Johnblog

Memories of British politics during The Winter of Discontent of 1978-79 came back to me as I watched The House, an amazingly good play about the fall of the Labour Government in a no-confidence vote in 1979. The play’s focus is on the backroom boys of British politics – the Whips.

The Whips were kept busy as Labour had a minority government and needed to win over the smaller parties – known as the “odds and sods” to their side. It was a fascinating look at politics from a time I remember. I was on strike for ages during the provincial newspaper strike of 78-79, standing on a picket line in the snow for hours.

The UK Telegraph reviewer liked it:

. . . an astonishingly assured account of the compromised mixture of ambition and idealism in politics

The government could have been saved, but the Labour deputy chief whip, Walter Harrison, took an honourable decision not to call in an MP from his deathbed. He also refused the offer of a “pair” from his opposite number, Bernard Weatherill, because it would have ended Weatherill’s political career. Weatherill went on to be Speaker of the House for nine years.

Labour fell, Maggie Thatcher stormed into power and things changed a lot!

We watched a matinee performance of the play on screen at the Dendy cinema on Circular Quay – one of the National Theatre Live productions. It’s a good way to see a play, but it would have been wonderful to be in the theatre to see it live. It was a big cast of some very assured and familiar British actors.

Afterwards, we (John, Jan, Viv, Eunice) had a bite to eat in one of the outdoor restaurants nearby with a splendid view to the Harbour Bridge. Vivid was on, and as the sun went down we were able to watch some of the light displays again. The crowds grew and grew until there was logjam! We escaped, but on the drive home noted lengthy traffic jams as more people headed in to the city for Vivid.

Jan, John, Viv and Chris had a lovely time wandering around Sydney’s Vivid festival. The festival says:

Sydney will once again be transformed into a spectacular canvas of light, music and ideas

And it was! We ate first at Firefly, that wonderful tapas bar on the wharf promenade at Walsh Bay, then wandered past the installations all the way around Circular Quay to the Opera House.

There were quirky items such as the grand piano that lit up in different colours when it was played and a flexy mirror that distorted to follow your movements as well as spectacular projections on the sails of the Opera House and the facades of the Customs House and Museum of Contemporary Art.  

There were lots of people walking around, locals and tourists, and plenty of keen photographers with hefty tripods to capture the effects.

Chris had a new stereo camera and took some great shots. He showed them later on his 3D TV at home.

I joined Viv, Chris and Eunice to see a National Theatre production of Alan Bennett’s latest play, People. Thanks to the magic of technology we saw the play on the screen at the Dendy cinema near the Opera House.

It’s supposed to be a live performance beamed direct, but unless the play was being performed at 3am London time, this was a recording!

The NT website says: “Satellites allow the productions to be broadcast live, without delay, to cinemas throughout the UK as well as many European venues. Other venues view the broadcasts ‘as live’ according to their time zone, or at a later date.”

This is a very funny, witty and bitingly satirical play. Frances de la Tour stars as a Lady living in a dilapidated stately home and wondering wether to sell it or give it to the National Trust. Excellent stuff. He’s a clever chap, that Bennett.