Today, I was back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS - as always!) for a night of comedy with Sara Pascoe, at the Backyard Comedy Club. Gee, it's months since I was last at a comedy show! And longer since I was here before. The bus came quickly - and despite what Google Maps predicted, was absolutely packed - I was lucky to get a seat. Anyway, last time I was here, I was job hunting, and stressed, and missed the club entrance completely - this evening, I couldn't figure out how I'd managed that, as it's so prominent!
I arrived just after 6.30 - you had to get there by 7.15 and get your hand stamped, or pay a late fee. I was one of the first there - in the event, only the regulars made themselves known, at least. But then, we'd been hoping to get a table, but no - we had to stand, which made us harder to spot. Never mind. I went straight over to the bored-looking woman behind the desk - and it was funny, it took me a moment to realise she was looking at me. You see, she had this big shock of black hair, and a fringe, and dark eyes - honestly, they blended together and I thought her head was still bent..
I'd finished a glass of wine by the time we went in. And we were early enough to get pretty much our choice of seats - it did ultimately fill completely, from what I could see, and someone in the group mentioned that she'd tried to get another ticket, but it had been sold out. Sara Pascoe was the MC tonight, not the solo star - but she gave a star turn, with very funny interludes between acts.
I really don't have much hope of repeating the performers' names - I didn't even hear most of them properly! My favourite, however, had to be the only one I recognised - Tania Edwards gave the most hilarious performance of a psychotic mother, whom you'd believe would stab an audience member. Mind you though, I think I've seen Luke Toulson before - but he doesn't have a beard any more. He was the only man on the bill - and a couple of the performers in the second half acknowledged this, and said they'd try to make the tales of exasperated motherhood as original as possible.
They succeeded admirably - the second half, we agreed as a whole, was better than the first. Which isn't to say that the first half wasn't enjoyable - a particular highlight was when one performer came on with her woolly little dog, which she gave to someone in the front row to hold while she performed: and then nearly forgot to reclaim at the end of her set! Cue "aah"s all through the room..
The performers in the first half were obviously less experienced, but still gave a great show! and with this being a new material night, nobody's routine was too polished. Always a good night at this venue - and gee, when I actually braved the queue for the toilets at the interval, it only took about five minutes! A highly recommended venue - just get there early before a show, if you want a table and chair.
I'd researched my route home before I turned off my phone - which was a good thing, as I had no internet access for some minutes after I turned it on again. I just missed a #8, vexingly - and upon seeing that the next was over 10 minutes away, I thought I'd research the #388, which I'd seen earlier would also take me there. It was a lot closer - and the stop was just around the corner. So I took that. Oh, the joys of the smartphone..
Tomorrow, I was thinking of film - but honestly, wasn't so enthused by the offerings at the top of the list. I did have an offer of cheap tickets to a classical concert at Cadogan Hall, which sounded better - but the cheap tickets had sold out. Never mind, I bought a full-price ticket - it's the Prague Symphony Orchestra. Today, the cheap ticket agency advertised an extra ticket allocation (typical!), but when I checked, out of curiosity, the link was still saying sold-out. Still is, so I dunno.
On Wednesday, back - for the first time in what seems like ages - with Civilized London! It's another meal - we're headed for Thai food at Kin & Deum, meeting beforehand at The Woolpack. I do believe it's actually years since I've eaten Thai! Handily, for once this didn't sell out - and we have another taker, a Frenchman who's in town for a couple of weeks, saw this, and signed up. Isn't that a great idea?! He's not the first I've seen to take advantage of Meetup when in town temporarily.
On Thursday, I got a cheap ticket to another classical concert, with a different seat-filler group - this is a concert of Vivaldi arias, at the Trinity United Reform Church. Part of the Wimbledon Music Festival.
On Friday.. well, 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners are off around the Southbank Christmas market. So I said, well, I can do that on my own - thus avoiding the Meetup fee, and I'm not pushed about the meal. Good chance to start on my Christmas shopping. Or hey, I'll see what the film listings are like - they change, that day.
On Saturday, I'm with cheap ticket source #1 - you have to book something with them every three months, or be expelled (!). Honestly, I've never heard such draconian regulations. So I'm going to Stop Kiss, above the Stag.
On Sunday, back with the Crick Crack Club (CCC) for 1001 Nights, at the British Museum. Mea culpa, I recently told people that this was The Embers Collective - nope! Turns out it's not. Ah well.
Next Monday, back, after a week, with UITCS for Falsettos, at The Other Palace. An aisle seat, as usual - legroom is poor, here.
On the 19th, back with them again for Acosta Danza - Evolution, at Sadler's Wells.
On the 20th, Anthony's Cultural Events and Walking Activities Group is off to a performance entitled Virginia Woolf - Killing the Angel, at the LSE. So I'm going on my own, and saving the Meetup fee - I haven't had that much luck with socialising with them, anyway.
On the 21st, back with Spooky London - the John Snow Pub. Then another weekend in Ireland.
On the 25th, the CCC is back with Rebel Children, at the British Library. Ben Haggarty & Jan Blake - ooh yeah!
On the 26th, my annual trip to Winter Wonderland - heading to Cirque Berserk and the Ice Kingdom, as usual. Might be able to persuade a couple of people to accompany me to this one.
On the 27th, the first night in ages with North London Friends! We're at A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, at Trafalgar Studios.
And on the 28th, our ex-company's social group's Christmas meeting. We had a tiff about the venue - the organiser decided on Thai Square, which I think is overpriced and underwhelming. So he started to grumble about the difficulty of getting somewhere before Christmas - which will take a group, and doesn't cost the earth. Still though, he came up with an alternative - we've decided on the Warwick Castle pub in Little Venice. Lovely area, the pub sounds nice - with a Christmassy open fire, and a room we can book - and hey, it's a pub, which won't throw us out as quickly! Must get on to booking their wine deal.. 10% off if you order at least £150 worth. Which I'm sure, among the dozen or so that are coming, we'll manage to drink. And gee, today he had us choosing what we wanted off the menu..
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