Unreal - they haven't carried luggage in months! Anyway, I came back to a London fit for ducks - floods all over the roads and pouring down. Appropriately, as yesterday, I was back with North London Friends for The Wild Duck, by Ibsen, at the Almeida. I wasn't in time to get one of their tickets, so booked my own - what the hey. My last proper Meetup of the month..
Until gee, the theatre sent an email yesterday afternoon to say the performance was cancelled due to cast illness! Actually, I was delighted to have a night in - wasn't feeling the best. I rang to get a refund - I'm booked up for the rest of the run, although I might have cancelled something if the group had decided on a different date, but as the organiser said, it'd be hard to find a date that'd suit everyone. It later occurred to me that I could've saved myself some money by emailing, since they really seemed on the ball about replying to those.
Better luck tonight, comedy with Ahir Shah at Soho Theatre. I've switched teams now, so there was nothing to get in the way of my getting there on time - and lo, I did! In fact, I caught the bus before the one I needed - wouldn't you know it, it was stopped at the lights as I crossed the road. It then turned into an obstacle course as I scuttled up said road, just catching the back door of the bus before it pulled out! (Mercifully, it's a Routemaster, so you can get on at any door.) Actually, the door was closing - but he saw me and opened it.
So, nice and early to the theatre - it's in the downstairs space, which has its own bar, so handy to get a drink. And I even beat the rush! My seat was in the raised section (Row G) at the back - in retrospect, I'd book seats 1-4 in this row, as they're on a couch, with their own table. Nowhere to leave my drink - never mind. As we waited, and the room filled, the performer was to be seen pacing the room, unusually, rather than hidden round the back.
I haven't seen him live before. He's a clever guy, no doubt about that - he dropped into the routine that he went to Oxbridge, has a posh accent.. And he's got some really clever one-liners. Like the idea of getting an Indian passport, since he's of Indian heritage (and, as he pointed out, he's; not really eligible for an Irish one).. as he says, he wouldn't be pushed, except that he's heard of Brexit, and gets the hint!
Mainly, the show revolves around his grandmother, who died last month. She moved to Britain to live with him and his parents, and they were inseparable - until she was deported when he was five. As he said, the rules changed, and the Tories decided, in their wisdom, that if they could find any excuse to get her out, they would - even if it meant her having to live with her other son, who hated her, had embezzled her money and said the next time he'd see her was in the grave. So our performer didn't see her again until she was dying of cancer - but at least, as he said, she had dementia and didn't know it.
U2 has a song from their current album that goes - "Showman gives you front row to his heart, showman prays his heartache will chart. Making a spectacle of falling apart is just the start of the show." Well, our man tonight obviously subscribes to the philosophy.. much of the show is downbeat, as he works out his grief over his grandmother's death and his rage at them having been separated for so long. Indeed, in the tradition of of sad comedians, he revealed that he's been on antidepressants and is thinking of getting back on them.
Once you realise that the show is a tribute, it becomes really sweet - and it does help if you know the words to Bohemian Rhapsody, which is referenced frequently. Mind you, I was glad to get out of there - found it quite stuffy! Quite a long run for a comedian - runs till the 27th.
Tomorrow, a real dose of nostalgia - Mayerling ballet, at the Opera House. My favourite ballet, this was also the last event we attended here with the Man with the Hat. And the second last event ever. At least it'll be less evocative since, for once, I'm sitting facing full-on! He always had us in the slips, so I haven't faced the Opera House stage since I started with his groups! I'd watch it blindfolded just to have him back again, though. We miss you, MwtH.
On Thursday - why, I'm off to Manchester. For U2, unsurprisingly. Yes, I get busier around now as they come around these parts. Taking the train that evening - it was the cheapest, and so much handier than having to make my way to and from airports and watch what I pack! I should arrive walking distance from my hotel, Roomzzz Corn Exchange, which itself is walking distance from the venue, the Manchester Arena. And right beside the shopping centre, apparently! That could be handy.. if only to buy provisions, as this is an aparthotel, so I can cater for myself.
The concerts themselves are on Friday and Saturday, and I'm expecting a more enthusiastic audience than my section last Monday! Really, who'd believe such apathy from a U2 crowd?! Ironically, the English concerts are the only ones whose tickets are being posted to me - and would you believe it, what with booking them in January and moving in June, I completely forgot to make the connection. So I forgot to update my address with Ticketmaster (TM). Just remembered recently, by which time it seems they'd already been posted. I've contacted my old flatmates, but the only response I got was from one who's also moved out - happily, TM said, if I contacted them this week, they'd void the old tickets and issue new ones that I can pick up at the box office. There's always some palaver on a U2 tour, and this isn't the first time I've had to pick up my tickets in Manchester!! Outside of England, they're all e-tickets..
Well, good luck with TM. I replied to my initial query emails - no response. With time tight, I thought I'd better ring them - yeah, good luck with that too, they don't provide the phone number! My boss was good enough to search for me - for future reference, if you need it, it's
0333 321 9999. Not on their website, not in the emails where they were telling me to contact them - he had to get it from a database of customer service numbers. I ask you! Anyway, the guy - with an appropriately Northern accent - promised me faithfully that the tickets would be at the box office for me. And I have to pay £5 per ticket for the privilege - never mind, it's sorted. As for email? I submitted another online query, to be told that my tickets would be posted soon, and to get back to them if I didn't have them within three days of the gig. Which it now is.
I take the train back on Sunday. Better not leave it too late, as I've actually booked for the Smithfield & Clerkenwell Walk: Guts & Glory, with Walking in London - but more specifically, with Katie of Look Up London! Excellent - I was booked for this in July, but she had to cancel. She's one of the best around. Should be close enough to me, too, and it doesn't start too early. And it being a Funzing event (like all of Walking in London's) I scoured my old Funzing discount codes, and discovered that Funzing_Fb20 seems to be working again - for all of them I've recently booked! So, a 20% discount - better than any recently offered on their Facebook page.
On Monday, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club for Buddha Babies, again at Soho Theatre. Naturally, not advertised on their Meetup group. I wonder whether that's now defunct, as they have advertised no upcoming events.
Next Tuesday and on the 24th, I don't have to travel so far to see U2 - they're playing the O2 in London. These tickets, I got my address changed in time for, it seems - they've just arrived. Helen is going next Tuesday.. sat in the corporate box, poshly! Nah, I'd rather be closer and sweatier, thanks! I wonder how many of them stand during the show.. I am absolutely mithered with Twickets alerts for ticket offers for these shows!
The 25th is my colleague's last day before he quits for a new life in Stockholm - we're headed out that night. Amazing that I still had that day free when we arranged it!
On the 26th, I fly to Belfast. Yep, U2 again. Told ya. Staying in the Crescent Townhouse, walking distance from the SSE Arena, where the concerts take place on the 27th and 28th. On the 29th, I'm taking the train down to my mother for a week - makes more sense than jetting back and forth to her!
On the 5th, I'm back up to Dublin. U2 again, dont'cha know? Staying in the Clayton again, which is a hop, skip and jump from the 3Arena, where there are concerts on the 5th and 6th. Would you believe, not even I could swing a ticket for the 5th - well, I'll just rock up on the day, and hopefully I can get something at the box office. I have heard of such things happening. I've had stranger things happen!
On the 7th, I fly back to London (BA) - purely so I can work on the 8th, before flying back to Dublin that night! Was supposed to be Cityjet, but they've now ended their flight schedule after this month - so now I'm going Ryanair. Same hotel, same venue, same band - on the 9th and 10th. There's a free tour of Windmill Lane Studios on the 9th - open to U2 concert ticket holders only. Registration required. They had a lottery for tickets in the end - unfortunately I lost out. I fly back on the 11th, exhausted, and finished with U2 concerts for the year!
On the 12th of next month, I booked for Macbeth, at the Wanamaker Playhouse. And then Let's Do This finally posted that date for the Shirt Tail Stompers at Wilton's - well, I couldn't miss that! Eh, anyone want a spare ticket for Macbeth?
On the 13th, we have our monthly team outing - probably just the two of us, but hey.
On the 14th, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) at last for Love Lies Bleeding, at the Print Room at the Coronet. Got my ticket from London Theatre Direct.
On the 15th, I'm going to try the Seven Deadly Sins Pub Naughty History Tour. Walking in London again, so discounted again! Then I'm back to Ireland again for the weekend.
On the 19th, News of the Strange, from the Crick Crack Club, at Soho Theatre.
On the 20th, back with UITCS for Pinter at the Pinter - Pinter plays at the Pinter Theatre. Two long ones on this occasion - this is Programme Four: Moonlight & Night School.
On the 21st, back at last with The London Jazz Meetup, who are off to the London Jazz Festival for a concert by the Faraj Suleiman Quartet at King's Place. UK premiere, apparently!
On the 22nd, with UITCS at the Garrick for Don Quixote. The only cheap tickets left for this were terrible, so I went a bit upmarket. A bit - I'm still behind a pillar!
On the 23rd, I'm on a Paranormal Activity Tour - ooh! Now, for this one, we get ghost-hunting equipment, which could make it interesting - I don't fancy the dowsing rods, myself, but we'll see. Walking in London, again. Discounted, again. And this was after my loyalty discount - so I got it at better than half price! which is good, considering the price.
On the 24th, I'm off on my own to see A Small Place, at the Gate.
On the 25th, back at last to Winter Wonderland! That evening, I'm off to Cirque Berserk - an annual tradition for me. The latest show is the cheapest, so that's the one I booked.
On the 26th, I'm back with UITCS for Programme Three of Pinter at the Pinter - Landscape / A Kind of Alaska / Monologue.
On the 27th, I'm going to see Company, by Sondheim, at the Gielgud. No tickets available for the upper levels on the official site - they must all have been bought up by resellers! Cheapest I found was with OfficialLondonTheatre, run by See Tickets.
On the 28th, I'm with Walking in London again (and the same discount) for the Haunted London Pub Tour.
On the 29th, I'm back with UITCS at the National for Hadestown. Then back to Ireland again for the weekend.
On the 3rd of December, I'm back to the National for I'm Not Running.
On the 4th, I'm off to the Bush, for Drip.
On the 5th, LDN Talks @ Night and London Speaks Sessions (both Funzing). This is a "Winterville" talk on The Science of Santa, where we get the scientific explanation of how he does it. Taking place at The Windmill.
The 6th could be interesting - Hazel of Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts, London Guided Walks (and, indeed, Walking in London) has a Christmas Carol Tour. Now, the last two events I booked with her turned out to be no-shows.. the first might not have been her fault, as she was advertising someone else's event, but the second, she just missed the ball on and left three of us standing on a street corner. We shall see whether this event happens, I guess! Now, it's technically more expensive if you book on Funzing - but if you have my discount ;-) it comes down to the same price she charges on her own site, without the booking fee! So I did it that way.
On the 7th, back with UITCS at the Royal Court, for The Cane. Got the very last ticket, phew!
On the 8th, with them again at the Orange Tree Theatre for The Double Dealer.
On the 9th, the Crick Crack Club is back at the British Museum for I Know Not, an afternoon of Sufi legend.
On the 10th, I'm off to the Bridge Theatre for A Very, Very, Very Dark Matter, by Martin McDonagh. Starring Jim Broadbent, this is a dark take on Hans Christian Anderson!
And on the 11th of December, I'm going with North London Friends to The Convert, at the Young Vic. Discounted top-price seats, it seems!
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