Sod that, I said - it's not worth it: and anyway, the flat inspection we were supposed to have on Monday had been rescheduled for today, so I needed to re-tidy, and would finally have a chance last night to clean the carpet! Better to spend my time doing that. So I started for home. Whereupon the blasted bus passed me.. I made an effort to run for it, but I was now too far from the stop, and missed it. Never mind, I had some exercise with all the walking and running, and the carpet now looks better than ever! (No feedback from the inspection, which might be a good thing.)
Tonight, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) at Sadler's Wells for the last night of a collaboration between Crystal Pite and her company, Kidd Pivot, and Jonathon Young, on an adaptation of a Russian comic play, Revisor (The Inspector General). This one, I could walk to - but again, I left later than intended - blame the necklace I was trying to disentangle, and never managed to. Now, I could still have managed to walk - but when I left the building and saw how miserable the weather was, with rain pouring down, I decided to take the bus, for once. Which had the advantage of being much more relaxing - goodness knows, there are enough stairs to climb when you get there! Which I did, to find the group gathered around a table at the back. And we chatted until it was time to go in.
90 minutes straight through, no interval - there was a break nearly halfway through, for about 10 minutes, mind, but that was for a technical hitch. And just before the lights went down at the start - and again during the technical pause - streams of people left the back to go and sit in the front and middle, where there were several free seats. Me, I like my isolated perch, so I stayed put.
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. So, it was based on a Russian satirical play, and indeed, started out as a farce - narrators read the story, which was enacted in a highly exaggerated way by the dancers on stage, and we learned how an inspector had come to the office, but incognito, and everyone was on tenterhooks to find out who it was. By the end of the first section, they'd decided that it must be this gent who was claiming to be a simple "revisor" - whose sole job there was to move a comma in some report. Well, they're important things, commas. Anyway, this part, I found quite hilarious.
Mind you, I really perked up at the second part - when things got much darker, more ominous. The music got eerier, the stage was stripped bare, and the dancers dispensed with the complicated costumes. The narration changed to be the account of the actual inspector, who proceeded to explain to the audience what we had just seen - a bare-bones description, described onstage by an abbreviated version of the dancing we'd seen in the first part. Changed the whole mood of the evening - and some of it, I found quite sinister.
The show ended with a return to the farcical play - but somehow, it wasn't as funny any more. It was as though we'd been shown the dark subplot that underlay the humour, then returned to the humour, just to emphasise the point. Not to everyone's taste - but I loved it, loved the range of moods we'd been taken through. Also liked the retelling of the story of the first half, which was recognisable, but at the same time completely different. I thought this production was really clever.
Tomorrow, going to see Shoe Lady at the Royal Court. One that's generating quite a bit of interest among people of my acquaintance.
On Friday, I was holding off on deciding what to do until I heard for definite from my friends, who were supposed to be coming over. But one of them realised she needed her passport renewing, so they had to wait to do that before booking - and lo, the flight prices increased too much in the meantime. So now they're not coming this weekend - which leaves me free to go to a talk about the Camino, at Southwark Cathedral, courtesy of This and That (TnT)! I know the organiser - it's about time I got to one of his events, and it'll be good to see him again. And I've always been fascinated by the Camino - perfect. (Interestingly, London Social Detours is going too.. and charging £3.50.)
On Saturday, I'm headed back to the Lyric Hammersmith, for something called Love, Love, Love, written by the excellent Mike Bartlett. UITCS is heading to this later in the month, I see.
On Sunday, I was thinking of film - got the film list done today, then wasn't too pushed about what was coming out on top. Not that it was easy to get the listings, mind - my film site has a new look, still apparently gets the new listings on Tuesday evenings, but now doesn't seem to list the times for the following week along with the new films! So I can see what's on, just not where or when. I managed to Google a couple, which had their own websites, and from those I determined that they're not showing on days that'd suit. Others, I wasn't so lucky with, and just had to guess on the basis of the cinemas in which they're showing this week, whose websites I then had to check.
Anyway, the upshot was that I thought Meetup had better suggestions. So now, on Sunday I'm joining North London Friends for a concert called Some Kinda Wonderful - a tribute to Stevie Wonder. Run by the Chickenshed - interestingly, the concert link no longer works. Perhaps they've sold out - although there were several seats left when I booked, late this afternoon. Unfortunately, it's all the way out in Cockfosters - ah well.
On Monday, back with UITCS for City of Angels at the Garrick. Funny thing is, I was recently looking ahead for shows to book, and this came up - was on the point of booking for it, busily looking for deals, when I suddenly realised I'd already booked! The perils of booking early.. I booked this the day after Christmas.
On Tuesday, whoop-de-doo! Finally got a decently priced, decently located ticket to the show of the moment, Hamilton! Showing at the Victoria Palace, booking through Ticketmaster exclusively. Booked the same day as City of Angels - I often block book. So I get to see whether it lives up to the hype - I'm just delighted to be able to stop searching for tickets for it! Must just remember to bring the ticket to the office with me - they insisted on posting it.
Next Wednesday, back at Soho Theatre (hopefully - at least the show is later!). This time, it's Sara Barron's show, Enemies Closer.
On the 12th, back with TnT (feast or famine, I guess!). This time, it's a pre-Paddy's Day concert with the Band of the Irish Guards, at the Guards' Chapel. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.
On the 16th, back at Soho Theatre again - this time, for the opening night of Tom Rosenthal's show, Manhood.
The 17th is, of course, Paddy's Day itself - and like last year, I'm off to the Irish Centre in Camden. And again, they have a St. Patrick's Night Special - I've already booked my ticket, although they haven't yet announced the full lineup. Honestly, the only artist as yet confirmed is a comedian called Alison Spittle. Whom I'm not that keen on. But hey, if I get enough drink in first, she should be endurable.. and Ivan said he'd probably be able to come. We shall see.
On the 18th, back with UITCS for Be More Chill, at The Other Palace. My only Meetup that week! (so far).
The 19th is going to be hugely busy for me. So, first I'm at Soho Theatre for Jena Friedman's show, Miscarriage of Justice. And then, wouldn't you know it, The Embers Collective scheduled a series of shows at the Vault Festival. And blast it if I wasn't already booked for the whole week! But hey, with the comedy show finishing at 8.30.. and the storytelling not starting till 10.. this one was doable! Their show that night is Queerstory - LGBTQ+ - themed. And I'm going.
And on the 20th, finally getting to see Dear Evan Hanson, at the Noel Coward Theatre. It got the royal seal of approval during the week, of course! And it's about time I saw it - UITCS went last year.
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