To sum up an evening watching two powerhouses at their best last night.

Both Warrior Amy and I were very much looking forward to seeing Driving Miss Daisy last night, although we just got in by the skin of our teeth. I could’ve sworn that the doors opened at 7.30 and the play commenced at 8 to finish at 9.30. But the play started at 7.30 to finish at 9pm. It seems I wasn’t the only one to think that; half an hour into the play when there was a pause inbetween scenes, a load of latecomers were waiting in the wings and hurriedly took their seats before the next scene started. I only hope they didn’t miss too much.
It was a good thing we weren’t too far away from the theatre in Leicester Square. We had dinner at KFC and had a bit of a chat inbetween noshing, catching up since the last time we saw each other. We then leisurely made our way over to the Wyndham’s theatre and as soon as we got in it was then we heard the announcement that the play would be starting in three mins. We didn’t even have time for a ladies stop and we were hustled in to find our seats. To our (slight) dismay, the row we were sitting in was already filled except for our two seats that were off-centre, which meant disturbing those already comfortably seated. And if anybody’s ever been to the Wyndham’s Theatre, you know it’s not very big. So there’s Amy and I making profuse apologies for disturbing the less tardy crowd, “Sorry….sorry….so sorry….excuse me….was that your foot?….so sorry…..apologies”, until we finally got to our seats. We must’ve had about a minute to spare before the lights dimmed and the curtains went up. We hurriedly put our phones on silent and sat back and watched the start.

It was just amazing watching Vanessa Redgrave with her Georgia accent and James Earl Jones as Hoke. And let’s not forget Boyd Gaines as Boolie, Miss Daisy’s son, who I do recognise from American cop shows like Law and Order, but is an accomplished Tony award-winning actor in his own right. It was just the three of them throughout the play, Boyd Gaines placing or removing the props himself with such fluidity that you hardly noticed the pauses inbetween scenes. And as the play was set in the 60s, the backdrop also served as a projector where they showed Martin Luther King’s I Have A Dream speech and Black American male demonstrators wearing “I Am A Man” signs around their neck. Basically old footage from civil rights demonstrations. The issue of race was sensitively dealt with; very well written.

For the most part there was a respectful silence while the play was on, although there was the perpetual sound of someone unwrapping a sweet directly behind me. Who the hell brings boiled sweets to the theatre? I’m suprised nobody’s phone went off, although after reading about Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman halting their Broadway play a couple of years ago so an audience member could answer his ringing mobile, I’m not suprised that people are a bit more careful with leaving theirs on.

Amy was the perfect theatre companion. She watched the play throughout and didn’t speak the entire time, which is what I feel you’re supposed to do when in a theatre: don’t talk, just listen and watch. She’ll kill me for this, but at the end I caught her wiping away a tear or two. It seems a couple of the scenes made her well-up a little, such was the emotiveness of the play. Honestly, she’s worse than SJ, she can cry at a commercial if it’s sad enough. Apparently she blabbed like a baby at Billy Elliot. I did cry when Oprah said goodbye on her final show, but I don’t think I ever have at a play. Whilst I’m at it, I do recommend this site to buy your theatre tickets; loads cheaper than Ticketmaster and a bit cheaper than lastminute.com. I bought the same seats Ticketmaster was selling for £74 each plus booking fee for £60 each all in.

Anyway, I’m a bit tired now. I didn’t get to sleep until 1am this morning, watching the last season of Law and Order and I had a booking earlier on this afernoon. Next week is a bit of a funny one as I go on courses and take days off my Other Job and work when I normally don’t and also my final assignment for this course is due Tuesday week, so my time will be limited. Next week I’ll be free Monday, Wednesday and Saturday only. I have a booking for 6pm on Monday so one more would be good. Check my diary for up-to-date availability.

Have a good week.