear a word against him, he was so sweet).
I’m with your Sister. Do not sweat that interaction. Fortune favors the bold! You were bold and he used his rehab as a shield against getting involved at all in his community. He could have been much more gracious in his response.
An enjoyable post and I liked the way you brought the various strands together. I enjoy fresh and adventurous productions of Shakespeare plays when I get the chance to see them. But I think the Queen Duncan thing would have too much for me, too.
I found the story of 'poor Anne Greene' pretty shocking, but somehow not surprising. And engagingly told.
I hope you have better luck soon with getting a local celeb to pay for the pub. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to seeing a Shakespeare production here in Tokyo soon which I hope will be a good omen: "All's Well That Ends Well". Let's see what they do with that.
I’d like to hear your verdict on Tokyo Shakespeare, in due course... thanks for your solidarity re Queen Duncan. 🙏 I’m all for an adventurous interpretation but this was, in several important ways, a misadventure.
Thank you for the very entertaining post, and the astonishing effort you are making to keep the pub. Just “screw your courage to the sticking place” and I am sure you will get some more people to sign up (sorry, I could not help myself).
Assuming it’s the same person, he has literally just released his own brand of alcoholic sparkling wine called (yes, you guessed it) Britpop.
Also my husband calls him “that cheese wanker” after he was rude to him on a train. Hope that makes you feel better! X
Also cheese wanker is, honestly, perfection. 👏
The very same (and I was alerted to the sparkling wine thing immediately in the committee group chat) xx
Jill! The stars aligned today and for the first time I listened to you while I was driving, and let me tell you, you & I had a great time. From the safety of my vehicle bubble I could shout “No cauldron?!”, and “That’s a different fucking play then!!” at the top of my lungs. I did so much head shaking & eye rolling that I was dizzy when I reached my destination, but my goodness was it worth it. You’ve made my day, thank you. I hope you’re not left feeling too Tender by your co-op run in 😬❤️
Chloe, I will have you know that fully made me snort out loud in a (quiet) sitting room at Joel’s parents. There were several witnesses. Xx
I saw a modern dress production in London recently. Brilliant. The cauldron was played by an electric blender, and the witches were three blokes. It actually worked very well. It strikes me that those young people who had "got" Macbeth had only got a pale imitation made by people whose hubris 8s beyond belief, beyond satire. Sorry you had such a rotten time, but I enjoyed your review
"The cauldron was played by an electric blender" - please tell me that's going to be a book title one day! 🤣
Less bothered about the witch substitute than Duncan ... but a blending cauldron sounds like a kitchen implement that my life is missing and could really do with, tbh. Glad you enjoyed it Terry!
Enshittification, shouty, blurry, rampant! Don't stop Jill, it's a hilarious, real, wild ride.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Sadly, I'm awake in the middle of the night reading this, which was a bad idea because now I'm thinking about all the ways that you could have given him a copy of wordsmoke (there are none, but the idea is funny to me) to make your encounter even more awkward.
I was thinking it had to be Blur or Oasis and assumed they had all been to rehab, but I imagine Liam Gallagher would have been more of a dick? Still, I am sure that Damon gets asked for stuff all the time, so brushing shit aside is prob second nature, like testing a reflex. Good for you to try.
Also...Damon...kind of a fitting spooky name. If only the Macbeth production could have liscensed a blur song ...naw...too gen x, kids wouldn't like it.
It wasn’t Damon..... see Andrew Eberlin’s comment above 🎯 (also I saw your like and was like, wow, he’s up early - or late)
I feel like I keep running into your comments like an excitable little boy that proceeds to fall on his face. It seems appropriate, I'll try and keep it up.
Oh Ryan ❤️😂 you’re so awesome and lovely
Oh jeez, ok. That makes more sense. 🙃 🌛
This is a joy to read; the most enjoyable writing that I've come across in quite some time!
(I think many others would have written "a famously recovering alcoholic" instead of what you did).
Much thanks to Chloe Hope over at https://www.deathandbirds.com/ for directing me here.
I hope your community manages to take ownership of the pub. Best wishes!
Thank you for the generous comment and restack, Ram (prince among men 🙏)
SUCH an enjoyable read, Jill - thank you so much! I'd been saving this post as a treat - and oh boy, it's been worth the wait!
(I knew exactly which 'sleb you were talking about, and am still laughing at Gina's comment!)
🫣🙇🏻♀️ I’m SO embarrassing. For myself, and everyone unfortunate enough to be around me, even momentarily... glad you enjoyed it though!! ❤️🙏 thanks Rebecca xx
😁
Almost gave you Covid, eh? Ha!
Well, something did. I’m blaming the form. ☺️🙏
Macbeth - tell this was a bad dream!
All great Neptune’s ocean won’t make me unsee it
Sounds like the play was scary in the worst possible way. 👻
Really scary, not in a good way. I shudder to think of the theatre bros who re-wrote it and thought it was banging.
Wonderful stuff as always lovely 🥰
Thanks Matt 😍
Just put this on your note, but adding here too.
Ah that was good. Listened to it in the car and on the ferry on the way to the dentist. Driving while laughing!
My wife is involved in trying to get a community pool built. Like the Cotswolds, we have our share of reclusive people of means, in our case people with last names like Costco and Microsoft. Your celebrity adventure was so relatable! Forwarded to her.
Glad you enjoyed it John ❤️ I live to do dumb shit and write about it ☺️🙏🫠
You do it so well!
That Macbeth sounds just awful. How did you stop yourself standing up and screaming 'This is fucking awful!' before you walked out? I saw a production of Mozart's Requiem recently that had dancing in it. From beginning to end. Distracting? Just a little. You know, just when you want to let the Lachrima wash over you, here comes some gyrating men and women, free expressive movementing all in front of the choir. It truly shocked me into horrified silence. When I was working I lived in Oxford Mon-Fri. Wherever you go in Oxfordshire there are celebrities cropping up. I once stood on that old and infamous Top Gear presenter's foot in a restaurant. I didn't apologise. I. wished I'd done it on purpose.
It was TRULY awful. I have no words (actually, I do, you’ve just read them. I have no *more* words.) Honestly I did feel like screaming in the theatre. I often feel like the child in the Emperor has no clothes - and this was no exception. As for Oxford slebs, they really are something else... except for Simon Cowell, he was a joy (honestly, won’t hear a word against him, he was so sweet).
I’m with your Sister. Do not sweat that interaction. Fortune favors the bold! You were bold and he used his rehab as a shield against getting involved at all in his community. He could have been much more gracious in his response.
My *weird* sister? 😅😜 Sorry, couldn’t help it. Hugs to you all xx
I’ll nominate you for a Lovie Award for your pub purchase campaign
I should have trademarked that name. At least they should give me an honorary award!
An enjoyable post and I liked the way you brought the various strands together. I enjoy fresh and adventurous productions of Shakespeare plays when I get the chance to see them. But I think the Queen Duncan thing would have too much for me, too.
I found the story of 'poor Anne Greene' pretty shocking, but somehow not surprising. And engagingly told.
I hope you have better luck soon with getting a local celeb to pay for the pub. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to seeing a Shakespeare production here in Tokyo soon which I hope will be a good omen: "All's Well That Ends Well". Let's see what they do with that.
I’d like to hear your verdict on Tokyo Shakespeare, in due course... thanks for your solidarity re Queen Duncan. 🙏 I’m all for an adventurous interpretation but this was, in several important ways, a misadventure.
Thank you for the very entertaining post, and the astonishing effort you are making to keep the pub. Just “screw your courage to the sticking place” and I am sure you will get some more people to sign up (sorry, I could not help myself).
By the pricking of my thumbs, something pub-like this way comes. 🙏🙏🙏 Thanks Kate