Tonight, I finally went to see Waitress, which I had to cancel earlier in the year. It's at the Adelphi. And lo, Google Maps said I could walk there from the office in under half an hour - so I did, just arriving in nice time. I could have done without the usher outside the theatre, mind, who confused absolutely everyone by saying that people with tickets should join the queue to his right, while those collecting should join the queue to his left. Now, given that both queues were beside each other, to his left.. well. More informative would have been to say to join the queue by the wall if you were collecting, as that's where the ticket booths had been conveniently plonked. (I think he meant to say the queue to the left as he looked at them..)
Well, bags were duly checked and I was in, and had lots of stairs to climb. Last week's cold still hasn't completely cleared my chest, and all the climbing did aggravate it a bit - happily, the show is loud enough that I managed a few discreet coughs without causing too much of a disturbance. And yes, I was right at the top of the house - I'd noticed that a few seats in the very back row have the advantage of being right at the top of a flight of stairs. So there's literally no-one in front of you (for a long way down, at any rate), and nothing to impede your legroom. Bliss - as long as you don't suffer from vertigo! Best cheap tickets in the house.
There's a character in this - a doctor - who's been off sugar for ages. So when he's offered a pie, he demurs - oh no, it'd be too sweet. But gee, when prevailed upon to take a piece - all of a sudden, he just cannot get enough. As the lead character, who gives him the pie, says - "Life is hard enough". And that pretty much summarises what happened to me at this show. I was a bit dubious to begin with - the story concerns a waitress in a diner, who bakes the most amazing pies, apparently. And gee, every five minutes there's a baking reference, and as a non-baker myself, I wasn't really looking forward to what was coming. Seemed like it was going to be sickly sweet.
Well, more fool me. Because it's just marvellous.. the story is very sweet, without being sickeningly so, the music is catchy, the singing tremendous. Speaking of which, the guy beside me - who also had one of those seats with no-one in front - was obviously a major fan, had obviously been before; he spent the interval softly singing the main chorus to himself (in a fine voice), and the whooping and cheering that came from him was like what you'd get at a rock concert. Mind you, he wasn't alone - almost every song got a round of applause, and we were all up in a standing ovation at the end.
It's a simple-enough story of female empowerment - she discovers, at the beginning, that she's pregnant. To her good-for-nothing husband, who takes all her money, tries to control whom she sees and where she goes, and is borderline violent. Oh, and shortly gets himself fired. Now, in many parts of the world, the first thing she'd be advised to do would be to take herself down the abortion clinic: but of course, then there'd be no story. No, she decides to keep the baby - but she realises she can't go on as before. So wait and see what she does next..
It's sweet, it's funny, it's damn catchy. And we come to know and love all the main characters - well, except the good-for-nothing waste of space she's married to. Absolutely terrific night out - absolutely recommended. Currently booking till the 4th of January. I am so glad I made it in the end. Oh, and I was far enough away to get the bus home - incidentally, I do think it's rather mean to have the #11 to Liverpool Street terminate where it does. I mean, when you get off, the station is nowhere in sight - it's over a 5-minute walk away, zig-zagging through streets that, if you're not familiar with the area, can be utterly confusing. Happy were the people getting off with me, to be able to get directions there from me.. ("yes, you go straight up there, and hang a left where you see that bus just going now..").
Tomorrow, some comedy, with Shappi Khorsandi, at Soho Theatre.
On Wednesday, back with Civilised London (CL) for a Lebanese meal at Al Waha, meeting beforehand at the Prince Alfred. My only Meetup of the week! Then I'm back to Ireland for a long weekend.
Next Monday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) - again, it'll have been nearly three weeks since I was last with them! The occasion is a production of Giselle, by the English National Ballet, at Sadler's Wells.
On the 24th, back with North London Friends, to Donmar Warehouse, for Appropriate.
On the 25th, the Crick Crack Club is back! Tricksters & Fools is at Rich Mix - it's another in Crick Crack's Archetypes series, and stars Sarah Liisa Wilkinson (hello again!), Tim Ralphs, TUUP, and Nell Phoenix.
On the 26th, UITCS is back with Groan Ups, at the Vaudeville.
On the 27th, Love London Theatre, Arts, Music & Stuff is at Our Lady of Kibeho, at the Theatre Royal Stratford. Ahah, I knew I'd booked something else with them!
And on the 28th, I booked for the matinee of Glass. Kill. Bluebeard. Imp. at the Royal Court. And then CL organised an outing to see London Concertante perform the Four Seasons at Southwark Cathedral. What the hey, I figure I can make both! It's ages since I heard it, in fact.. and it'll be a nostalgic trip for me, as my very first Meetup with the Man with the Hat was to listen to Concertante in Southwark Cathedral. He's much missed.
March, I booked Kinky Boots.. I was already looking ahead to July, and Meetup was offering nothing for last night - not so early - so I browsed around and that's what I came up with. Amazon did the cheapest tickets for last night, at the time, so I booked with them.
..and all I had to do was remember I was going! The fact that I'm going to another musical tonight did help. I worked from home, and had all day to get there - so naturally, I cut it fine. Cheapest and easiest would have been to get the 87 from the end of my road all the way to the Adelphi. In fact, I did make my way to the bus stop - JUST in time to watch the bus pulling away. The helpful LCD display said the next 87 was due in six minutes.. now, given that you tend to have to add 15 minutes to Google Maps' estimate in general anyway, if travelling at a busy time (such as this) means I wasn't best happy at waiting, even such a little time. I'd noted the fastest route as well - train to Waterloo, Northern Line to - must have been Charing Cross.
I was right beside Clapham Junction station, so made my way in - I hadn't noticed the next London departure, so just made my way along to Platform 10, where a train was due, according to the departure board for the platform. Sure enough, it pulled in as I climbed the stairs, and I made it on - for once. On the train, I checked where to go from Charing Cross.. it would be a right. My phone battery is wrecked, but works for short periods. At Waterloo, I took the handy stairs for the Underground, leading from the middle of the platform, and after much, much walking I got to the Northern Line - it's no distance from there to Charing Cross, where I discovered several exits. Exit 9 for Strand (North Side) was the one I took, skirting the homeless people bedded down at Exits 7 & 8.
Since I was now on the other side of the road, it was a left when I got above ground - just 20 minutes after I'd dithered at the bus stop. In fact, I could see the Kinky Boots sign from there, and a short walk got me to the theatre. Where I discovered two doormen, manning two doors - one with a queue, one without. I figured one was for collection (which I needed), one for people who already had their tickets - scanning the (very long) queue, I saw people with tickets, so made my way to the other door, where he briefly checked my bag, and I was in. And then it turned out the box office was to the right, where the long queue was..! (Well, he never asked which I wanted).
I'm not quite sure how the queueing system was working, but I managed to nip in at the end of a short queue for the box office, gave my name to the slightly flustered attendant (they really need to introduce Print at Home, give them a break), and soon had my ticket. A long, long climb to the Upper Circle followed, where I came across two ushers who knew what section I was in, but not which was my row. It turned out to be the very back one - quite central, though. So there I was, top of the house, right under the rafters. No armrests, and with an apparently full house, it ended up being a bit snug - to the sides; legroom, however, was fine - for me at least. They have binoculars to hire for £1 if you want, but I found the view perfectly adequate - and with no-one behind us, we felt free to lean as required: which it hardly was. A couple of men in my row stood for periods - but they probably felt a lack of legroom.
Well, this show is obviously enduring popular - as I say, the house was packed: on a Monday! There was an amusing intro, one of the cast coming on to take a fake call on his mobile, just to remind people to turn them off. And yes, he's dead right - what idiot thought "vibrate" mode was a form of "silent"?!
Music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper. Hmm.. I believe this has won Oliviers, but the start just did nothing for me. Rather frantic running around, scene changes, too much exposition, too much time passes in the first five minutes! Plus our hero, Charlie, heir to the ailing Northampton shoe factory, I'm afraid I just found dull. And the opening numbers, now that I listen to them again, are as monotonous as I thought they were last night. Not what you'd call catchy. If I came across them on the radio, I'd change channel.
Where the show comes into its own is with the fabulously OTT Lola, the drag queen that provides the inspiration for a new range of footwear that can revitalise the factory's business. No wonder he steals the entire thing - it's Chiwetel Ejifor. And my, can he rock those outfits! Several outfit changes, different wigs, and those blingy thigh-high boots. He owns the stage, strutting around, singing, dancing.. he and his ladies are an absolute joy, and the secret of the show's success. Well worth checking out this show, if only for them and their eye-catching outfits.
The more they're on stage, the more entertaining it gets. Apart from them, the only setpiece I really enjoyed was Lauren's solo, about her disastrous love life. Mind you, there were plenty around me who adored the whole thing - as usual, it's subjective. No memorable numbers though, nothing you'd come out singing. Hey-ho, I did think it was worth going to - for a reasonably priced ticket. And for once, it was nice not to be starving at the interval, and buying their overpriced treats!
On my way out, it was hard not to fall over people taking photos of the iconic sign. I decided to take the bus back - traffic would be lighter now. And from the stop across the road, I was tempted to take a photo myself - but of course, my phone was dead. Home nice and quickly, but not early enough to blog, given that I'm in Guildford again today..
Tonight, as I say, I'm headed to another musical - Motown, the Musical, at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Same bus route, even the same stop - if I have time - just a slightly longer walk. Best value in that case was from the venue itself. And I've already had a couple of emails from them, reminding me to print my ticket. Well, now I have!
Speaking of value, tomorrow I'm headed to the National, to see a reading of Stuff Happens, with Bill Nighy. Also in the room will be London Dramatic Arts, who are charging £2.50 more than the standard £10 for this production. It's been a while since I went with them - and at this rate, it'll be a while longer! Anyway, I've booked a seat upstairs, where hopefully I'll avoid them, considering they do still have a seat available. (Pure badness of me to book at all, I know, but it sounds good.)
In complete contrast, I'm with the Man with the Hat on Thursday and Friday. Thursday is back to the Globe (whoopee!) for a performance of Macbeth that didn't get a great review in the Metro. What the hey, I don't pay much attention to those - and it'll be a great night anyway - great venue, great group. And on Friday, he's taking us back to the Royal Opera House, for Il Trovatore. On Saturday, the plan is to do.. something.. with Helen. TBD.
Gosh, Made in Dagenham seems to have been showing forever.. and I wondered whether I'd ever get around to seeing it! Well, I finally did last night. Cheapest tickets available from the official website - although there's a flurry of offers about - and of course, I bought the cheapest seat I could, in the Upper Circle.
I hadn't been to the Adelphi before, but it turned out to be easy - Tube to Embankment, carry on up Villiers Street to the Strand and turn right, and it's on your left. The first train to arrive was advertised on the LCD as going to Edgware Road, but luckily turned out to be headed into town instead, so I didn't have to change. Mind you, we were held so long in Earl's Court ("to even out gaps in the service", of course!) that when another train to town pulled in at the adjacent platform, several people dashed for it. I thought to do the same, but thankfully I was still just outside the train I'd got off when the driver announced that we were leaving now, so I hopped back on.
The Adelphi is no distance up the Strand. It has a grand, Art Deco style. As I went in the door, the guy who checked my ticket informed me that I'd be upgraded to the Dress Circle, and to see his colleague inside for more information. Result! Another good reason to buy cheap tickets. I had to wait quite a bit for her - she was quite busy - but eventually she showed me to the box office, where I was given the same seat number I'd booked - just in the Dress Circle, as promised. Out of interest, the seat I'd originally booked cost £15 on the official website (including fees) - the seat I was upgraded to cost £55 on the same site. How satisfying..
An upgrade to a lower level always at least means fewer steps to climb. As I did so, the announcement said the show would start in two minutes. Hah! I didn't think so, and I was right. Handily, there was a merchandise stall on the Dress Circle level as well as in the Lobby, and I bought a packet of Munchies - I'd only had time for a sandwich before I left, and I was hungry. When the usher at the door of the Dress Circle scanned my ticket (which was the original I'd booked and printed out), of course it said "Wrong Area". And of course, he let me in anyway.
My seat was on the aisle, third row from the back. I was to be glad it was on the aisle - for a £55 seat, the legroom was surprisingly snug! I was beside an elderly couple. From that row, the top of the stage was cut off by the floor of the Upper Circle, above us, but we didn't miss any of the action.
Well, this show is terrific! I'm so glad I didn't miss it. It's based on the true story of how a group of women working in the upholstery department of the Ford plant in Dagenham, in 1969, objected to being classified as unskilled workers, and went on strike. And while they were at it, decided to demand equal pay for women as well, which wasn't the law in Europe at the time.
The production is first class. The sets are inventive, the musical numbers catchy, and the singing top-notch. The couple beside me expressed disappointment to the manager, who wandered by at the interval, that it's closing on the 11th - but these things do happen. Interestingly, the reason he was there was to ask us whether we found the temperature ok. Yes, we did.
Also at the interval, the fellow sitting behind me remarked, in a Cork accent, to the people sitting beside him that he's very sorry, but he's been living and working in Dagenham for six years, and no: they don't all sing like that! I was to find out the reason for the manager's strange question about the temperature when this Corkonian returned, complaining of the extreme heat..
Highly recommended, great fun. As I say, runs till the 11th - shop around for deals, but if you want the absolute cheapest tickets (which worked well for me!), stick with the official website.
My internet is down at home - hence, no blogging from there for now. Tonight, I'm thinking of going to the pictures - and top of the list is a Canadian film called Mommy, showing in the Cine Lumiere, the screen in the Institut Francais. It's ages since I've been there, which is a shame - they have a lovely screen, with plush, comfy seats.
Then for the next two days, it's Meetups - tomorrow, for my sins, I've booked to go on a comedy walking tour of Soho. Assuming my knee isn't playing up too badly - the foot is better, the knee's been troubling me since Friday.
And on Thursday, I'm headed to Wonderfully Wicked Witches and Old Women Late Night at the Courtauld Gallery.
Now, I booked this via the Fill My Weekend Meetup group. Honestly, I found it difficult to get a direct link to the event. Funny thing is, I was telling my friend Helen about it yesterday, and she tracked down the link. So I had a look, just to see whether they were sold out on the official website too. Since I got the last ticket on Meetup.
Imagine my annoyance when I discovered that, not only were there still tickets on the official site, but they were cheaper than on the Meetup page! Now, I've already passed over a couple of Meetup events I could get cheaper on my own. So anyway, and particularly because there was a waitlist on Meetup, I posted a message to that effect on the page - people could still get tickets, and cheaper, at the above address. About half an hour later, I got a private message from the group organiser, explaining that the extra charges were to cover Paypal charges (I love it, we have to pay him extra to charge us!) and "group charges" (what, name badges?). And that he was very annoyed there were still tickets available (yeah, I bet!), and had booked these tickets on the assumption they'd sell out.
Oh, and guess what? The message I posted to the site has been removed. I messaged a couple of people on the waitlist directly with the information, but the rest don't accept messages. Ah well, their loss! I am looking forward to the event; I find the topic fascinating, plus there's live entertainment, including Spanish guitar playing. And I absolutely love Spanish guitar. But you know what? I'm very cynical about the approach that the Meetup group organiser is taking, and if I do get a name badge, I may be removing it as the night goes on. And my chances of going to another meetup of this group? Not good at this point.
And then it's back to Ireland for the weekend..
