Step into the world

It is quite rare for us to attend an opening night at the theatre. In fact, I can’t remember the last time it happened. But that’s what we did tonight. At the Stockholm opera house, no less, we watched Sweeney Todd open its curtain (or scrim, really) for the first time this run.

Obviously, we have had many first nights ourselves. I know the feeling of first night nerves, the things that go wrong, the cues missed, the lights that go dark. It was always great to have that opening night done and out of the way. I’m sure they felt the same way tonight after the curtain calls.

There were a few technical hitches with the sound – mikes not coming on, sound levels below that of the orchestra – and a few spots where people got in each other’s way, but the clincher was when Mrs Lovett felt the need to gesture wildly into the wings because the set needed changing and no-one was there to do it. As Mirinda said, she took her stage manager duties very seriously. Then there was the door that refused to open, allowing Joanna to escape the lunatic asylum.

But it wasn’t just the show that had issues. Our day was not without some travel hitches, as well.

We caught a multitude of buses in and out of Stockholm. On one of them, I was first at the door, but it refused to open. I frantically looked around for a button to press but there was none. An older lady behind me, firmly advised that I should “Step into the world!” Instinctively, I reached forward; the door opened, and I did, indeed, step into the world. The one at Kungsträdgården.

Then there was the lack of bus connection on the way home. Actually, the 57 and the 4 were excellent with no wait between them but then we just missed the 875 and caught the 802 instead, meaning a bit of a chilly wait at the closed Tyresö Centrum for the final bus home.

But those were all just minor bumps in an otherwise splendid day.

The day could be broken up into a meal with our entrée being a visit to the National Museum, the main course being an amazing dinner at Mathias Dahlgren’s Matbaren, and, finally, a rich dessert at the Opera House.

The food at Matbaren (above) was exceptional. Honestly. Anyone having a meal there really, really needs to try the Scandinavian sashimi. Your taste buds will truly thank you. Also, it might look empty in the above photo but, believe me, it was packed by the time we left for the Opera.

Which brings me back to The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Sweeney is my favourite musical. I like to see it whenever a new production makes it possible. Mirinda spotted it while checking out the Stockholm ballet 2023 season. She booked two tickets. I am so glad she did.

The last production I saw (2011) starred Michael Ball as the eponymous anti-hero, and he wasn’t very good. You can read my review here. There was no such issue tonight with Ola Eliasson. He was excellent with the right amount of brooding menace tempered with humour and appeal. And he was ably assisted with a fantastic performance by Karolina Blixt as Mrs Lovett. She was tremendous.

Previously, my favourite Mrs Lovetts have been Imelda Staunton and Angela Lansbury. And now I must add a third. I can’t really separate them as they all bring different things to the role, but they were all superb.

Apart from a couple of exceptions, the rest of the cast was very good, particularly Vivianne Holmberg who was a delightfully, doll like and dippy Joanna. And the deliciously evil Judge Turpin played beautifully by Jeremy Carpenter. Mirinda thought he was horribly evil.

But enough of Sweeney. The day also included a visit to the National Gallery which we both enjoyed. Mind you, I’d already visited the permanent collection the last time we were here, but it was all new to Mirinda.

I rather enjoyed the fact that all the one way arrows had disappeared and little side rooms were open, rather than the covid restricted rules during 2020/21, that saw a lot of annoying obstructions. Now people just wander all over the place. Which is excellent.

At the beginning of January, the Swedish government decided to make all museums in their remit charge for entry. They used to be like London: free except for exhibitions. But no more. Not that I mind. I will always go to a museum. Mind you, I won’t if I can’t afford it, but that’s not happened yet and, the new charging means you can visit the exhibitions as well at no extra charge. Given that’s the usual reason I go to museums, it won’t make a lot of difference to me.

Once Mirinda had spent enough time perusing paintings, we stepped outside, into a very cold evening. The sun had all but vanished behind Soder and a strange light was reflected off a hazy bit of cloud. It was a very odd, almost ethereal vision. No doubt, the sort of thing that made the ancients believe there was a higher power.

The photo doesn’t do it justice.