Birmingham Rep, Saturday, 19th October, 2013.

Wow! That's a sign you don't see very often nowadays. Bodes well.

This is what we've come to see today. We remember the film. It was a goodun.

There's a good cast. Stella even. 

There's that bloke who used to be a professional in the Henry Fonda role. You know the bloke - him wot went to the same school as Vicky and had the same drama teacher and who had before us the very same CBR1000 that we had the loan of from Honda UK to do the 1988 National Rally. Yeah, him.

Then there's that Napoleon Solo-fella wot was in The Magnificent Seven and was in Corrie in more recent times. On top of that there's that not-as-young-as-he-was young actor wot was in that British gangster movie - you know the film, it had that hard-knock midfield-thug footballer in it who now tells ya to sing Stayin' Alive when yer saving someone's life - and was Directed by that English fella who used to be married to that awful American pop star with the conical proverbials. Also, there's a genuine Hollywood star wot was in The Lawnmower Man, Wyatt Earp, and Lost, plus several other thespians who have been in the RSC in their time. So you can say there's definitely a keen sense of anticipation in the air as we take our seats for the performance.

The play certainly lived up to expectations. That's by far the best of the three we have been to see so far this year. As we recall the film was quite dour but this production, while still cranking up the 'anger', has some laugh-out-loud moments as well. I think us English can't help but chortle at Americans tripping themselves up (hoist by their own petard, if you will). Two curtain calls an' all. So, all-in-all, very very good. The time has flown by.

Unfortunately, it is raining now. However, that has given us a chance to have a sit down in the theatre foyer for a few minutes. By the time most of the audience has dispersed four of the cast (including that bloke from Lost who's wearing a typical hat favoured by thespian types) are sat at the next seats from us having a well earned tea and a slice of cake (you can see 'em if you look hard enough at one of the tables in the Rep windows to the left of Vicky's bonce. Go on, have a look, you know you want to). We think about going over and saying how much we enjoyed the performance but bottle it. I mean, thespians aren't motorcycle racers are they.

So rather than walk thru' town (as we planned) to our favourite Italian restaurant (Bella Pasta) and get soaking wet, we simply walk thru' the Convention Centre and eat at Strada, the Italian Restaurant in there. We won't be defeated!

Whilst there two other members of the cast wander in (separately) for a meal. Again we decide not to congratulate them on their performances. It's not the done thing y'know.

After a nice meal it's back to the car park and the drive to Droitwich for the weekly shop just for some contrast.

There you go.