The Goat or Who is Sylvia?

At lunch today, I had a fond memory of a most interesting play, The Goat or Who is Sylvia that I caught in New York about 4 years ago. There I also got to meet Bill Pullman (male lead) and Edward Albee - award winning playwright of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? This was his new play in a while.

The play came to the West End shortly after....but, back to my encounter - you see I really wanted to know (still do!) how the couple ended up. The lights went out & curtains came down just at the most crucial moment. A Q&A with the playwright followed but my question remained unanswered - largely because I didn't want to appear gauche in front of all these intellectuals asking all these esoteric questions about structure, form and etc.

So dashed out after the session ended and ambushed Edward Albee whilst he was getting into his limo. Poor guy probably thought I was after his autograph but I really just wanted to know what was on his mind - do they resolve things or not?!!

Won't spoil the play for you by revealing too much about the bone of contention although I may have already by revealing that there is no conclusion as such.

''Ah, who's to know?'' was his enigmatic reply.

So I decided to try the male lead - how did he feel the moment the lights cut out, would he accept what she had done? Bill Pullman was both illuminating and infuriating ;-) Different nights/performances, arouse different feelings and different thoughts at that particular juncture.

Talk about a play that has the power to make you think and reminisce even after 4 years.

Do you have a favourite play?

Plays, Musicals or TV ;-)

I love plays. Especially those that make you think. Art, Lifex3, Blue/Orange, The Goat or Who is Sylvia are a couple that spring to mind.

When I first came to London, I lived in a place with no television...so I caught a lot of theatre. Now back then I thought I was only going to be here a short-time (afterall I was dying to get to the Continent and start my backpacking adventures) so saw as much as I could. I think I must have seen about 18 plays/musicals in a 3 week period. Probably would have been cheaper to have bought a TV!

London - theatre heaven (although in recent years they seem to be relying more on Hollywood star power to draw in the crowd than well-written/acted plays)! Well, compared to Australia at least where in Sydney - you may get a new production in Theatre Royal once every 2 years? I remember the Phantom of the Opera played for the longest time. Of course in the 6 years since I have been away, I hear that more theatre spaces have sprung up in the meantime.

Still, much prefer plays to musicals. Musicals tend to be too syrupy and happy...Plays on the other hand (the good ones that is) actually make you think and stay with you much longer than little musical ditties. DH would probably interject at this point and accuse me of being a snob. Now, of course I have been disappointed by plays but not as often as I have been by musicals.

So what is your preference - Plays or Musicals?

Tracing family tree

DH just doesn't understand why I am so enthralled with his family's history....

His dad can trace his family all the way back to the 1500s! There is even a museum in Switzerland with the entire tree with all the various branches. Apparently the Weiersmullers were the founding members of that town. There was even a 'family' reunion 10 years ago.

I am the very first Chinese Weiersmuller. Upon receipt of our marriage certificate, I will be added to this family tree and recorded for posterity in this museum in Suhr.

We were on Skype & just narrowing it down to Switzerland, we have made a connection with another random Weiersmuller who has the same great grandfather as DH!

DH is really very fortunate, as are all those of you with an easily traceable heritage. I don't think that there is an ancestry page for Chinese people - if I am wrong, please do write and let me know! I mean there must be like a few million Chens out there.

My mother's father was an only son whose father died when he was very young. I deeply regret not finding out more about his family when he was still with us. Plus he did leave China when he was young so unless I go back to the village where he was from, my hopes of basically finding the rest of that side of my family is pretty tricky.

Last year I sat my granny down and asked her to recall her childhood and family for me. Hmmm....not a particularly successful exercise. Her story is even more confusing. There was lots of cousins sent to live with them, uncles all over the place, etc. plus her memory of her childhood is tenuous at best. She does not seem to have much curiosity about connecting with the rest of her extended family...this could be because she has 10 kids of her own, last count about 18 grandchildren and she hopes one great-grandchild ;-) I tell her to hang on for about 3 more years when she will finally get her wish.

How about you? How far can you trace your family roots and do you have the same curiosity?

More links please

If you have a website or blog, please can I ask you for a favour? Or if you don't have one, do set one up ;-)

Please can you add a link to www.chinasecret.co.uk on your site/blog.....happy to reciprocate!

I am on a mission to improve China's Secret website's search engine rankings, so the more links the better right?

Thanking you in advance for your assistance! You have my eternal gratitude - again.

Summer Holidays

Weird question - the UK is actually really very pleasant when the sun shines. So why do so many people go overseas for Summer hols?

I would rather take a month off to a nice sunny beach during the cold Winter period. I suppose those with families have to take advantage of the school holidays.

How about you? Do you prefer to take your annual holiday during Winter or Summer?

A favour, s'il vous plait

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