My sister-in-law believes that few narratives are so tightly constructed that you can't skip boring bits and still keep abreast of what's going on.
An uninspiring canvas becomes a glamorous masterpiece when it is reattributed to a better-known artist.
A female friend who caught me watching Fashion TV reckons its audience is largely made up of slobbering men who are just taking a break from the appalling Men & Motors channel. I don't agree.
Acting in a stage play is like working the evening shift in an office.
The best way to prepare for a night out with a Shakespearean tragedy is to do a bit of reading up in the afternoon, eat a light supper - perhaps Welsh rarebit - and then arrive early to do some stretching exercises in the foyer before curtain-up.
Theatricals can be irritating, but will provide a better night out than mobile phone salespeople.
