Like the planet, I feel I’ve been in a big fight and lost — battered, bewildered, and sad. I didn’t listen to CBC radio yesterday, will probably to some extent keep shutting out the news. I just don’t want to hear about it, though I have been reading the stream of pundits in the NYT and other places about what happened and why. Today in the Star, I read that the reprehensible sociopath Elon Musk replaced Melania in a Trump family picture and fear even more, if possible, for that country and our planet.
Cried twice yesterday, but not because of the election. I am writing to urge you to watch Nye, a play produced by England’s National Theatre, which is free, for the next few days only, on YouTube. It’s about Welsh politician Aneurin Bevan, founder of Britain’s National Health Service, which surely inspired blessed Tommy Douglas to push through our own. I had a ticket to see the production in London in April but was so sick, I had to give my seat to a friend. So it was a particularly welcome treat to sit in my kitchen and watch it on my computer.
It’s wonderful. It explores Bevan’s past — a coal miner’s son, he was beaten for stuttering and worked in a coal mine himself before becoming involved in the miner’s union and eventually being elected to government. A charismatic Socialist idealist, he took unpopular positions when he felt they were needed, including a fierce critique of Winston Churchill’s handling of the war that made him after Hitler the most hated man in England. But eventually, we see how he battled the doctors and his own party, including Churchill, to push through universal health care. It’s inspiring, beautifully produced, brilliantly acted by Michael Sheen and others, and more than worth your time.
As a side note, years ago I wrote to the FBI to ask for their files on my father after his death, and eventually received a thick package. One thing I learned from the contents was that whenever he went to the States in the 50s and early 60s, he was followed, and everything he said and did was reported to the FBI by informants. At a university event in Wisconsin in 1953, the fact that he was a voluble supporter of Aneurin Bevan was reported to the FBI as proof of his godless leftie leanings. You go, Dad! Proud of you.
Last night I was on the phone finishing Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson for the boys. A Newbery Medal winner, it has a moving, gorgeously written ending; I had to struggle to keep reading as I wept, and Anna, lying in bed with her boys, wept too. The boys did not. Oh the cathartic joy of books! Then I started our next, Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell. Already, by the third page, unicorns, a girl who can fly, and a murderer. Can’t wait to plunge into that one.
Wednesday was the one-year anniversary of the soft Toronto launch of Midlife Solo, though the official launch by the publisher was in February 2024. The book, strangely, has not made me rich and famous, but the reports from readers have been stellar, and I’m grateful and pleased people like it so much. On Nov. 20 I’m speaking to about 80 members of the Canadian Federation of University Women in Markham. Readers!
We’ve had the mildest fall in memory — 23, 19 — today going down to 13, still pretty warm for November. Hard to complain though of course what it means is actually dire. But in anticipation of an actual winter, I recently bought an indulgence: a heated birdbath for my deck. It’s not so much for them to bathe but to drink, all winter long, and I’ll be able to watch as they dip and tilt their heads up to the sky to swallow.
Recently, tiny quicksilver red-breasted nuthatches have been visiting my feeder. They and their friends will get me through the long, cold and, I’ll do my best though probably won’t succeed, newsless season.
9 Responses to “National Theatre’s Nye, free, on YouTube”
Very interesting, Beth, about the FBI files on your dad. I had just listened to a radio program here about East Germany and the Stasi. As for NYE, I’ll watch it. I love Michael Sheen.
Saturday morning here (cool and very gray), and I’m about to write a blog post entitled “America is about to get dark and very violent”. The Trump nomination is a disaster. Americans had a choice, and half of them chose Trump, women included. It’s shocking. So so glad to be here and not there. I feel sorry for many American women right now.
P.S. Did you notice that one of the most pressing issues – gun control – wasn’t even a political topic?
Little mention of gun control, Juliet – Kamala did mention it a few times – but also the climate crisis – not a mention. Just fine-sounding platitudes on one side and unhinged rage and hate on the other. Well, the US survived a devastating Civil War, let’s hope they’ll survive this. But we’re definitely watching the Fall of the American Empire. PS If you like Michael Sheen, you’ll love Nye.
I’m taking a break from the news, too, Beth. I can’t bear to listen. I’m looking forward to watching The Mirror and the Light, though I guess I’m deluding myself that those days were much different.
OMG, not different now, except that then people lost their actual heads instead of their good sense and their souls. I saw one episode last week and marvelled. The Guardian recommends turning off everything else in your life and “rolling around in it” – acting, direction, script, every detail perfection. Aren’t we lucky. I had a chance to meet Mark Rylance once, in New York, and didn’t because I hardly knew who he was. One of my life’s regrets.
PS I think what I’m watching on PBS on Sundays is the end of the first season, which somehow I missed. I don’t think they’re running the new series over here yet, as it’s just out in England. I realized that because Anne Boleyn is still alive. And she is most definitely not in Season 2.
John thinks we don’t get it until March. I loved Wolf Hall, loved it with such passion. Every detail. And the books, so alive and vital, history in the moment. The last book, The Mirror and the Light, is magnificent and I can’t wait til I can see the series. But wait I’ll have to…
Friends in Canada and, of course, the UK are watching The Mirror and the Light. Can’t get it here in France!
There’s a new movie out, a biopic, with Angelina Jolie playing Maria Callas, it looks very good (see the trailer on YouTube), filmed mainly in Paris.
And this too! Such a big fan of Cate Blanchett. See trailer of DISCLAIMER on YouTube.
Oh, and don’t forget Timothée Chalamet who transforms himself into Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. Can’t wait.
Hi Beth. Just wanted to let you know that my Swiss-Canadian wife finished Midlife Solo yesterday. Quote – She’s a really good writer – unquote. You can consider that quite effusive praise.
Juliet, I started Disclaimer but couldn’t finish – I hate shows where the writers torture the protagonist, even if she’s reprehensible, as the Blanchett character is. I am watching the first season of Wolf Hall, SO GOOD! How do your friends in Canada get it? It won’t be on TV here till next March. I am looking forward to both the other biopix when they get here. Or maybe they are, haven’t checked recently.
And Alan, many thanks to your wife for her succinct words of praise. Please suggest that she tell her friends about the book of the really good writer. It all helps!