Wonders of Modern Technology

 

Of all the new wonders of the modern world, I find that some are a step too far or at least ones that I have as yet not seen a reason to take. The internet does have a lot of uses, and I use it as much as anybody both in business and in the pursuit of my sport, hobbies and pastimes. Email is another necessary evil for that I cannot manage without within our antiques transport business and privately. Then the dreaded Facebook, that also has good points and some extremely bad ones. It is the easiest way by far for you keep in touch with friends across the globe and has been the death of the long letters I used to write to friends who have moved to another country or continent; instead of writing 6-8 pages of news of births, deaths and marriages, one can now flip a few words or a photo openly, or in a private message and exchanges are made or can be made in a matter of moments. 

I have held a firm resistance to joining Twitter or Instagram just because it seems never ending and yet another way to waste precious time. Both my husband and I have given in most recently, to WhatsApp, having been pressured by several friends and so far I don’t have any complaints about it. 

And The Winner Is……The fast growing trend of the live streaming to cinemas from major theatre and opera houses. There have been two in the last week or so that I have galloped through the internet to get tickets for. The first being Turandot from Sydney last Thursday and last night a wonderful evening ‘Live’ from the Olivier Theatre in the National Theatre, London. For just a few pounds more than a regular cinema ticket, we sat and watched as the Olivier filled with theatregoers at the same time as our little local cinema filled up. During the pre performance time, there was an interesting interview with director Rufus Norris about this production before the complete performance of The Threepenny Opera that went out live to 2000 cinemas across the world…. 2000! 

This production starred Rory Kinnear as ‘Mack the Knife’ and he was superb in the part and seasoned actor that he is appeared not to slightest bit worried about performing to such a vast audience. Neither Stephen nor I had ever been to the show before which in itself is unbelievable since we are such huge musical and opera fans, that alone made the evening all the more enjoyable. We even have to admit to laughing at the sheer ‘front’ of the directorial theatricality of the many murders within the opera and although the cast do actually speak some of the story, it is still basically still an opera.

 

The twenty minute interval was used for more time with the Rufus Norris and also to talk about what other wonder treats are in store for people for cannot go trotting up to London every other week for these special treats; the time and costs involved cuts those possibilities well down since a night out in town costs and arm and a leg when you add up the train fare, West End tickets, dinner and a hotel. You say goodbye to a lot of money going out to a show.

 

 

Upcoming live broadcasts over this winter from the West End include, No Man’s Land with Ian Mckellen and Patrick Stewart, then Amadeus, Saint Joan with Gemma Arterton and Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler.

 

 

Then there are the repeats; which they call Encore’s, where something previously broadcast live is shown again as a recording and our own little cinema has Michael Bublé on tour and the Opera Norma from the Royal Opera House coming very soon. The one Stephen and I are looking forward to is Miss Saigon on October 16^th. Unlike the new experience of The Threepenny Opera, we have seen Miss Saigon in London at least three times and would not miss this tenth anniversary performance for only £13 for anything.

 

 

Praise be to the modern HD world.