At the theatre last night I saw . .

The Price by Arthur Miller
Bolton Octagon

Didn't even know about this Arthur miller play, though I have seen his other big ones. The Director at Bolton Octagon worked with Miller for a while, so he clearly enjoys, and is skilful at directing his plays. He did a marvellous version of 'All my sons' not so long ago. This play got 5 out of 5 in the Guardian. Not sure I would have given it that - some of the dialogue was long and drawn out, but, as we reflected, Arthur Miller's plays do revolve around intense dialogue between family members, often. In this way he exposes layers of the relationship, and introduces new meanings and understandings, and revelations.
This play is about two brothers. They haven't seen each other for many years due to a rift. One brother stayed at home to look after ailing and broken father, while the other was thus freed to pursue a successful and lucrative career as a surgeon. Now they are selling off the house contents, and meet each other. It is, I think, about the way we all carry a different version of events round with us that might distort how we carry on. Different truths. It is about choice - do we choose to be carers or are we obliged to be? It is about motives - why do we pursue success, or why do we take risks, or stay safe?

The theatre was packed, which is great, for a serious, not well-know play.

Just finished reading . . .

'Where or When' by Anita Shreve (1993) (audio - book)

8 out of 10

I have a very bad memory, and so I was half way through the first CD of this, when I realised I had listened to it before. Paul had got it me from the library, along with 'Sunnyside' by Glen David Gold.
I had read 'Carter beats the Devil' by Glen David Gold, and loved it, but I couldn't listen to Sunnyside in the car - too many characters, too many bizarre, unimaginable scenarios - it might be an excellent book, but not for accident-free driving. So I welcomed a re-read of Anita Shreve.

I think 'Where or When' is a considerable achievement. Anita S manages to enable the 2 main characters to be young teenagers and middle-aged people in parallel. All credit to the person who read the book for the recording, for carrying this off well. It is about fate, love, what-ifs. It is about finding happiness too late.

And now (having completely, but temporarily abandoned my alphabetical order rule) I have begun to listen to 'Wolf Hall' by Hilary Mantel. I have read this, not too long ago, and found it to be almost perfect. I am happy to face its length and complexities on car journeys, because I already know it. I will savour its language, I will immerse myself in Tudor England, I will ride the highs and lows with Thomas Cromwell, trying to understand his personality. I won't want to get out of the car.

In real life, I am absorbed in a real book - 'Sylvia's Lovers' by Elizabeth Gaskell. The title makes it sound a little racey but it was published in 1863 so it isn't.