[Lynette]

Let there be Love at Tricycle and The President's Holiday at Hampstead, does anyone know any reason I shouldn't? I'm taking guests so would appreciate a heads up if total crap. Ta

[Backdrifter]

I don't know about Let There Be Love, but President's doesn't open until mid-January so it's impossible to say anything about it. It sounded interesting enough for me to book. With guests, Hampstead is always a good bet because it's a nice place to visit - they always have that little market outside including food stalls where you can get a good cheap lunch (I recommend the pad thai noodles or the chickpea curry), and the theatre lobby is a nice to relax if it's too cold or wet outside. If we're seeing a Saturday matinee we often go to Bond Street and stroll up via Marylebone High St and Regent's Park - all very agreeable.

Of course, for a weekday evening you'd have to arrive in the afternoon to enjoy the benefits of the market. The area around the Tricycle has a few things to offer but feels less salubrious. But the theatre bar is nice.

[Lynette]

Thanks, I'm going to book both - how bad can they be? Don't answer that. I like the little market too, will try the food you suggest.

[Backdrifter]

Lynette did you see President's? I saw it last weekend and overall enjoyed it, but it started dragging in the 2nd half. Julian Glover is always good value though - despite falling prey a couple of times to West's Disease and fluffing one or two lines.

[Lynette]

Yes, I did see it. I panicked at first and was going to ditch it after reading the reviews because I was taking a couple of guests who are used to the tip top shows. But I'm glad I stuck with it. I thought the writing was a bit wordy..ho ho..I mean could have been cut and the acting surprisingly wooden for the two real pros in the leads; yep, Glover did fluff a couple and I felt that Gorby himself probably conducted himself with more humour and a lighter touch especially with the kids and here the writing was ok but misinterpreted I thought. Surely the hand kissing was a game not a solemn ceremony? But what I liked was that we saw a different view of the time to that we were fed at the time, ie that G was the man who steered the Soviet Union to some kind of modernisation and that things were not so clear then or now. I liked the Tsar murders coming in - no one could doubt the relevance or that the people were conscious of their own history and it was delicately done. I thought the son in law was good. I would have liked more evidence of being prisoners - maybe the set lacked depth for that. I think it would be marvellous on the radio as Educating Rita would have said.But those terrible reviews, totally unjustified. It wasn't that bad. [We ate in Arabesque round the corner - good value and tasty.]