This hardly constitutes a journey at all. ELT is closer than the pub. And I think the Sidcup Opera are fairly regular tenants. The regular companion had actually bought these tickets, and, wisely, had got the only seats where you could sneak in if you were late. Which she nearly was; as usual. Of course she is not a boulevard rentier, like me, but is burdened with the necessity of earning a living. The evening opera is not her first appointment of the day.
Everybody knows all the songs in this work, so there are going to be no surprises. I myself possess an elderly copy of the entire vocal score, in which Arthur Sullivan himself enjoins me not to perform more than two of the songs in public at the same time, and even then, not to don costume, or perform any actions. If the evening turns out that way, I shall just risk offending him. I don't know when this score was purchased, but when it was, the supplier, one James Smith and Son, of 76 Lord Street, Liverpool, claimed to be "Music Sellers to the Queen", just as, I suppose, Sullivan himself was.
The ELT, or Bob Hope Theatre, as it should more properly be known, is very well appointed. As a result of the beneficence of the great man himself, I'm sure. But I discovered at this performance that it actually runs to an orchestra pit large enough to hold an orchestra. The overture suggested the orchestra contained therein was quite good.
And then we were off into the Town of Titipu and the Gentlemen of Japan. I always think of this show as just a very refined pantomime. If the dialogue is delivered in the very best 'nudge-nudge-wink-wink' style, everyone has a good time, and the audience stays relaxed. And it was, and they did.
A good time was had by all, including me. With the pub only minutes away, I had time to have to have more than a good time, which I probably did.
Ah well, it was an amateur evening.
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