The Three Sisters

Last night I went to the Odyssey Theatre, in Los Angeles, to see a production of Chekhov's Three Sisters; now people might not like Chekhov or might not like the play Three Sisters but I'm really glad I went.

It had been a long time since I saw any Chekhov and now that I'm older and a lot wiser it was easier for me to understand.

I remember seeing Chekhov plays when I was at drama school and didn't understand a word; nothing seemed to happen apart from a load of talking; how wrong I was.

The play last night had fourteen actors and actresses in and most of them gave excellent performances; a lot of the cast appear on TV and in films on a regular basis and it goes to show that there is a lot of talent here in Los Angeles.

Now I'm not going to write a review of the play but I could see at this lofty age that it was about the deterioration of the aristocracy in Russia being taken over by the bourgeoisie; there are a couple of servants in the play who were treated very well by the master and mistresses of the household but when the brother of the three sisters of the title married a middle class woman she treated the servants terribly; the upper classes would call their servants by name and their middle class successors by their job – as per this wonderful poem on the subject; read the explanation too (if anybody is out there reading).

"HOW TO GET ON IN SOCIETY" (1958), BY JOHN BETJEMAN
A devastatingly witty poem in which Betjeman mocks the nouveau riche middle class. The narrator is shockingly pretentious, yet uses a vulgar vocabulary. The final stanza provides the final evidence that, pronounced correctly, scone should rhyme with "gone".
soiling the doileys with afternoon tea-cake and scones.

Phone for the fish knives, Norman
As cook is a little unnerved;
Your kiddies have crumpled the serviettes
And I must have things daintily served.
Are the requisites all in the toilet?
The frills round the cutlets can wait
Till the girl has replenished the cruets
And switched on the logs in the grate.
It's ever so close in the lounge dear,
But the vestibule's comfy for tea
And Howard is riding on horseback
So do come and take some with me
Now here is a fork for your pastries
And do use the couch for your feet;
I know what I wanted to ask you-
Is trifle sufficient for sweet?
Milk and then just as it comes dear?
I'm afraid the preserve's full of stones;
Beg pardon, I'm soiling the doileys
With afternoon tea-cakes and scones.