Number Seventy News

I think I’ve been put off “The Tempest” by John Geilgud’s misconceived film “Prospero’s Books”, and by never having studied it in any depth.  But this RSC production at Sheffield was superb, done in collaboration with a South African theatre company and using southern african mythology and costumes and spirits via puppetry. The magic works well in an African context.  There was the colonial framework too. Anthony Sher was superb as Prospero, as were Atandwa Kani as Ariel, John Kani as Caliban and Tinarie Van Wyk Loots as Miranda.  There was a lot of sympathy for Caliban, who was left as ruler of the island in the end, and had clearly been usurped and unfairly used by Prospero, an inconsistent and wilful ruler, quite close to being the tyrant that Caliban casts him as.  

Maybe it’s too late to start going to see Bob Dylan.  I can at least say that I saw him live, that it was an enjoyable evening, and that he and his band make a good rocking sound.  But his croak is more croaky than ever and I really ony could make out the words on songs I knew already. And that was only once I’d worked out what song they were, as he keeps changing how he does any particular number. That’s fine, and I quite liked the rock “It’s All Over Now Baby Blue” and “Blowin’ In the Wind”.  But overall there wasn’t much variety in presentation – he’s determined to make a loud noise and has taken to playing the keyboard as well as the guitar and harmonica.  I did wonder at times if he was using the keyboard to hold himself up.  A lot of people at Sheffield Arena had gone minus their critical faculty, it seemed.  Bob’s still great – but he’s not as good as he was.  

Ages since I’ve had a good bike ride – so off on the train to Seamer, heading back to Malton, taking the benefit of a light NE breeze, Started off quite cloudy and cool near the coast – to CAyton village then across Folkton Carr – flat,drained land to the pretty little village of Folkton on the rising land at the foot of the scarp. Up onto the scarp at Flixton – very steep, had to get off and push as I had the Brompton which doesn’t have a low enough gear for such feats.  But soon the wide open skies and the chalk-studded fields of the high Wolds.  A hare loped across a field (another was, alas, roadkill a few miles further on).  Views down into dry valleys winding away from near their head.  Loads of white blackthorn blossom studding the hedgerows. Peewits, seagulls.  A tiny church at Fordon – a cross roads deep in the junction of dry valleys. The church dated from the 1100s- services once a month. A noisy rookery adjacent.

Rather a dull, wide valley then, going east-west, but the cloud started to break up and after crossing the busy B1249 the lane I was on got windier and more interesting.  Particularly interesting was “The Star” at Weaverthorpe where a pint of Theakeston’s best bitter went very nicely with an excellent plate of belly pork on lentils with apple and chorizo, plus mashed potatoes, creamed leeks, carrots and cabbage.

From West Lutton a long gentle climb to the top of the ridge where the tree belt to the south of the road conceals an ancient defensive earthwork, and the hedge to the north fails to conceal a very extensive piggery.  Beyond the pigs, though, the lower end of Ryedale laid out, and the Moors in the distance.  Past Settrington Beacon with its near 360 degree visibility and then the spectacular descent to Settrington – amazing to think that I survived coming up that way the last time I was in this area (May 2006).

And so to Malton and the train.  I was much refreshed, not only by the Theakstons but by the delightful cool yet sunny weather, the exercise, and the wonderful feeling of Spring – buds, leaves, birds, lambs, primroses.

To the Sage at Gateshead for some fiddle concerts.  Note 1. The Sage’s sandwiches have improved, though not tremendously. Note 2. The programme implied fairly constant entertainment in the foyer – in fact extremely sporadic during the time we were there, roughly 12 to 5. Note 3. There was supposed to be a non-stop “session” in the upstairs hall in a pub-style atmosphere – it seemed like the hope was that this would just happen – in the afternoon at least, it didn’t.  It could have done with a bit of nurturing / leadership.

Having said all that, the two concerts we attended were excellent, and both confounded expectations.  I know Annbjorg Lien from CDs like Aliens Alive, which is very much the folk-rock end of Norwegian traditional music.  However, this was an excellent acoustic solo set of traditional tunes on the Hardanger fiddle, introduced with just enough information.  Good to see where the roots are.

And then the Harald Haugaard Trio from Denmark.  We’d seen Harald as part of Hoirup and Haugaard at the Cambridge Folk Festival – an engaging fiddle and guitar duo doing traditional music so it was quite a surprise to have an amplified quite wild set here.  Good stuff though, mostly traditional based.

First ride of the season – due to call first at The Ebor in Bishopthorpe. I cycled out there early in order to eat, our kitchen undergoing renovation, and enjoyed an excellent poached haddock in cream sauce with prawns. The chips were good – veg a little disappointing – overcooked in the English manner. The SAm Smiths bitter was well kept and cheap.  

Over the course of an hour or so I was joined by two pedallers, one of whom had come on the bus and the other by car.  Although the Ship at Acaster Malbis was on the itinerary, we agreed that a retreat to the Wellie was much the best plan. And at £1.35 a pint, who can beat it ?  Cosy as ever.