Yesterday evening I went to Opera Holland Park for a concert performance of Sondheim’s A Little Night Music; a return to normality? Not quite.
I met Richard outside the Scarsdale Tavern for a drink but it was full with a queue outside so we walked up to Holland Park. I had brought a bottle of sherry and one of red wine and we stood by the balustrade at the top of the steps surveying the scene. It was being put on for one performance only and there were just two hundred seats. I had only seen ALNM once, in 1996 at the National with Judi Dench, Siân Phillips, Patricia Hodge and Issy van Randwyck, but Richard had done the wigs for a revival at the Menier Chocolate Factory in 2008. Many of his friends were in the audience and performing. It was a charming scene, more like a private party than the usual hustle and bustle at Opera Holland Park.
We were in row B and, there being nobody in front of me, it was an immersive experience, as if it was being performed just for me and a great improvement on being at the back of the stalls in a West End theatre. I don’t think anyone in the audience or on the stage last night will forget the experience. Here’s how it ended.
For the last hour it rained. No showers a total deluge. The show went on and everyone got rather wet. When Janie Dee sang Send in the Clowns she looked ruefully at the sky and belted it out with her sodden red dress clinging to her. There was no roof to raise but the small audience showed their approval. I hope there will be a reprise at Holland Park soon.
I have been lucky enough to share many theatrical evenings with my blogging host but this is one I don’t think we will ever forget. A sublime performance given by a great and talented company under extreme circumstances!
It sounds an absolutely wonderful evening. How fantastic to go to a live performance during these strange times – even though the heavens opened! We long to go again.