A visit to the theatre

A cultural treat last evening with a visit to Adam's Grammar School in Newport to see an RSC production of The Canterbury Tales. And what a rare treat it was; even accompanying a school party (of admittedly very well behaved young people) didn't diminish my pleasure.

The Company unpacks its traveling theatre from 3 large pantechnicons into whatever space is available (in this case the school gym) and brings performance to the shires. The gym had been transformed - tiered seating, a ceiling-full of lighting and a very simple set. Much was achieved with lighting and a few props.

The Tales were delightfully bawdy - I think the students (all of whom were under 16) were ever so slightly shocked by the earthy humour. Phallic cucumbers (did they have cucumbers in those days?), gropings, fondlings, innuendo and couplings up trees. Enough to give a girl the vapours. There was much laughter and, I think much food for thought. Wonderful to hear the words and enjoy the poetry of the language and to see live theatre after what seems like such a long time. The cast are to be credited with making the Pilgrims well rounded characters - the mincing Pardoner, the Wife of Bath and pious Prioress to name but 3. Each came in turn to narrate their own tale - a small drama within a drama.

'The Wife of Bath' brought memories of A Levels being one of our set books. I wish we had been able to see a production such as this - our study would have been much enhanced - though the likelihood of Miss Hare letting Kings High School girls watch such a ribald perfomance would have been remote. I think we got the edited version.

The Canterbury Tales are well suited to this peripatetic theatre - travellers on a journey telling tales, actors moving from venue to venue. In this case the cast reached their destination, the final act: Canterbury and the shrine of Thomas, took their bows and left the stage.

I drove back home over Long Mountain. The road was lightly dusted with snow and the thermometer crept downwards as I went further south, eventually reaching -4. More snow is forecast too.