The MTM/Simon situation...I think Simon's allowed to be as harsh as he wants to an actor who doesn't learn his lines by opening. And, really, an ear-piece so she can be fed lines...the height of unprofessionalism as well as walking out of the theatre before a performance, just because she got her knickers in a twist and had a snit fit. Suck it up and don't take it out on stage with you, missy!
Ben, some really good theatre going on right now in London. Helen Mirren is getting good reviews in the National's MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA as is Eve Best who I saw a few years back in her debut with Jude Law in Tis Pity She's A Whore she won best newcomer for it that year. Patrick Marber's After Miss Julie at the Donmar also sounds good. Simon Russell Beale, maybe the best actor working in London today, just transferred in Stoppard's JUMPERS from the National to the West End. So much more...SKELLIG directed by Trevor Nunn at the Young Vic, DEMOCRACY with Roger Allam at the Cottlesloe at the National, HAPPY DAYS with one of my favs Felicity Kendall directed by a fav, Sir Peter Hall(though I'm not a huge fan of Beckett); also Wilde's WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE with Rupert Graves at the Haymarket (my favourite theatre there).
Bruce, Did you sign the author wall leading upstairs at Bookfellows when you did your signing there? I couldn't find your name when I was there yesterday.
Exotic meats? The most exotic meat I ever had was venison on a flight to London on New Zealand Air...a great airline, I might add...As for the venison, it's okay...I now know exactly what one means when one describes something as gamey...Oh, it seems to me I also had venison at Rules in London once, along with blood pudding, which I quite liked...Still venison? I 'd prefer a steak...