I'm out of the vortex. For now

I am free, for now, from the grip of Sydney Bristow. 88 episodes in three weeks, not bad going. The show is insanely brilliant, if a little all over the place and I shall pass full judgement on the show with a proper blog entry when I have watched the final 17 episodes that are season 5. The cliffhanger of season 4 is an absolute humdinger, I have to say and that I have to wait until Nov 20th for that season to be released on DVD is torture. At least I have two season of Deadwood to occupy me in the meantime and season 5 of 24 is out on Nov 6th. TV whore? Me?

In other news, I attended a preview screening of The History Boys this morning. Now, some of you will be aware that I managed to miss this play with the original cast on both sides of the Atlantic, so the movie is a nice consolation prize. I loved it. It's beautifully written and the fact that the original cast are all in the movie obviously means the performances are all spot on. I was distracted by just how enormous Richard Griffiths has gotten though. I was entranced by Frances De La Tour, her effortlessness and her indescribably wonderful voice. As for the boys, well Samuel Barnett was as glorious as I had heard he was and of course, Dominic Cooper was a sensation. But he's mine, MINE, do you hear me? I have loved him since he made his stage debut in Mother Clap's Molly House about 5 years ago. The scene where he seduces Stephen Campbell Moore's Irwin was so intense I could barely stand it. The transition to the screen isn't 100% successful though. The ending probably works well in the theatre but the transition is so blatantly theatrical that it doesn't quite cut it on film. On the whole, I have to say the film has left me with an unshakeable feeling of profound melancholy. Which is no bad thing.

This week, I get to see the first post opening night performance of the new Cabaret revival followed by the first preview of Caroline, Or Change. I am so very excited. I'm seeing them with a dear friend who has recently been in NYC so we have a lot of catching up to do. I can't wait. It'll be a welcome relief as work has been so very harsh this past week. Lots of nasty problems to be dealing with and I have clashed more than once with people in higher positions than me into the bargain. Fun.