Regular Random Readers may remember that earlier in the year (Mother's Day weekend to be precise), my daughter and I were going to see Dame Judi Dench in Madame de Sade in London. My daughter had bought these tickets a year earlier as a special present for me and so, while I have every sympathy with Dame J and am absolutely certain she did not do it on purpose, to find out while en route to London that she had sprained her ankle and was out of the show was incredibly irritating and frustrating.
I have been out all day today and came home to find an email from the Royal Opera House apologising for the fact that Juan Diego Flores has withdrawn from the particular performance of the Barber of Seville for which I have booked as 'he has realised he does not have time to rest his voice between performances and to do the role justice'. Well, pardon me but if you have booked to do a series of opera performances in a row, the thought does cross my mind that he might have thought of this earlier. OK, Simon Keenlyside is still there, singing Figaro, and I am sure he will be brilliant (saw him last year in Don Carlos and he was great), but the main reason for booking for this performance and paying for an expensive seat was mainly for JDF so to say I am very very very cross is putting it mildy. I have witten to the Opera House asking will I be entitled to a small refund on my ticke as I know full well the prices were hiked purely because this gentelman was in it so I don't see why I should have to pay extra for an artist's fee that is not going to be paid. I know what the answer will be...........
Now, in a few weeks time I am going to see Oliver with Rowan Atkinson as Fagin. Fingers crossed he does not fall over and sprain his ankle or contract some dreadful lurgy. Then of course we have Tosca coming up with the Mighty Bryn. Will he make it? And yes I know, that when you book in advance for a live performance you take risks but I am really fed up by this news.
Oh and to cap it all, though on a slightly less intellectual level, I was delighted to see that House is back, Series Five, to which I have become addicted as you all know by now. Yippee I cry. Oh no I rejoiced too soon. Channel Five which used to show it has decided not to any more and yes, it has now gone to Sky, which I do not have as I live in a block of flats and the management are too lazy to get it organised though I have been haranguing them for yonks. So that is that.
I AM SERIOUSLY HACKED OFF.
