It''s so typical - you go for weeks without there being anything particular on the TV, then in one night you have two programmes overlapping.
I began to watch Panorama, about a terrorist attack on London. It started promisingly, although I thought - explosion on northbound Victoria Line train at Vauxhall. Well, I'll be blown up. Then they said it was at half eight in the morning, so I thought - ha, I'd still be at home in my dressing gown. Hmm, the last thing my employer would need that day would be an auditor. So I'd stay home desperately surfing the internet whilst simultaneously channel hopping on the TV.
So I switched over to the South Bank Show, about the RSC's Othello. About Othello in general. Otello is one of my favourite operas, and in my typical ass backwards style I thought it was about time I got to know the play. Interesting programme, although I am not entirely sure it taught me anything I didn't already know. Which is pretty impressive, considering that I haven't ever actually seen the play.
Someone or other was talking about the fact that constantly there is this contrast drawn between the blackness of Othello and the whiteness of Desdemona, which acts as a juxtaposition to the ambiguities and contradictions in the characters and the actors. I remembered that that was something I love about Shakespeare - multiple levels of meaning can be read into what is a relatively simpe play.
Oh, and I have a ticket for this production. Bought yonks ago! I'm so looking forward! Anthony Sher is Iago. He's famous, innit?
There is so much drama in life, in politics, in football, in opera, in Shakespeare. Yet people rave about soaps, and C-list celebs, and Footballers Wives/Bad Girls. How dull! Give me life, politics, opera, and Shakespeare any day.
And blogging of course.
In the coming week I will read all my blog roll, and anyone else who fancies being a linkwhore in this comment box...!
