A packed schedule was waiting for me straight after my holiday. It all started with a preview of an epic new play by Mike Bartlett Earthquakes in London at the National. The National rarely disappoints and this wasn't an exception. The story is a staple – a dysfunctional family of three sisters and their hated father try to find their way in modern day London. Every character has their issues and global warming is high on the list. But what makes this state of the nation play extraordinary is the playwright's humour and Rupert Goold's excellent direction. There is no conventional stage, but a curvy bar on which action takes place and audience sits and stands around. This works especially well in clubbing scenes. The show contains off the press current affairs topics, remade recent pop hits and fantastic performances.
Can you consider yourself a cultured person and not enjoy Shakespeare? Well, I am one of them... Out of all the stagings of Shakespeare I have seen, only one was enjoyed – As You Like It at the Globe last summer. So I was excited to get tickets to the Old Vic to see Sam Mendes' direction this week. That was the last time I forced myself to try the greatest bard's plays. Instead of a joyous adventure in the forest of Arden we got a dark and grim take on the tale.
The week ended with a light-humoured Italian film Mid August Lunch. It is a perfect illustration of the Italian lifestyle – food and wine, an empty city in August and most of the people living with their parents (Italy is number one in Europe on this). As holiday season starts in Rome, Gianni is left with four old women to take care for the weekend. We observe his struggles to make them happy and stay sane. Also this week: Just couldn't finish the kaka film Creation about Charles Darwin and thoroughly enjoyed Educating Rita at the Trafalgar Studios.
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