Krapp we did this weekend

Swiss Mister, that charming man, planned us a date night for Friday. It was total Krapp.


Starring Michael Gambon (of Harry Potter fame), Krapp's Last Tape is a one-man, 50-minute show. It's Krapp's 69th birthday* and, as he does every year, he's preparing to record a tape of his reflections on the past twelve months. First, though, he reviews sections of old tape. We learn that Krapp has an inordinate love of bananas (!) and drink: "40% of past year's waking hours spent on licensed premises." He also hasn't had the best luck with women, though Fanny (!!), that "old bony ghost of a whore" is still around, and she's better than "a kick in the crotch." One hopes so.

From Lyn Gardner's review in the Guardian:

The first 20 minutes of Samuel Beckett's merciless, miniature masterpiece is almost complete silence, but there is no lack of eloquence in the performance of Michael Gambon, returning to the London stage for the first time since forced by ill health to withdraw from rehearsals for The Habit of Art. His familiar features like an eroding landscape, Gambon may now be in fine fettle, as he demonstrates in Michael Colgan's artfully pitched production – but the 69-year-old Krapp clearly is not. His face is pale, his eyes dull, and his ragged clothes are covered in dust as if he has been the victim of some calamitous accident. He has. His life.

It was an amazing show, but demanding, and so we were wise to fortify ourselves beforehand at Salvador y Amanda tapas bar and afterward at French bistro Savoir Faire.

Saturday and Sunday saw some touring around and visiting with friends, and a trip to the Churchill Arms, a lovely little pub that was the site of Dr. and Mrs. Whisky's post-wedding brunch way back when.

We also did a shocking amount of cleaning and organizing in preparation for our very first houseguest, Kathleen, who is arriving tomorrow morning!!! Stay tuned for our adventures and, if you're lucky, a guest blog or two.


*Speaking of, a special birthday shout-out to blog-lurker Megan!
May your day have less Krapp and more of this.