Play: The Height of the Storm

Went to bed last night to the sound of a newly humming air vent. I actually put on a coat and went out to investigate - it turned out to be a couple of vents near the lifts. It was still humming this morning, when I was rudely awakened by housekeeping tapping on my door. I told her I was still getting up, and rolled over to go back to sleep. That was successful - and I needed the extra with the lack of sleep caused by that humming! Anyway, I re-awoke with half an hour to go to check-out.. cue a hurried departure. I told the guy on reception about the air vent - he made a note.

It was a beautiful day in Amsterdam, as I walked back to Centraal Station.

I remember having more trouble once before, with the train to the airport - no such this time, I had change for the machine, I found the platform, and took a seat way before it departed. A 17-minute journey, and I was making my way through security - where I had a couple of issues. Firstly, I needed to get a new bag for my liquids - my old one had torn. Well gee, they're about 20% smaller here - I checked against the old one! Well, I had to do it - the roll-on deodorant had to be sacrificed; of the bulky items, it is the easiest to replace.

Pretty much straight through to the gate - airports never do give you much time to mess around. And gee, Easyjet were much less petty on the return journey about that "one-bag" policy - which I was very glad of, as I'd have hated to try to squish both handbag and duty free into my already bulging case. Had my passport checked heading to the gate. Had it checked at the gate. 40 minutes or so later, I was having it checked at Stansted - I ask you, is this not all a bit excessive? As for the signs saying "100% of passengers' passports checked" - eh, no, they still don't check them on flights from Ireland! And with me typically getting in after midnight, am I glad of that..

Speaking of which, I was able to use the unused portion of an old Stansted Express ticket on my trip into town. And as I checked my plans, I realised that I'd have to make a pit-stop at the office and leave my things there.This evening I was back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for The Height of the Storm, at Wyndham's. Booked through What's on Stage. Thing is, it was press night, with an early start..!

Oh Lordy. Well, I dumped my stuff and raced out to the Co-Op to grab something to microwave, raced back and ate it. And by that stage, if I were to get to the theatre in time to socialise, Tube it'd have to be - I went Northern Line all the way, changing branch at Euston to get me down to Leicester Square, which is right next door to the theatre. Goodness, I passed a photo shoot on the way in - but yes, I was entitled to shuffle past it, feeling even scruffier than usual! Grabbed my ticket in the hubbub of the lobby, passing folks in evening dress, and panted my way up all those stairs to the balcony bar, where sure enough, my group were at the back and we passed some convivial minutes in chat. Ordering a white wine, I saw a bottle of chablis on the bar and said that'd do - and it did, very nicely!

Nothing at all wrong with my seat, apart from the lady in front with the big head. "Restricted view" - no, not really! Just high up.

That lady leaned to the left for much of the play, which was handy for me - it was when she moved more to the centre that I had problems.

The play is 80 minutes, straight through - started unusually late, probably because of all the photo-taking! A translation from the French, as you might guess from several French-sounding names, and references to having to travel to Paris for work. We meet an elderly man, Andre (played by Jonathan Pryce), who used to be a great writer. We meet his wife (played by Eileen Atkins) - who may or may not actually be dead. We meet their daughters, and the younger daughter (Elise)'s partner Paul, an estate agent who may, or may not, be about to sell the house from under Andre.

Beautifully acted, beautiful set. The first scene sees an apparently senile old man, being cared for by his wife and daughters, the latter having come for the weekend. Honestly, I found this scene quite slow. Typical stuff, busy daughter with her own life wants to suggest "remedies" for her father's wellbeing that he's not at all happy with. And I was losing patience entirely when whatever we were being set up for at the end was completely contradicted in the next scene! Until.. after some more twists and turns, it seemed to become apparent that what we were watching were actually the twists and turns of the mind of this intelligent man who's losing his faculties. The confusion endemic to someone who's developing dementia, and hardly knows what's real and what isn't, mixing things up in his mind.

Well, that's my take on it, and a few different ones were revealed in the post-show discussion. Anyway, once I latched onto that idea, I decided it was a very clever play - and one that probably merits a second viewing. Not that I'll probably manage that, mind. But - recommended. Most thought-provoking. Runs till 1 December.

Afterwards, many of us repaired to The Hippodrome, where sadly they'd closed our side lounge for renovations, but we made do with the main bar. And as we debriefed, we shared a lovely bottle of fruit pastilles that someone had bought in the theatre - well done, that man! Great to see everyone, and a nice re-introduction to London life, after a few days away.

Tomorrow, I'm with Let's Do This for another Turkish meal - this time at Sofra. It'll also be the first time since June I'll have met Mary! 


On Thursday, film again - already booked though, because they were already selling out. It's part of the London Film Festival at the BFI - Be Natural is the story of Alice Guy - Blaché, the first female filmmaker, and is narrated by Jodie Foster. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend, again.

On Monday, 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.

Next Tuesday, comedy with Ahir Shah at Soho Theatre.

On the 17th, 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 the 18th - 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 the 19th and 20th, and I'm expecting a more enthusiastic audience than my section last night! 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 says, if I contact them next week, they'll 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..

I take the train back on the 21st. 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 the 22nd, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club for Buddha Babies, again at Soho Theatre. Naturally, not advertised on their Meetup group.

On the 23rd & 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're also being posted. Helen is going on the 23rd.. 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..

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 of next month. I fly back on the 11th, exhausted, and finished with U2 concerts for the year!

On the 12th, I've decided to treat myself to a performance of Macbeth, at the Wanamaker Playhouse.

On the 13th, we have our monthly team outing - our colleague from Mexico might be joining us!

On the 14th, back with 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. Not advertised on their Meetup group, of course.

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 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. Not that their Meetup group seems to know anything about it.

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!