Sunday, February 28, 2010

GRAZALEMA - MARCH 18th


Long regarded as one of the prettiest white villages in Andalucia Grazalema is situated just outside our province in Cadiz province. Ronda is quite close by and the Serriana de Ronda provides stunning scenery as we make our way to the village.
These images have come from googling Grazalema on the net and are part of a collection of 168 (but they include some odd ones, Mariano Rajoy anyone?)


During the days of Al Andalus Berbers from the Atlas mountains came to this area and brought with them sheep farming. The legacy today is a woollen industry and a thriving cheese factory which we shall visit



              
                                                  Looks rather nice





Needless to say that the surrounding scenery is stunning so do bring your cameras ( and let me have some pictures for this blog). Pride of joy must go to a local treasure. This is the last area in Spain where you can see the Pinsapo pine.



For those who are townies and only a delightful square with bars and restaurants (and maybe an eighteenth century church) will do how about the main square in Grazalema

Thursday March 18th 9.00
outside SOLBANK - just past the market - cost 30 euros to include tostado and coffee
        lunch
        Gina looking after you.


We have about a dozen bookings already so come and see us on Monday Wednesday or Friday in the morning.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

News and waiting for News

Music Hall  They have braved the weather for the past two weeks to prepare for their big night tonight and let's hope it went well.
Tickets still available for the show until Wednesday.
The Trip. I haven't heard yet how it went but there's some more intrepid members around having gone on the trip on Thursday. The rain wasn't as bad as we had feared so I hope those of you who went had a great time. Dunkirk Spirit eh?

Monday, February 08, 2010

February Committee report

The Anniversary Booklet which FOTA has sponsored is now into its second printing. That means another 208 copies to be sold but with a new outlet in Woodys in Los Boliches and copies still going during the run of shows and at the desk we are optimistic that all will be well.


We had a very successful lunch  at Casa Rustica in January. Members attending were impressed with the food and the value and then contributed 64€ to the raffle. We are back there again this month and bookings are being taken at the desk.


By last Tuesday 27 had booked for trip to see the Almond Blossoms Scenery and Wildlife of the Genal Valley. I have had a couple of phone calls as well so I hope that when I do the desk on Wednesday we shall be nearly there. If you haven't booked it is getting close to make your mind up time. I did the trip a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I guess I ought to take my own advice and get organised if I want to go again!


The Treasurer presented his report and as a result we have agreed to hand over another 2000 euros to SALVA. There will be another 2000 plus when we can close the Bank account which we hope to do shortly. There is only one authorised signatory left from the early days when it was set up and as soon as she returns we shall sort this out.


Any Other Business produced one little item. At the last Christmas Bazaar we were given a new and very good food processor/mixer which was to go on the white elephant stall. We decided, however, that it was too good for the sort of offers such occasions generate and Helen Young became custodian of it in the hope that we could sell it separately. If you would like a super piece of kitchen equipment and think this might be it come and see us at the desk.


Still two nights left to see  Entertaining Mr Sloane. very good audience reaction so far so treat yourself to a funny but dark black comedy. Tonight and Tuesday at 8.00. FOTA members discount tonight



Monday, February 01, 2010

Entertaining Mr Sloane. This weekend



Entertaining Mr Sloane opens this Friday at the theatre for a five night run as you have probably seen from the publicity in the local papers.

The play first premiered in 1964 and established Joe Orton as one of the most important writers of farce in the 20th century. This was not immediately apparent to the audiences of the time who had to adjust to a very different take on farce.  Despite Orton’s professed admiration for Pinter as the only English playwright worth his salt it was Sir Terence Rattigan who recognized a major talent he admired and came to the rescue with both financial and critical support which ensured the play’s success.  Pinter's influence on Orton didn't hinder him developing his own distinctive style. An Ortonesque farce is one that turns grotesque, explicitly sexual and purposefully shocking. They are satires on the hypocrisy and cruelty of middle class England  full of self mockery, frank lust, exaggerated fantasy and a little casual brutality. They are also very funny.
Sloane is a young, attractive man who is invited home as a lust object/surrogate son by Kath. Her father, Kemp, recognizes him as the youth who may have murdered his last employer meanwhile her brother Ed would like to take him under his wing and employ him as a live in chauffeur and….
Sloane manipulates this situation to his advantage playing parlour power games with a sadistic relish but in attempting to manipulate brother and sister to his advantage he ends as their victim. Or does he? In this battle for territory has he manipulated the situation to his own advantage? 
The play has been described as wild, witty and utterly heartless. In this production the director is Peter Mitchell and the cast is Lizz Freeman, John David Gale, Francis Butler and Graham Cherry. Despite the first four names and the title, if you have got this far you will know it is not a musical.

This post shows in February. Don't forget to look at the last post in January for details of our visit to the Almond Blossoms and spectacular scenery of the Genal Valley