Actor’s remarks about two of the dramatic arts draws a delicious backlash. Plus, Crufts brings back happy memories
I was going to start with the Middle East, but let’s give ourselves a break and, instead, do the final of Crufts from last night. Crufts! As soothing as the Olympics but with lower stakes and cuter contestants. When I was in my first year of high school, my best friend and I used to “play Crufts” – look, it was a different time; at least we weren’t pretending to be on horseback – which entailed someone being the presenter and someone the dog lady, and when the presenter shrilled, “and it’s the Westie! The Westie has won Crufts 1990!” the dog lady had to take off around the living room, leash held high while the crowd went wild.
I hadn’t really watched Crufts since then, but on Sunday night I had it on in the background and we all got sucked in. My kids had never seen a dog show before, let alone the GREATEST DOG SHOW ON EARTH, and what a moment it was for them, being put through their paces with the invitation to say things like, “oh, look, a pomeranian”, and ask the question all new initiates to the dog show must ask: “Why is that man running like that?” Because, my darlings, it’s Crufts; they all run like that.
