vivdunstan

Update today from the Good Omens graphic novel Kickstarter, as they finally address the huge elephant in the room, and the Neil Gaiman sexual assault allegations. They're reopening refund offers temporarily, and he won't be benefiting financially from the Kickstarter. It's still fraught, but that has calmed a lot of people's nerves. I plan (and did before today) to continue receiving my pledge. Because the original book was mostly written by Terry Pratchett. I feel very sorry for Rhianna Pratchett and Rob Wilkins having to deal with this, as well as the graphic novel artist Colleen Doran who is dealing with cancer throughout this. But yes, I'm still getting my book, and will be keeping it. Along with the Tadfield village mug I ordered as an add-on. Because of Pterry.

Finished watching theatre performances "London Tide" and "Prima Facie" using my National Theatre at Home subscription.

The former was a valiant attempt to adapt Charles Dickens's "Our Mutual Friend" into under three hours, but for me it was unsuccessful, stripping out too much of the plot, characters and themes, and changing the ending a lot. Some of the performances were excellent, especially Bella Maclean as Bella Wilfer, Tom Mothersdale as John Rokesmith, and a quite superb young Ellie-May Sheridan as Jenny Wren. But the songs by PJ Harvey and Ben Power were an overlong distraction, generally terribly dirge like, and I'd happily have done without them.

Prime Facie sees an ambitious defence lawyer finds herself on the other side of the court, as a rape victim. It's a one woman play, with Jodie Comer playing the lawyer, and also retelling and acting out the other characters. It is an utterly devastating performance, which is horrific to watch, and I marvel that she managed to play this night after night, without even a full interval in the middle. Unsurprisingly Jodie Comer won both the Olivier and Tony awards for best actress in this role. A quite astonishing 100 minutes of acting.

After just one series. Radio Times report.

Not surprising, not least given the quagmire of accusations circling around Neil Gaiman since July. Which are continuing to produce new ones.

That's also why we haven't rushed to watch it to be fair ...

Sandman and Good Omens TV series may be safer. To be fair Good Omens just needs one more series. And it has been commissioned. Sandman has finished filming season 2 I think.