Play: Mixed Omens

Tonight, giving up on Meetup, I was with TAC, for Mixed Omens - an improvised horror show, at the Drayton Arms. Thought I'd eat out there - there are plenty of places, including the pub itself. That far away, it had to be Tube - Google Maps said it'd be faster to take the Victoria Line, followed by the Circle/District, rather than the Piccadilly Line direct! Perhaps that line had delays. Well, I decided to choose on the basis of which looked busier when I got there.

En route, my walk to the station was accompanied by an excellent version of Sultans of Swing, courtesy of one of the buskers outside, with a drum kit. Ah, no better sound in the sunshine.. The crowds heading for each line looked the same, so I went with the Victoria Line. Which was boiling - but I had the promise of the Circle/District after, which always has glorious aircon. For entertainment, we had the vision of the lady with the dog, who laid out a sheet of paper for it to do its wee-wee..

I had to change in Victoria, which involved a lift - the one about to depart when I got there was packed, so I waited. And waited, and waited.. so long that I wondered whether I'd be stuck down there all night. Made it in due course, and was soon on a District Line  with glorious aircon. And someone even offered me his seat!

Alighted to the sound of steel drums. The walk to the Drayton Arms was, mercifully, mostly in the shade. Well, I had a look at their menu - a bit fancy. But I checked, cris-crossing the road outside - every restaurant in the vicinity was packed. Except the one that wasn't serving food today! So, The Drayton Arms it was - which was pretty empty. I had chicken n chips - which was fine, although it came with a mash that I found far too spicy. Not really worth the price though - in future, I might stick to the bar snacks;  you can get a deal of three of those for the same price I paid for my chicken, and probably more food. Happy to see they're dog-friendly though - a guy came in with a lovely young dog, and they were happy to fill a bowl of water for her. And wow, was she happy to drink it - I pity any dog outside this week, in the heat..

Handily, one of the bar staff alerted me that I could head up to the theatre - there hadn't been an announcement. The girl on the door couldn't find my name, but said never mind - they had plenty of space anyway. And she allocated me a seat. Which was occupied. So I took another.

I noticed a strange, strobing effect from my seat - turned out that it came from one of the fans that ran throughout (and were much needed), which was in front of a spotlight. Beware, if you're sensitive to that sort of thing.

Hmm. So, this is in the style of Neil Gaiman, who wrote Good Omens. They achieved that quite effectively, I think. Unfortunately, I'm not sure it transferred quite effectively from screen to stage.. the style seemed a bit gentle. And for all that I'm sure it is, indeed, improvised, they're definitely following a basic plotline, to keep it going in the right direction. All in all, it just didn't hit the target, for me - I was glad when it finished. I'll have to come up with a more positive review for TAC, mind - they insist on positivity. Runs till Saturday, if you're interested. Anyway, after navigating a hall of mirrors in the toilet, I flew home on buses, in the lighter traffic.

Tomorrow, thinking film - and what's coming up is a documentary called The Pearl Button, set in Chile. Scenery looks spectacular.. this is showing in the ICA only. Wow, it's years since I was last there, too! This is part of an In Focus series they're doing on the director, Patricio Guzmán. Mind you, I have a flat viewing at 6.30 - if he ever gets back to me with the address. So, we shall see..

On Thursday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats, for All of It, at the Royal Court. And then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend. Where it looks as though they've completely given up on entertainment for adults for the summer - well, we'll see about Limerick; Ennis is a no-hoper!

Plays: Duet for One & The Shroud of Charon

Last night, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) at the Orange Tree - first time in an age - for Duet for One, starring Tara Fitzgerald. There was talk of meeting for food beforehand - but it was going to take me almost an hour to get there, and with a pointless, late work meeting, I was unlikely to make it in time for dinner. We would see.

As it happened, nobody had anything to say in that meeting! It was hardly started when it finished - whereupon I legged it, leaving my computer on, with something playing to stop it sleeping, in case anybody checked. And off I went. This far out, it had to be Tube - I went with the Victoria Line first, where I got on at the end and got a seat, and then the District Line, where I got a seat after one stop. En route, I was in contact with the lady that suggested dinner (the Tube goes overground for part of the way, so I got signal) - she thought Diba, a Persian restaurant, would be good, so I headed there, arriving a bit before she did.

I got a table with no trouble, just inside the window, and when she arrived she joined me. Service was friendly. We both had white wine (pinot grigio), but I had trouble choosing from a lot of similar-sounding dishes! Finally picked one - the salad wasn't to my liking, but the meat and rice were good. Might have gone for a dessert, but we were tight for time - in fact, we just made it back to the theatre in time for a quick hello to the group before we had to go in.

My first time upstairs, here! and I can recommend it. In fact, if you end up doing the same, do what I did and take a seat in one of the corners - there are only three seats in each of these, so you'll probably not have to stand to let anyone in. There's plenty of space - and the view is excellent!

So, Tara Fitzgerald plays a world-class concert violinist, who has just developed MS. A terrible, progressive neurological illness, it strikes quite randomly, rendering her unable to use various muscles, for a greater or lesser extent of time. And as time wears on, the prognosis is worse and worse. Worst for her, of course, is that she can no longer depend on her ability to play the violin, so has to give up her career. Her husband, a successful composer, urges her to seek psychiatric help - they can afford a private psychiatrist, and the sessions form the basis of this play.

The stage revolves slowly during each scene - an excellent idea, as it's almost the only movement in a play that mostly consists of two women, sat in chairs across from each other, talking to each other. So, it gives us something to look at, as well as allowing everyone to get a view, during each session, of each woman's face. I must also compliment Tara Fitzgerald's falling ability - a few times, she demonstrates the effects of her MS by falling to the ground as, apparently, her knee gives way. Excellently performed. Oh, and I liked her outfits - she changes for each session, unlike the psychiatrist. I guess that's meant to convey that the psychiatrist is too busy to be worried about such things - or that she's constant and unwavering, unlike her volatile patient, whose clothes can give an indication of her mood..

Hmm. You can tell, if I'm focusing on the outfits, that there's probably something lacking in the play. Indeed - I think we all had problems with the psychiatrist, who, for one thing, seemed to lead her patient all the time: for example, chucking accusations at her along the lines of that she secretly wanted children. Indeed, at one point, where her patient is being particularly frustrating, she yells at her. Protractedly. Now, I used to teach, and I can tell you, you'd be fired for that - I presume psychiatrists would be, too. But anyway.

At the interval, we all wondered how this was going to pan out - to be fair, it was ok. I won't give the ending away, but it wasn't terrible. Still, it didn't do much to make me a fan of psychiatry - or, in particular, of antidepressants, although I do know people who have benefitted from both. I guess the moral of the story is, don't live in denial - see your psychiatrist..

Anyway, it is a decent play - runs till the 18th of next month, if you're interested. And my, it was lovely to be with a friendly group again - when Meetup runs right, it's a wonderful thing! Now, it ran too late last night to blog - and indeed I didn't have time today.. I've booked lots more, finally. Details further down.

Tonight, my first event with The Hideout: Horror Sci-Fi Club London, who were at The Drayton Arms for a play, The Shroud of Charon - part of the pub's Lovecraft Festival! So, similar travel route to last night - just didn't take as long. Tube again - this time, Piccadilly Line straight to Gloucester Road. Walked the rest of the way - and I swear, every time I wanted to cross a road, there was a car on it, ready to run me over. What, were they stalking me?

At the pub, there was some fun - there didn't seem to be a booking under the name as quoted on the event page. They mused whether it could be under this, similar, name, with a booking for the same time - I ordered a glass of wine, and went over to enquire of the blokes sitting there whether they were, indeed, the ones I was looking for. Lo, they were! and a convivial hour or so of chatting followed. Indeed, someone showed up that I knew from The Horror Book Club.. well, it's a small city. :-)

When it came time, we went up - I was in the front row, and armed with a (medicinal) glass of wine and some Strepsils - I have a niggling cough, and the front row in a small theatre space is not the place to display it. The play only lasted an hour or so - three characters: the main character, Arthur, a student of dark matters: his friend, Henry, who had procured for him a mysterious ancient Egyptian box: and a mysterious young woman, who made her appearance later on.

Now, this seems to be an original play, based on Lovecraftian ideas - fair play to them, they've done the theme justice, and the ending - where our intrepid student unfortunately finds what he's after - was a decently horrific experience, as he began to realise that maybe he shouldn't have followed this line of discovery.. Very nicely done, lovely acting, and an excellent premise. Unfortunately, if you were planning on seeing it, it finished tonight. But it's great to see this kind of inventiveness!

Right, now. Tomorrow, I planned on seeing a film - hence the delay, I was waiting for those ever-delayed listings. Delighted to report that tomorrow's film is turning out (finally!) to be Tár,  in which Cate Blanchett is Oscar-nominated for her part as a driven, genius classical conductor. Looks nice and tense - no longer showing in Ireland, and is mostly showing in the daytime in London! Finsbury Park Picturehouse is the closest venue to me that's showing it in the evening. It'll be a relief to tick it off at last.

The weekend is all about London Herstory Guided Walks, the walks from a female perspective, as guided by Mandy Morrow. On Saturday, it's Women of Mayfair from Monarchs to Mistresses & More.

On Sunday, a new walk for her - Bloody Brilliant Bermondsey Women. Oh, and if you sign up to her newsletter, you get the next walk half price! I saw that offer in time for this walk.

On Monday, thinking film again - and what's coming up looks really interesting. Continuing on a women's theme, Women Talking is, apparently, based on real-life events in a Mennonite community, where women were being drugged, and sexually assaulted as they slept. Some ended up injured, some pregnant, some with STDs. The film is based on a book, imagining the women's response - in a community that doesn't even teach its women to read and write, the women mobilise to form a response to a group of uncaring elders, whose dictat is that they must forgive their attackers, or forfeit their place in heaven. Stars Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Ben Whishaw, and Frances McDormand - against type, as has been mentioned - as an older woman who does not support the younger women's rebellion against staying quiet. Closest showing to me is in the Everyman King's Cross.

On Tuesday, back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group, for an English Concert of Bach, at Wigmore Hall. Lovely, it's ages since I heard Bach..

On Wednesday, it's film again - this one is a BFI presentation of Joyland, an Indian film about a young man who joins a burlesque show, and becomes infatuated with the trans lady who runs it. I'm normally suspicious about Indian film, having had some bad experiences - but this trailer looks excellent, so I'll risk it. Showing in the Vue Islington - which I've booked, for once, as they now have theatre-style seat pricing, different seats in different locations at different prices!

Next Thursday, back with TAC for Feel More X Lately, showing at the Lion and Unicorn. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

There follows a mostly UITCS week. On the 27th, back with them for Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, at the Harold Pinter Theatre. This is a rom-com about a couple living in a dystopian state, which limits the number of characters they can speak. Lots of body language then, I guess! Frankly, I was delighted to see that, by the time I booked, the Balcony was sold out - the legroom there is woeful, and good luck to those who've booked up there. The cheapest price bracket left when I booked included some in the Dress Circle - and thanks to Seatplan, I seem to have identified a decent seat among them. Watch this space.. cheapest tickets from the official site, but I booked with From the Box Office, which had tickets at the same price, but without the booking fee.

On the 28th, my one non-UITCS day that week - back with Over 40 Living the Life, for a dinner at Greenwich Yacht Club. Ooh la la..

On the 1st, back with UITCS at the Arcola for Afghanistan is Not Funny, the true story of a British comedian and photographer in war-torn Afghanistan.

On the 2nd, with them again at the Peacock (think I can walk to that!) for Bat Out of Hell, a musical based on the music of Meat Loaf. Awesome - just a pity it isn't one of the singalong nights..

On the 3rd, ending a run of UITCS with Lucrezia Borgia, by the English Touring Opera Company, at the Hackney Empire.

On the 4th, back cat-herding - Ivan has suggested that whole day (and I must confirm with him, as with everyone) for, well, a lot of drinking. And food - he wants to go back to O' Neill's. The trick, as usual, is going to be pinning everyone down in time to book - they don't take bookings within two days of the required date.

On the 5th, back with Discover London at last - she does excellent walks, but sometimes they clash, and sometimes they sell out before I get to them! This one is Discover Historic Chelsea: From Quaint to Quant - 1660s to 1960s.

On the 6th, back with - you guessed it - UITCS, for Romeo and Julie, at the Dorfman.

On the 7th - not so much appeals on Meetup. Free Stuff and Free Events does have Free Community Singing with Ros Hone and the Global Fusion Sound Singers, which you can attend on Zoom, or in person at Fossdene School Community Hall. Which sounds just fine - except that this is the sort of thing I keep cancelling! So I'm not confirming until nearer the time.

On the 8th - back with the Crick Crack Club, woohoo! for Goddesses in the Garden, at the Chelsea Physic Garden. Features my favourite, Clare Murphy, along with Sarah Liisa Wilkinson, Laura Sampson, and Xanthe Gresham.

On the 9th, my final booking - for now - with UITCS, for Brilliant Jerks at Southwark Playhouse. And wouldn't you know it, I still had credit on my Pay as you Go subscription, so got it for free! And then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.

Play: The Grotto

Tonight, couldn't see anything on Meetup, again - so I booked with TAC for The Grotto, a Christmas comedy at the Drayton Arms, which was local to me, many years ago! You never know, I thought I might even get to eat there.. they didn't seem to be booked up, so I decided I'd have a go. I remember the food being decent, long, long ago.. and they're less central, so it might be possible!

A decent distance, and it turned out to have to be Tube - to Gloucester Road, where, I mused, I've hardly ever gotten off. The Tube journey was enlivened somewhat by the fat bloke - no argument about it, he was fat - mansplaining across a couple of seats across from me, a plastic bag plonked on one of them. A couple looking for seats gave him a look - at which he growled an expletive, and a warning to stop looking at him. Then a guy with a crutch got on, and asked him to move the bag, which was on the seat at the end, which would be handier for him. "No," came the response. He asked again, quietly. "No." He stood. Happily, the owner of the bag got off at the next stop - and everyone breathed a little easier.

A short, zigzag walk to the pub - which was, sadly, packed. I had a look around - spotted a restaurant called Thali across the road and decided to try it. Rather bravely - it didn't display a menu. But I was hungry enough not to care much..

Well, it was just lovely. Sparkly red napkin rings, friendly service - and prompt, but then, they were practically empty when I arrived! I had free poppadoms to start, with a mango dip - then for my official starter, samosas, as usual: chicken, not as usual! Never before seen chicken samosas. They were served with a sauce that, she warned me, was mango and chili - emphasising the chili! And for main - since they didn't have butter chicken - I was intrigued by the "turkey tikka" monthly special, and asked for that. She checked I didn't want it as a starter, and warned that it came without sauce - never mind, I said, I'd have it anyway. And it was delicious! Not an awful lot of it, but I'd also asked for pulao rice and peshawari naan.. all lovely, and accompanied by a nice sauvignon blanc. Ah yes, this was a lovely, relaxed meal - just what I needed. And just across from the theatre, which I made with five minutes to spare.

I did find the warnings, posted on the stairs, intriguing - for a Christmas show, particularly. Well, I was seated right at the back:

The scene: Santa's Grotto. The characters: Santa and an elf. They do a marvellous job of miming the presence of small visitors to Santa, as raucous Christmas music plays. Then it's time to clear up - something of a relief to both. But as Santa steps out for a moment, and the elf starts to dismantle the Christmas tree - something odd happens..

It's completely bonkers, happily. Just what I needed, again! I could give away the plot, but I couldn't do it justice. Suffice to say that it's just the right amount of surreal - and there's a third character, whose presence is not immediately felt. Runs for just over an hour - highly recommended, for a healthy dose of laughter to tide you over Christmas! Runs, as the warning above says, until the 30th..

And on the way home - on the Tube, again - a lady with a gorgeous labrador, wagging its tail and sniffing everyone, saying hello, and getting a lot of hellos back. One lady even got her face licked! And so we wended our merry way home - early enough for me to get some shopping in, phew!

Tomorrow, back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group - we're going to St. John's, Smith Square to hear the Tallis Scholars. Which should be lovely! I had to get a ticket for the Gallery - the ground floor was already sold out! I checked again this evening, and there was one ticket left for the Stalls - at £40 - the Gallery now being sold out.

And - last London event of the year, on Thursday, goes to (drum roll).. Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners!! Oh, it'll be so good to see them again - I'm taking the day off specially. It's for Dickens in the City - a Festive Walk. Ah well now, I wouldn't miss the last of the year.. Starts nice and close to me too, at the Shakespeare's Head pub. And it's full, with four on the waitlist. Nice way to finish the year - I can't go on his walks so much now, while I'm working and he's only scheduling them during working hours..

On Friday, it's back to Ireland for Christmas. See you on the other side..! Have a very merry one.

Play: Twelfth Night

Ah Meetup, what's happened to you? You used to be so reliable for things to do.. and yet, here I was again tonight, forced to make my own way. So I delved into my list of cheap shows, and picked the closest. Which was Twelfth Night, in the Drayton Arms, in my old stomping ground of West Brompton.

After a decent drinking session in the office, I just left myself with enough time to get there. The 14 bus would take me to South Kensington, and I could walk from there. It'd be quite tight to catch it though - and as I left the building, YES! There it was, arriving at the stop across the road, and me with no way to cross in busy traffic. Having missed it, I figured I'd better play it safe and take the Tube to S Ken instead.

Got there about half an hour before the show's start time, and with a projected 10-minute walk, I figured I'd make it easily. However, with not even GPS working on my phone.. and turned in completely the wrong direction by the map outside the station.. I headed off down the wrong road. Just as well I know the area from having lived there - I made the venue with minutes to spare. And as I trawled the streets, it struck me how very different is the area I'm living in now. Crikey, this part of West London is all massive, expensive-looking, porticoed white houses, and busy roads - I can't remember when I last had to wait so often for the lights to change so I could cross. So many cars, so little life - oh, give me Soho, where the crowds are of pedestrians, there's less pollution (ironically), roads are easier to cross - and where the shops aren't confined to estate agencies and restaurants!

At least, when I did get to the Drayton Ams, I knew to go straight up the stairs to the side, where the guy asked for my name and gave me a seat number - back row, as it happened, right at the top of the steps. So, a good view and great legroom. Pity about the friggin' play.. Oh my God, what unmitigated rubbish. So, this is a remake of Twelfth Night, which starts in a room where they're watching the American presidential election. A cardboard cutout of Trump is made fun of throughout - no apparent connection to the play, but what the hey.

Now, there were those that enjoyed it. However, this is definitely of the Seth Rogen school of playwriting - I'm not a fan, but if beer pong, fart jokes and snickering at sexy girls are your thing, then off you go. Not only that, but heaven help us, they kept the original language - my, how THAT didn't gel. They gabbled most of it - because they didn't understand it, or because it didn't fit.. although I had to chuckle when the guy said he enjoyed masques and revels.. and from his backpack, produced a Venetian mask and - a pack of Revels..

It didn't help that it was way too hot, and I was oh, so relieved when they announced an interval. I legged it out of there pretty sharpish, and found my way back to S Ken much more easily. And just in time for a bus, too! Traffic on the way back was like treacle, but I mused that I'd much rather be stuck on a bus than back in that theatre. Runs until 1 April - you have been warned.

Tomorrow, I'm back with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts for an Oliver Twist walk. Back with Hazel, excellent!

Sunday.. not a Man with the Hat event, but one he's advertised. One member of his group plays Spanish guitar, and is giving a concert that night - so I've booked a ticket. Well hey, I do love Spanish music..

Monday, I'm off to a Funzing talk on The Science of Psychedelics. Courtesy of London Speaks Sessions, LDN Talks @ Night, and London for a Tenner or Less. Unless I think of something better up to 48 hours beforehand.. can cancel that far in advance without penalty.

Tuesday, I'm with London European Club (LEC) for Carradine's Cockney Singalong, at Hoxton Hall. Had some fun with this a couple of weeks ago, when I noticed another group member had confused it with something at a different venue, and thought it wasn't now happening..

Wednesday, I'm headed with LEC again - with a different organiser - to see 2 Cellos in concert in the London Palladium. Cool - never seen them before, never been there before, and I can probably walk there!

Thursday was another Funzing talk, with the same three groups, on The Science of Hypnosis. And then, wouldn't you know it, Henning from the LEC advertised.. Hypnosis - Altering Consciousness! With Pint of Science. (What is it about that day and hypnosis?!) Anyway, I do enjoy events with Henning, and as I say, I can cancel Funzing up to 48 hours in advance without penalty. So I did, and booked the other instead. And then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again..

Play: I'm Doing This for You

Nothing on Meetup for today - well, doesn't generally stop me. I had a trawl through what cheap tickets were available, and the closest was I'm Doing This for You, in the Drayton Arms. 

Had an interview in Hammersmith, so figured there wasn't much point in going home in the meantime, and researched bus routes between them. God though, it was freezing- need to dig out my extra-warm coats. Having enough time to spare, I decided to eat in the Drayton Arms before the play - often threatened to but never before did.

The poor barman didn't want to put in the order, as the kitchen didn't open again till five (10 minutes away) and he thought they'd get confused. But I convinced him at least to take the order with my drink order. And I duly ordered- off the lunch menu, which was all there was. 

Took 20 minutes to arrive after the kitchen opened, but that wasn't his fault-  I couldn't fault the service. The mushrooms on sourdough, which I ordered for a starter, were incinerated but tasty. The flat-iron steak was nice, tender enough that you didn't need a knife.. the Yorkshire puddings I left, from lack of interest. But, as so often in English pubs, the high point were the chips - perhaps the pinnacle of British culinary achievement. 

I was fairly sozzled by showtime. Well, what I thought was showtime- for some reason, I thought it started at 7, when it actually started at 8. Which left me with an hour to kill. I ended up meandering down to the local cinema (as I used to so often when I lived within walking distance), and while I was there, I had the idea to get a pick n mix. Good plan, and by the time I got back, they were finally open. I ended up with seat A1, whoop-de-doo..

Definitely different, this show. We were promised vodka and cupcakes, and true to her word, she passed around vodka shots beforehand. "Laughing juice", she called it. Mine was pleasantly warm on such a cold night - but, after all the wine I'd had with dinner, did leave me with a teensy little headache. And then she, eh, passed us all balloons to blow up. Now, as I mentioned previously, I've always had a weak chest, and despite the fact that I managed to climb the stairs to the theatre this evening without collapsing (now that the stress of today's interview is over), ain't no way I've ever been able to blow up a balloon. After a couple of feeble attempts, I secreted the uninflated object under my chair.

So, the premise of the show was that she had hired us, the audience, to yell "Surprise!" and sing Happy Birthday when her boyfriend arrived - and then we would listen to his comedy act. And so it went on, her becoming ever more agitated as time passed with no sign of him, and the whole thing becoming a bit tragic. And I was afraid that was all there was going to be to it. Until he made an appearance, about halfway through, and things got that bit more interesting. Yep, that's when I sat up and started to enjoy it. It actually turned out to be an inventive, and quite touching, show. And we did get cupcakes, right at the end, which, as she said, contained all the foods you might be avoiding.

That was the last performance here - if you come across it, give it a try. And not just for the free vodka..

Google Maps sent me down Thistle Grove to catch the bus home - this turned out to be a charming back alley, closed to cars, and dotted with picturesque lanterns. I'd have taken a photo if I hadn't been so damned cold. The logic was obviously that as you exit, the bus stop is right across the road. Unfortunately, they hadn't considered that there isn't a crossing just there! I'd have been better off coming down by the cinema, just up the road, where there is one.. Friggin' block of ice I was, shivering there and waiting for my bus, while four on the same route passed, the other way..

I've learned my lesson, warmer coats from now on. Well, I don't have any more face-to-face interviews scheduled! (yet). So I can eschew the fancy ones. Tomorrow, I was signed up for the proverbial free comedy in Hammersmith - with the usual suspects: Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith Wimbledon and Farringdon, London Live Comedy, and London for a Tenner or Less (one of the Funzing Meetup groups, although I see Funzing now have their own Meetup group!). But you know, I only use that free comedy gig as a placeholder - I'm happy to go, but equally happy to cancel if something better comes along. And then I saw something had! Walk About London is doing a Christmas Lights Walk (aww!). Never actually done one of these - and this turns out to be the only date I can make! Well now, not missing that. Booked through Eventbrite, with a discount if you mention Meetup. Excellent! (Then I got an email reminder yesterday - for Once in a Lifetime, at the Young Vic, which I apparently booked for tomorrow. Whyever did I book that, I wonder? I have no memory of it. Sod it, I'd rather the walk anyway.)

Not changing what I'm booked for on Wednesday - back with the Man with the Hat (it'll have been two whole weeks!). With tickets exactly on the £10 border, he's taking both his groups (London for Less Than a Tenner - not to be confused with the one mentioned above - and Let's Do London - for less!) to Southwark Playhouse, where we're going to see Licensed to Ill - a musical about The Beastie Boys (woo-hoo!). The title is taken from their first album, apparently. Could be interesting timing on that - I have a phone interview with California the same evening. Trying to bump it a bit earlier, but I may end up taking the call in the theatre toilets..!

On Thursday, I'm back with Kensington Classical Music, for a concert at the 1901 Arts Club, to start off December. New venue for me, but nice and near Waterloo, so should be easy for me to get to.

Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend - flights booked up to February at this stage, but I'm not booking any more for now until I know what I'm doing long-term - and on Saturday, we're off to the UL Orchestra's Christmas concert.

Play: Moments

Nothing I fancied on Meetup tonight.. so I had a hunt elsewhere, and of the list I saw, nothing jumped out at me, so I chose the nearest one, and got a cheap ticket to Moments, playing at the Drayton Arms.

Now, it claims to be in South Kensington, which is close enough - however, when I looked at the address, I realised I'd been here before, and it's actually just 15 minutes walk from my house! (Well, my current one - I'll be moving come the end of the year.) Straight down Old Brompton Road. So, naturally, I was overconfident, and left it pretty tight - but I set a fair pace, and got there just before 8.

I knew it's the first door you come to (coming from the west), and straight up the stairs. So I hurried up there.. to discover a closed door and a couple standing by the table with the fliers. I figured they were waiting, so I waited too. After a couple of minutes, I did start to wonder - just as I tried the door, it opened, and a fellow appeared apologetically, carrying a basket that seemed to contain the necessaries to take admission. Good job I had my confirmation, because he had no record of me - but upon seeing it, he waved me in, and as it happened, I got in first.

I took a seat in the second row, towards the far end. It wasn't completely full, and I had space to spread out on the bench seating. I needn't have worried about being late - the door creaked open several times during the performance to admit people. Eventually, the guy who'd been late out front appeared back inside, to tell us that this was the VERY first performance, i.e. the first preview, and that it was a Nordic company - as I'd read in the free (and quite professionally printed) programme - whose principle was to hire Nordic people. And so the actors and writer were Icelandic, and the director Swedish.

It lasted just under 90 minutes, no interval. And started with projections - video projections on screens at the back, meant to represent the character's childhood, in what was probably Icelandic, and with a projected translation overhead. Which was all actually really effective! It's the story of a down-and-out guy, losing control over his life and his relationships. And acted primarily by two very hunky, bearded Icelandic blokes (speaking in English). Lovely.

The lack of experience showed, in the actor who forgot some of his lines - but covered most professionally. The writing was also immature in parts at the early stages. However, there are a couple of excellent twists, and overall I found it most enjoyable. Recommended, if you like things Nordic. Runs until the end of the month.

Tomorrow, it's back to Meetup - I'm back with Let's Do London - for less! again: this time for Carmen, at the Opera House. Goodness, twice in one week..!

Plays: Private View & Catastrophe

Yep, I had originally planned to go to the Scoop tonight. The Tube strike put paid to that - it'd take so long, in my experience, to get over there that I'd never make it in time; yes, there are extra buses, but the traffic's so bad, partly in consequence.. so I was happy enough to stay home (I'll go to the Scoop later in the month).

And then.. I came across a cheap ticket, tonight only, for a double-bill of plays. And when I looked closer, I discovered that one was by Vaclav Havel. But what decided me beyond doubt was that the other was by Beckett - my favourite playwright. What's more, it's one I hadn't seen! A quick check revealed that they were showing in the Drayton Arms - and when I researched that, to make sure: yes, that IS the one I've often passed on my way to my local Cineworld! In fact, I use it as a landmark as to where to turn off. An easy walk from home - oh, the joys. I booked a ticket immediately.

So, after dinner, I strolled past the traffic jams - got stuck briefly in a crowd coming out of the Overground station, but luckily they all turned off through the cemetery. Avoiding a couple of folks beating the jams with Solowheels, I arrived at the pub way too early. Seems the theatre doesn't open until 10 minutes beforehand, at which point a bell rings in the bar downstairs. Fair enough, and I waited there, on a sofa inside the door. When the time came, I popped upstairs, where they had my name on a list, told me my seat number, and handed me a free programme. The theatre itself has about five rows of benches, intriguingly upholstered with cut-up denims! Something I haven't seen before, but comfortable enough. There were only about 10 people in the audience - the strike might have contributed to that.

The first play - Private View, by Havel - concerns a fellow who's invited round by a couple who are old friends of his, and want him to see what they've done with the place. It's a brilliantly observed piece about a kind of people we all know, who feel they've done so very well for themselves that they just have to share it. And try to mould you in their image. And so, this hapless fellow goes from faking interest in the various things they want to show him, to having to defend himself against a constant stream of jibes about his own life, and how they feel it doesn't measure up to theirs. We all know them - but how often do we see their foibles exposed so bluntly? A beautiful piece, terrifically acted.

The more so because I got a coughing fit that lasted a few minutes. Not constantly - just a cough every 10 seconds or so for most of it. I sympathised with the poor actors, and my poor fellow audience members - I really thought, for a while there, I was going to have to leave. But I consoled myself with the thought that it's usually not nearly as bad for the other audience members as for the poor person trying to stifle it - and, thank God, it eventually subsided.

Because I really didn't want to miss Beckett. These are short plays, about half an hour each, with barely an interval in between - just enough time for them to remove the set. The set for the first play comprises pieces of furniture and props - after all, the visitor has to have something to look at! Catastrophe, however, is a typically sparse Beckett play, whose set consists of a chair and a plinth. The actors do a quick costume change, and the same appear in the second play.

The play is a particularly political one, with a theatre director reviewing the way his assistant has arranged the protagonist on the plinth. The protagonist, it seems, represents the common people - more specifically, Havel himself, it seems, who was a great friend of Beckett's. The director and assistant, then, spend their time dressing and undressing this poor man - manipulating him like an extra large dress-up doll (those in power manipulating the common people). However, it's deeper than that, with the director dismissing the arrangements that the assistant has made, both belittling her and further humiliating the protagonist in the process.

Mostly, it's - as I say - a typically sparse Beckett play, with much silence (boy, am I glad I didn't have to cough during this one!) and some repetition, each word counting for something. Finally, the director and assistant both meld into the background, leaving us to focus on the protagonist, who's been arranged in a kind of supplicant position on the plinth. He's been forbidden this whole time from showing his face, and once they have him where they want him, the applause rises. At the end, however, he lifts his face, and the applause dies away.. this is the one point where the production fell down, the applause didn't noticeably die away as he lifted his head. It more cut out before he did so. Pity - but you have to be so careful with Beckett, it's so precise. Still, it's a joy to watch. I highly recommend this show - runs until the 15th.

Well, tomorrow I'm booked to go to a classical concert in St. Martin in the Fields church, at the far corner of Trafalgar Square, with the Let's Do London - for less! group. Discounted tickets and a free cd! I'd better take some mints - don't want a repetition of tonight's coughing fit! I'd been too confident and didn't bring anything tonight. Of course, there's another wee problem - I can't take the Tube.. now, during the last strike, I took a bus to just past Trafalgar Square. It took me an hour and a half, and on the top deck of a Routemaster on a sunny day, I was boiling! (Deficient aircon and no opening windows.) Well gee, Google Maps tells me I can walk there in an hour and 15 minutes - and with new Skechers, that is exactly what I'm going to do! Coming back could actually be more of a problem, trying to cram onto a bus..

Then I'm back to Ireland for a long weekend, because flights were so expensive on Sunday! So I'm flying back on Monday instead. On Tuesday, I'm going to a play called The Gathered Leaves, showing in the Park Theatre. It's quite a while since I've been there.. It stars Jane Asher, and the official website had no availability. There were any number of tickets available from second-hand sellers though, all £26, for a face value of £20. I went with Time Out, who, I'm glad to see, have removed their exorbitant fees.

Next Wednesday, I'm headed to the Globe again (whoopee!) for a production called The Heresy of Love. This was originally advertised as a Meetup with the London Dramatic Arts group, but the Meetup was cancelled - unusually for that group, there weren't any takers! Not a Globe crowd, I guess.. their loss. Anyway, I was lucky, and literally got a ticket in the last hour of a Time Out offer.

And on Thursday of next week, I'm back with Let's Do London - for less! for a production entitled (ahem) Bears in Space. In the Soho Theatre, naturally. Gotta hand it to this Meetup group, its Meetups are nothing if not varied. And between this group and the London Dramatic Arts group constantly reminding us that things are selling out - I've become unusually organised, booking ahead! For this month only though, and I can pretty much guarantee it won't last..