Taking cover

Thanks so much for the kindness, you lovely crew!

Whereas I ran away from all the attention to a field in Wiltshire to see my first bit of live theatre in 18 months. She Stoops to Conquer's silly plot depends on heavy-handed class and gender inequality but although a modern audience recognises its crassness (even if we fail to see the more insidious contemporary versions) the company totally succeeded in engaging us. Partly through knowing humour and partly through some fun improvisation, especially in the second half when a downpour so heavy that all the actors and half the audience were drenched and those of us sitting under the marquee couldn't hear the words for the percussion above us.

It was a fun evening and I think the actors were as pleased as the audience to be in each others company again, at last.