Saw Royal Exchange Manchester's latest production To Kill a Mocking Bird yesterday. It was so good! I've never read the book (I find the idea of depression-era USA writing too potentially miserable) but it's hard to get through (mumble mumble) years of life without picking up at least a broad outline of the plot, so that in spite of a slew of excellent reviews online (apparently - I'm not the one who looks them up) I wasn't exactly looking forward to it. However it was a pleasure from end to end, if admittedly an intense experience. I find it quite hard to pick out highlights, but Shannon Tarbet (21 or possibly 22) was unbelievably convincing as Scout (9 or 10). I thought too that the starved and presumably rabid dog, a wire sculpture hound, was amazing. I suppose people had a point when they carped about hearing everything clearly, but I have to say that such small patches didn't diminish my enjoyment at all - after all, it always takes me a measure of time to 'tune in' to Shakespeare, which isn't a problem either - and yes, the dog was so close that the shot by Atticus didn't seem impressive, but personally I was happier to have seen the sculpture than to to have them create some invisible hound offstage as the target.
My one uncertainty was moving the narration around various actors when throughout it was so obviously Scout's - I felt it worked only once with the other actors, when Tom Robinson told what happened to ... Tom Robinson, while Scout listened. Still, brilliant play, but I can't recommend folks go see because apparently it's completely sold out - you could queue for returns, I suppose. It would be worth it.
A few other arty things. Hot Bed Press has a shared exhibition at the moment with Highland Print Studios at An Talla Solais in Ullapool - I don't think I'll be making a trip, though I'd love too.
And then a couple of recommendations to go look at other people's blogs - both old favourites for me. First up, Gemma Lacey's recent beautiful shadow drawings, which I love (and envy) and second Sarah Morpeth's blog just because I love (oh, and envy) her stuff in general.
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