28 November 2016.Once in a Lifetime at the Young Vic.

This was a slightly strange evening that I booked because it featured Harry Enfield. It is a play about the arrival of the talkies and features three chancers who go to Hollywood from New York. Two jump on the bandwaggon by ingratiating themselves to an important Producer whose actresses need elocution while the third makes appalling mistakes that work out and so becomes the producer's right hand man. Enfield is the produce and is excellent in a slightly Mel Brookes way while the hapless side kick reminds me of the Peter Sellars character of chancy Gardener. Quite a few people left a the interval, perhaps not feeling this rather Christmasy production taxed their brains enough.

21 November 2016. King Lear at the Barbican

This RSC production with Anthony Sher was notable for his amazing acting as well as for the drama of the staging. He enters like an Egyptian carried on a tall chair from which he carves up his kingdom. Then it all goes downhill and Sher conveys excellently Lear's descent into a bewildered old age.
However, I have seen a lot of Lears and now I feel I see it more to tick off another production and actor - It is not a play that is enjoyable really in any way.