At a Northern Ireland event in Brussels, I get talking to a fellow attendee, who eventually reveals her unusual surname.
Me (not thinking it through quite quickly enough): That’s an unusual surname. Are you by any chance related to X?
Her: Yes, he is my cousin. Why, do you know him?
Me (with some reserve): Er, yes.
Her: He’s a total gobshite, isn’t he!
Me (with relief): Er, yes!
I have read the Marat-Sade and seen the film of it but never caught a stage production of it. Reading plays is a vastly inferior experience to witnessing them being performed; even the film is a bit of a let-down.