Difficult Theatre and Difficult People

Well, dear readers, I now move onto another theatre review...this time "The Caretaker" http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/shows/display?contentId=92115

I like to have my thoughts challenged....and this one challenges. There is something very disturbing about the scenario and whilst it is humorous in places I think I find it distasteful to laugh at poverty and deprivation combined with general social dis-function. In one very powerful and arresting scene, Aston, played by Con O'Neill reveals that he underwent ECT see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/460864.stm This scene summarises a most callous mental healthcare approach which justified my discomfort, and a tribute to Pinter and the players for tackling a difficult subject so compellingly. For this alone dear readers the play is worth watching. Don't expect huge big laughs though. I think this is a good 7/10 which will not become mainstream.

As you can imagine one left the theatre in need of having one's spirits lifted. Interestingly, on this occasion I found that life also can throw up some challenging scenarios and I could very easily have taken offence. I mean, I don't think I'm a difficult person to get on with and I do try my best to be both honest and personable but dear me some people are so ignorant that they really don't deserve to be in my company and deserve to be told so. To avoid eye contact for a whole evening, make single word (read monosyllabic) conversation and show no single effort to civility is quite an achievement. I guess I am being hypocrictical because I suspect that the behaviour mentioned is also a manifestation of a level of disfunctionality or an unspoken motive so perhaps I should be more charitable.

Which leaves only one question really....How did I come to be in that particular company. That, dear readers is a whole other subject, haven't heard the last of etc. not quite due for publication just yet.