The Deep Blue Sea

A play by Terence Rattigan starring Greta Scacchi and Simon Williams at the Vaudeville Theatre. This playwright went out of fashion - but like many others needs to get far more coverage in the West End - because the themes touched upon in this play are universal and contemporary. The play opens in a seedy flat in 1950s London. Hester is discovered after a failed suicide attempt. She has left her successful (but dull) judge husband in favour of exciting younger WWII fighter pilot ace who cannot commit to anything at all. Both know that the relationship cannot work - but neither can face up to ending it - except by suicide or totally reckless behaviour. The house contains several interesting people (the struck off German Jewish doctor, the landlay with immense common sense, the young married couple finding little to keep their marriage on the straight and narrow) who all contribute advice. The acting was excellent, and although the play is a touch melodramatic for modern tastes it still interests and entertains. Rating: 8/10

God of Carnage

A play at the Gielgud Theatre starring Ralph Fiennes, Tasmin Greig, Janet McTeer and Ken Stott. I was so glad I had this recommended to me - by two totally different sources. It a French play by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton (a wonderful pedigree then) and centres on the veneer of middle class respectability that is so easily punctured. Janet McTeer is a very caring liberal mother who is shocked when her son is hit by a stick wielding son of Ralph Fiennes' high flying lawyer currently defending a pharmaceutical company's latest, dubious pain relief 'cure'. He spemds most of the evening arguing on a mobile phone - how many people do we know like that? During the summit meeting between the two sets of parents things quickly fall apart as each oscillate between conciliation and aggression, desire to apportion blame, and escape labelling as a bad parent. Far from supporting one another Tasmin Greig and Ken Stott (respective wife and husband) regularly put the boot in to both their spouses and the opposing couple. Middle class pretentions are lampooned and laid bare - but not in the usual obvious semi-envious way much beloved of the comedians of the 1980s and 1990s, there isn't much ridicule. The intensity is maintained throughout the whole on act production, and this is very funny - probably because it is realistic - we all know people who are either exactly like one (or all) of these characters, or we ourselves contain enough elements as to make the humour slightly uneasy. Well wort seeing - even if Ralph Fiennes did appear to be doing an impression of Leonard Rossiter from time to time. Rating: 9/10

New Challenges to Security

I seem to have got myself on the mailing list of the Smith Institute, a think tank founded in commemoration of the late Labour Party Leader John Smith. His death led to Tony Blair taking

over as Leader and subsequently becoming Prime Minister. A while ago I attended a talk by Margaret Beckett (then Foreign Secretary) at 11 Downing Street. This time Jacqui Smith was talking on security matters at a hotel just round the corner from New Scotland Yard. Politicians always look different in the flesh, and there is a steely gaze emanating from Ms Smith that fixes you and almost dares you to contradict, but it also gives you the impression that she is taking in what you say. I had an opportunity to fall under that gimlet eye after her fascinating talk, also attended by David Steel, Baroness Jay and allegedly wavering MP Keith Vaz whose acolyte insisted on answering her mobile phone whilst the Secretary of State was flawlessly delivering her lecture. This was ahead of the vote on 42 days detention - Keith ended up supporting the government - did this speech persuade him? I was glad Jacqui Smith didn't just bang on about combating terrorism with draconian powers, she delved into the nature and difficulties of dealing with al-heida and how Islamist undercurrents provide challenges to democracies. She praised the efforts of those within youthful Muslim groups who were developing leadership skills for the next generation to help them to work within and alongside British institutions. So not exactly what I had expected, and far more thought provoking than the usual soundbites beloved of the media.