Walking with Family: A Halloween Stroll

Looking North, from below the MillenniuM Footbridge.

Friday 29th October, 2010.

It was an early start for us, as we were going to London with my Mum. The plan was go with her to Queen Square for her appointment, then we would all go around London as a family.

So, we got up, had a coffee and got to my Mums for 9 O'clock. We then booked a taxi to take us to Croxley Station. Then Alysha called. She had evidently changed her mind and wanted to come with us to London.

Wembley Stadium: Saracens v Leinster & Alysha dancing with Tinie Tempah

Ready for Saracens v Leinster.

Saturday October 16, 2010.

The day started well, with me having a bit of a lie-in. Emma had gone to work and Alysha had stayed at a friends the night before, so I had the house to myself. Music on (Iron Maiden), coffee brewing and the day couldn't have started any better. 

I was really looking forward to going to Wembley to watch the Saracens take on Leinster. Also, Alysha was going to be dancing on the pitch at half-time with a 'rapper' named 'Tinie Tempah' and it would be Len's first Rugby match and his first visit to the new Wembley Stadium. (The old Stadium was opened in 1923 and was demolished in 2003. Arsenal played their European Games there from 1998 - 2000. The new Stadium was opened in 2007, over a year later than planned.) 

Len was due round at about 1 O'clock, which gave me ample time to work out what I was going to wear. It took me all of 0.086 seconds to decide on my Irish Rugby shirt. The Saracens are good but, the chance to see people like Shane Horgan, Gordon D'Arcy, Johnny Sexton and Brian O'Driscoll was why I was going to wear my Irish Jersey. 

Well, Len arrived just after Alysha left, (Alysha went with my mum and mum's friend, Soo) at about one-thirty, and we settled down to watch a bit of TV. You see, Film Four were showing the first 10 Star Trek feature films over the course of the weekend. (Five each day). Now, Len and myself like Star Trek so we started watching the first film. 

It wasn't until about two-thirty that we decided that we had better make a move, so we took a stroll to Watford Junction to catch our train. Our train left Watford Junction on time, at 15:21, and it didn't take long to get to Wembley Central. 

Review: 'Judgement at Nuremberg'

'Judgement at Nuremberg' was a play put on by the 'Argosy Players' at the 'Compass Theatre', Ickenham, from 6th-9th October, 2010. 

It was directed by Mr Steve Brown.

The play concerns the trial of four German Judges by three American Judges in Occupied Germany in 1948.

The play began with a short video of the original Nuremberg trials, over which a speech gave an account of the trials and the sentences. The German Judges are accused of Nazi 'Sterilization' and 'Cleansing' Policies and 'War Crimes'. They are Werner Lammpe, Frederick Hoffstetter, Emil Hahn and Dr Ernst Janning. All but one of the Judges plead 'Not Guilty' as Dr Ernst Janning declares that he does not recognise the power of this court. The task of presiding over this trial falls to Judge Dan Haywood and the two Judges who preside with him, Judge Ken Norris and Judge Curtis Ives. Colonel Tad Parker, the prosecutor, makes an opening statement that depicts the defendants as having been willing, accomplices in Nazi atrocities. He is matched by Defense Attorney, Oscar Rolfe, who counters each argument and objection.

It is during an argument between Colonel Tad Parker and Oscar Rolfe that Dr Ernst Janning decides that he can't remain silent and, while still under oath, makes an emotional and heartfelt speech that highlights that the defendants had to make a choice between allegiance to their country and allegiance to their own sense of right and wrong. Even when they realised that Hitler was wrong they still did nothing. This speech damns the defendants. During the closing arguments, Colonel Tad Parker shows some footage from the Liberation of one concentration camp. The shot of bulldozers pushing hundreds of bodies in to pits will stay with me for a while, I think. After the closing arguments, Judge Dan Haywood passes his Judgement and sentences all four to Life imprisonment.

The entire play left me thinking. Thinking about who was really to blame:

Adolf Hitler. Winston Churchill. The Americans. The Vatican. Or was everyone to blame in there own way?!

Stand-out performances for me were, in no particular order:

Glenn Brentnall as Judge Dan Haywood.

Angus Patrick as Colonel Tad Parker.

Andi Tucker as Oscar Rolfe.

Les Broude as Dr Karl Wickert.

Helen Main as Frau Margarete Bertholt.

Tom Hartwell as Rudolph Peterson.

Steve Brown as Dr Ernst Janning.

Stand-out scenes for me were:

The cross examination of Rudolph Peterson by Oscar Rolfe.

Tom Hartwell really pulled off an amazing bit of acting as the man 'Sterilized' on the orders of the accused because his mother was 'feeble-minded.'

The argument between Parker and Rolfe.

This scene was so highly charged that I had the feeling that the two actors, Angus Patrick and Andi Tucker, really meant and believed in what they were saying.

Dr Ernst Janning's speech.

The scene where Dr Ernst Janning finally gives in and makes his impassioned speech, whilst under oath, was superbly and emotionally delivered. The conviction with which Steve Brown delivered his lines held the entire audience.

I came away from this play forgetting that I had just watched an 'amateur' production.

Of the cast I can only say,

'You were exceptional.'

As for the set and back stage crew,

'Keep up the good work.'

And to the Director, Steve Brown, I say,

'For a directorial début, this was incredible. I can't wait to see your next piece of work.'