Merthyr Imp

Into 1991, and February saw a new Francis Durbridge thriller. Theatre only a quarter full, perhaps due to Patrick Mower being the only 'name' in the cast. Needless to say I can't remember anything of it. Back cover:

That's a good one. The Barton would have been on route 12 to Leicester. Re Photobucket, this is photo missing from #137: And this is from #135:

The Nottingham Suburban Railway (although that was more than 50 years ago).

Opera North together with the RSC presented 'Show Boat', which was marvellous stuff.. Theatre was between three quarters and 100% full so I had to sit in my Balcony seat. A local restaurant cashed in: Opera North in their own right were than back again later in October. I settled just for seeing 'La Traviata' (theatre all but full) even though it was in Italian.

There was the usual summer season of thrillers, but I only saw two of them in 1990. I remember 'Dangerous Corner' as a very good play but can't recall much of the plot: A just under half full theatre for this Francis Durbridge thriller: Back covers:

Apparently the first McDonald's in Britain opened in 1974, but I don't know when they began to take over from Wimpy Bars in popularity.

There used to be a laundromat on Mansfield Road in Sherwood in the early/mid01960s. If I remember right the machines took half crowns, then there were spin dryers (threepenny bits) and tumble driers (sixpences).

May 1990, and Opera North's visit saw 'Don Pasquale' by Donizetti and a double bill of 'L'Heure Espagnole' by Ravel and Puccini's 'Gianni Schicchi'. Then it was D'Oyly Carte time at the end of the month with three visits for me - 'The Mikado', and new productions of 'The Pirates of Penzance' and a double bill of 'H.M.S Pinafore' and 'Trial by Jury'. Encouraging attendances, with not far short of a full house for 'Pinafore/Trial'.

At the beginning of May I ventured to see Nottingham Operatic as they were doing 'Orpheus in the Underworld'. Don't remember anything of it, but there was sadly not a very good house - less than a quarter full.

April 1990 and an Ayckbourn comedy. I remember bits of this one - something to do with a robot woman. Theatre was only a quarter full and my Balcony ticket was good for a Stalls seat.

The next month saw an adaptation of the noted novel: Back cover:

Only 3 points clear of the relegation zone. Not looking good.

February 1990 and another play forgotten by me. Quite well attended at just under half full, but as usual I was in the Upper Circle with a Balcony ticket.

Later in September 1989 was another thriller. As usual, I can remember nothing about it, but I'm surprised to note the theatre was not far short of full, so for once I had to sit in the seat I'd paid for. Back cover:

For some reason I only saw two out of the usual four plays in the summer season of thrillers. I do remember 'The Ghost Train' because they rather sent it up, playing for laughs. While it was enjoyable I thought it was rather a shame the play wasn't seen as able to stand on its own merits as a thriller. For both plays the theatre was about one quarter full.

The following week saw another of those plays about which I remember nothing. Only a quarter full, my Balcony ticket got me into the Upper Circle as usual.

The following month saw an adaptation of the classic novel. The main thing I remember about is being almost the only man in the audience. Theatre was about a third full.

Why - was it Minnie Caldwell?

What I find uncomfortable about 'Terminus' is the way they got the little boy to cry - it was all staged, and he really thought he had been abandoned by his mother. Apparently a lot of the film was staged rather than just being film of actual events.

Opera North were back again at the beginning of June when I saw 'The Marriage of Figaro' and Mussorgsky's ' Boris Godunov'. What I remember of the latter was the outstanding singing of John Tomlinson (now Sir John) in the title role. This was followed by the new D'Oyly Carte company with two old favourites. Encouragingly, for 'The Mikado' the theatre was nearly full, and for 'Pirates' it was better than three quarters.

May saw the visit of what was effectively a one-woman show, no doubt very popular with touring managements. I thought it was very good, although I've never bothered to see the film.

I understood it was only the sale of NEW petrol and diesel cars that was going to be banned from 2040. Nothing about existing vehicles (or anything else) having to be taken out of use.

April 1989 saw the visit of Opera North and 'The Marriage of Figaro' for me (theatre almost full) but I gave 'Manon' a miss as it was done in French. The next month there was a classic play about which I can remember nothing. Theatre was a respectable half full:

At the end of the month was the Noel Coward classic. Something else that's gone from the memory despite the presence of Peggy Mount. Good old Gerald Flood back again with some other TV names, but the theatre was no more than a third full.

In February a Shaw comedy, which I think was a little less wordy than some of his others. This is the play on which the musical 'The Chocolate Soldier' was based. No 'names' in the cast, but just under one third full, with my Balcony ticket as usual meaning the Upper Circle.