Saturday 8 June 2019

El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Series 3: Episode 11 — Tiempo de verbena/Time of Verbena — A Review

8th June, 2019.


Right … 

Tea, drunk …



Chocolate … ?

Eaten.

Although I’m not sure that’s necessarily a good thing.

At any rate, right now?

I have to confess to the strangest thing.

I’ve got one of Spotify’s ambient playlist’s on in the background.

Weirdly?

Their Train Sounds list.

Weird … because the front window’s open: and I live next to a train line … !

Weird, yes.

But also soothing.


Sue me, already.

~≈§≈~

At any rate: it’s another night off.

Which, given I’m unemployed?   Is possibly unsurprising.

What’s equally unsurprising … ?

Is that I’ve managed to keep myself occupied, these past few weeks, watching TV shows.

The current favourite … ?


And yes … 

It’s looking good, tonight … 

~≈§≈~

Episode 11 — Tiempo de verbena/Time of Verbena* — sees Angustias (Francesca Piñón) finally taken some much earned holiday: and finally off to the zarzuela†, La verbena de la Paloma.

Only to find out it’s been cancelled: two days before opening night.

Angustias, Lola (Macarena García) and Pacino (Hugo Silva)?

Have to make sure the show goes on.

Whilst making sure Angustias doesn’t sing … !

Back at base?



Back at base, Salvador (Jaime Blanch) has to get the amnesiac Marta (Belén Fabra) to talk …



AND get information out of the unkillable Arteche (Agus Ruiz).

There’s only one soldier for the job … 



Alonsoª … 

This … ?



Could be tricky … 

~≈§≈~

Now … 

I’ll admit to feeling less tired than I was, last night: quite happily finding myself concentrating a little more easily on Tiempo de verbena.

And, I have to say, it’s another blinder.

Wit, comedy … 

And the usual strong performances.

I have to make another confession, here.

Both Macarena García and Hugo Silva, did well in tonight’s episode: with me getting the feeling the pair were providing their own singing.

But frankly?

My nod goes to Nacho Fresneda, as the quick tempered tercio, Alonso.

Tiempo de verbena?

Saw one hell of a performance.

Tiempo de verbena, and indeed, El Ministerio del Tiempo wouldn’t be the same without him!






*        Apparently?   The word, verbena translates as “Fair.”   Saying that?   The English language translation of this episode’s title — according to Wikipedia, anyway — is Time of Verbena.   According to the episode?   The cast have to intervene in the performance of The Paloma Fair.  Or possibly The Virgin of Paloma’s Fair.   This could be one of those nights … 



†        If I’ve understood things correctly?   A zarzuela is a light comic operetta, or musical.   The Spanish equivalent of anything by Gilbert and Sullivan, and just as influential a form‡.


‡        There’s a throw-away line in Terry Pratchett’s Monstrous Regiment: when Lieutenant Blouse says “You should see my Yum Yum^.”   It’s only now, when I’ve read the cast of characters of The Mikado, that I find out she’s a pivotal character ….



^        Stop sniggering at the back!

ª        Played, as ever, by Nacho Fresneda.

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