Amanda came to London! Naturally we kicked things off properly with a theatrical double-header:

First, a new production of Noel Coward’s Present Laughter at the Old Vic, a storied old theatre on the south side of the Thames.

Andrew Scott (think Moriarty and Hot Priest) was in the lead and he was just wonderful. He’s one of my favourite amongst the younger set of British actors. And the play was classic Coward, full of hilarious lines and an undercurrent of darkness.

From there over to Covent Garden and the Royal Opera House for La Fille du Regiment. I knew a couple of arias from the opera and nothing about the rest or the singers. But boy, what a delight! The opera was light and fun and only just barely this side of Gilbert and Sullivan. And the singers were perfect. Both the soprano and the tenor had lovely voices and by the end of the night had the audience wrapped around their fingers. After the famous “Ah, mes amis” aria, everyone went wild until the tenor sang it again!! I do love an encore. It feels like Christmas morning.