Let me start with the summary: last weekend was one of the best weekends I’ve ever had.
If you missed the last post and don’t feel like going back to it, I booked a ticket for the Old Vic Theatre’s 200th birthday party at the last minute, after finding out via Twitter that Tim Minchin was going to be part of the show.
For this special occasion The Old Vic replaced the chairs in the stalls with tables and chairs around them. I shared a table with four people who go to the Old Vic regularly. The lady on my right was a bad-ass lawyer who used to date a Dutch man, so we had plenty to talk about. The lady left of me also booked her ticket after she found out Tim would be performing. We were very close to the stage, they were great seats.
The evening started with chicken pie and a piece of the very fancy Old Vic cake, and it got even better after that. Literally every act was brilliant, the Old Vic celebrated this special birthday in style.
Despite the energy and brilliance of the other acts there was a buzz when Tim came on. Or maybe that was just me. He played four songs. Two new ones that can already be found on Youtube (illegally, sorry), one old one (F# for the Tim fans reading this) and one that he just finished that day. It was special to see the songs being performed live and to hear a completely new song. I tried to take a sneaky photo of Tim performing, so that I wouldn’t forget what it was like, but I’m not good at being sneaky and the photo I took is further evidence of that.
After the show I started to leave the theatre when I changed my mind. I decided I might as well try to get as much out of the weekend as possible and waited to see if I would be able to get a photo with Tim. He did eventually come out and as soon as I saw him there was already a line of other people waiting for their chance of a picture with him. I have no idea where they had been up until that point, it seemed like they appeared at the same time he did. He was very patient. I’d assume he would also have wanted to get to his friends and talk to them, but he took the time for everyone that wanted to talk to him. He didn’t rush at all.
I didn’t take a lot of his time, because that’s the type of person I am. On some level I’m a bit disappointed that I didn’t talk to him for a bit longer. I’m sure he would have allowed it. But I’m also glad that I was (relatively) respectful of his time. I can’t imagine having to talk to a long line of strangers after a work day. I don’t think they would like me much..
I also got my picture. Some of my friends commented that it looks like we could be brother and sister and I like that idea.
To be honest, I’m only writing this because I promised in my previous post that I would. But I can’t write well enough to do it justice. It sounds too clinical or over the top.
I have a relatively quiet and drama-free life, I’m not used to the four-day adrenaline rush from last weekend. Nor am I used to admiring someone in the way that I admire Tim. And I can’t explain it. The music of Groundhog Day and Matilda is beautiful and funny and smart. The comedy is thought provoking and hilarious. The podcasts are the best company in rush hour traffic and are motivating in many different ways.
But the fact that I haven’t been able to convince any of my friends of the brilliance of Tim is a clear sign of my failure to communicate.
My inability to put my feelings into words can be frustrating. I want to be a good writer and I have a need to talk about what’s going on inside me. At times, when emotions are running high and I can’t create a coherent sentence quick enough, the feelings come out in tears, like steam from a kettle. Not a very practical format for sharing with a wider audience.
Anyway, I enjoyed being a bit audacious last week. It made me feel childish and grownup at the same time. And as my boldish moves were rewarded with great experiences I will try to take a bit more risk more often.
Kalliope's Journey 