Plays: Beautiful Little Fools & Borders in the Bedroom

Tonight, a member of the frightfully busy Up in the Cheap Seats advertised a couple of plays in the Camden Fringe Festival - obviously a thing of his, considering everything he's been advertising! And I've booked most of it.. Tonight was two short plays: Beautiful Little Fools, in The Cockpit, and Borders in a Bedroom, in the Tristan Bates Theatre.

I had a late meeting, but left in decent time - according to Google Maps, who told me to take the 38 to Oxford Street and another bus from there. Well, I was happily gliding down Piccadilly, when I realised we'd been going straight for too long - according to the directions, we should have turned by now. Checking where we actually were, I was appalled to discover that I was way off track. (I did wonder why a Victoria-bound bus coming from that direction would be headed via Oxford Street.) I got off at the next stop, Green Park, and asked directions of it again - now, it said to take the 6, which was imminent. When there was no sign of that either, I gave up on Google Maps, and took the Tube to Marylebone instead.

I like Marylebone station, with its elegant, lace-effect steelwork. And it wasn't a long walk to the Cockpit - Google Maps knew where it was going, this time. The box office is right inside the door, so I picked up my ticket, then entered a crammed bar. With no idea where the few members of the group who were going this evening might be in the crowd, I got myself a glass of wine - not exactly in a wine glass, but it was cheap, and good. And after looking around for a bit, I did spy the Meetup sign on a table - the organiser had said he'd pop it on a table if he could get one. The sofa was very soft.. and very, very low! And so we sat there for a bit before the doors finally opened and we made our way in.

Unallocated seating - we took positions on one of the benches in the front row. Those near the door were reserved - obviously for latecomers, and wisely; there were quite a few, later. Again, the front-row benches were really low - they must have a thing for that, here! A few piles of - junk - delineated the limits of the stage area, so we were quite safe in stretching out our legs.

Beautiful Little Fools had some young women, in identical white, shift dresses, trapped in some doorless, windowless room. Ankle bracelets delivered electric shocks when they misbehaved - and periodically, a high-pitched whine presaged the broadcast of a series of reactionary political statements, from recognisable politicians: despite Maggie's voice being heavily distorted! Disturbing, flashing lights caused me trouble, as well as them. They were obviously being brainwashed - for some unspecified purpose. During the hour or so that it lasted, we got to see their progress from confusion and fear to a certain social order, and with competing personalities, we got to guess which would prevail.

Turns out one of the performers actually wrote the piece - well done her! It's a very interesting idea, and was enthusiastically done, although not the most polished thing I've seen, and a couple of the performers didn't ring true to me. However, a good effort, beautifully staged on a minimalist set. Only ran for two nights in the festival, ending tonight.

Afterwards, we all took the Tube south, me and the organiser getting off at Piccadilly Circus for our next outing. Wouldn't you know, the Tristan Bates Theatre is down a side street right across from my office! I was also surprised to realise I've been here before - a couple of times, I think, but years ago - pre-blog, as I don't have a label for it. Anyway, once we'd got our tickets, we repaired to the downstairs bar - which was absolutely hopping! Well, this performance - and I believe, the whole run now - was sold out. We got drinks and snacks - double-bills are hungry affairs - and found ourselves a morsel of space, moving upstairs after a while to reception, where there was more air to breathe.

A technical issue meant a late start, and we were relieved when they finally opened the doors, just with the crush of people, inside and out! Unallocated seating again, on rather more comfortable folding seats. The whole of Borders in the Bedroom takes place in the bedroom of the title, where we see the argument between a man and woman, Muslim and Hindu, American and British, of Pakistani and Indian descent, an architect and an artist, one who wants kids and one who doesn't.. with constant news briefings broadcast on her mobile, mostly describing terrorist, religious-based atrocities: really, could they have more to fight about?

It's brilliant. No disrespect to Beautiful Little Fools, but the writing in this is so superior. The playwright (also taking the woman's role in this) delivers a snappy script, her characters batting accusations at each other in a seemingly never-ending game of verbal tennis. But hey, it's not all doom and gloom - it's frequently hilarious, with her, when she thinks she's losing a point, constantly falling back on her refrain "But it's my birthday!" with a perfectly executed pout. Which he can never resist.

The whole room was enthralled, and the hour flew by, as we wondered whether peace would reign, and what it would take: the take-away message is that what's required is compromise, love, and perhaps looking at things in a totally new way.. Runs till Saturday, and if you're around the theatre, well worth checking for returns. You'll be glad if you get one. The lady beside me must have been so proud - she certainly sounded so, as she informed me that the lady in the play was her best friend's daughter!

Tomorrow, I had booked free comedy in Greenwich, with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, and Random London. Then I booked with London Live Comedy and Funzing UK for "Gangster Magic" at The Water Rats. Magic and comedy - sounded interesting. Finally, however, I was saved by London Literary Walks, whose organiser is running a walk that evening on 101 Dalmatians! Honestly, I don't really know what the walk is about - but it has to be better. Mary messaged me about it - for some reason, I didn't get a notification. It is supposed to rain, and he scheduled a provisional date the day after - but of course, I'm busy that day, and would rather tomorrow. And it seems there's no great enthusiasm for Thursday, so that should be ok! Funnily enough, I passed the pub we're to meet in on my walk from the station this evening - well, I'll know to treat Google Maps with a bit more scepticism when I map out my route tomorrow!

On Thursday, the London European Club is off to a contemporary dance performance called Morphed, at the Royal Festival Hall. It's part of the Nordic Matters festival, apparently.

On Friday, handily enough, Spooky London Pubs (another new group for me - I think!) are hosting a talk on Conan Doyle and the Mysterious World of Light. Handiest of all, it's in the King and Queen - my local! Why, I pass it every day.. Couldn't miss the opportunity to pop in.

On Saturday, I'm finally back with London Dramatic Arts, for the opening night of Against, with Ben Whishaw, at the Almeida. I'm in the rear stalls - they also have tickets in the front stalls, for a higher price, of course. They're actually also going to see Apologia, with Stockard Channing and Laura Carmichael, earlier in the day, but for a ridiculous price, so I passed on that. (Never mind, I'm going myself - cheaper - in October: cheapest tickets I found were with Amazon Tickets.)

On Sunday, I've now booked with Carpe Diem, who are doing a Cockney Walk.

On Monday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats: just a single play this time, Dark Room, at the Etcetera Theatre.

Next Tuesday, back with Funzing: LDN Talks @Night and London Speaks Sessions have a talk called Z List - Dead List! So, a comedian is to regale us with tales of nefarious dead people, and we are to decide who deserves to become a celebrity forever! I got a 30% discount with the code WELLBEING30. Shoreditch, as usual - this one is in the Loves Company Cocktail Bar.

On the 16th, another Camden Fringe double bill with Up in the Cheap Seats: Ego, in The Lion and Unicorn, and The Trial of Le Singe, in The Water Rats.

On the 17th, I'm headed to a rather interesting talk on Bodysnatching in Southwark! Mary, too.. and it's a funny thing, all the tickets were gone when I first saw it, but then I checked again on spec, and more were available! Lucky. As advertised by Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts - but they're not running it, tickets are available on Eventbrite, and are free. I see London Social Detours are going too. Then I'm back to Ireland again for the weekend.

On the 21st, I'm off to see Jesus Christ Superstar, finally! At the open-air theatre in Regent's Park - hope it doesn't rain.

On the 22nd, my first talk with Scarlet Ladies UK (!). Their stated aim is to abolish the stigma of talking about sex.. so they have a load of talks. This one is about the history of slut-shaming.

On the 23rd, back with Jennifer Rees (and the same two Meetup Funzing groups again), for a talk about the Psychology of Serial Killers. This is at least the third instance of this talk - I was booked for one last month, but had to cancel - it clashed with the trip to the Icebar. The next was sold out - and then I saw this one and booked, at last! It's on the Battersea Barge, of all places! Just a 10% discount this time - I see the latest code for that is crazy_fun.

On the 24th, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, a musical about the life of Billie Holiday. Nice and close to me, at Wyndham's.

On the 25th, back with the same group (!) for yet another Camden Fringe double bill: Boris - the Musical! at the Cockpit again, and Make Advena Great Again, at Camden People's Theatre. Goodness, that's only a short walk from home..

On the 26th, I'm back to the Proms for the first time in years! Funnily enough, it was inspired by a Meetup group - Gothic Requiem London (!). This is the "Gothic Prom", you see - all the composers are Czech (Bohemian). Now, I'm no Goth - but the Proms sound like a great idea.

On the 27th, I'm off on a day trip to Bath, with Carpe Diem: booked while I was in Barcelona, recently.

On the 28th, the organiser of Walks, Talks & Treasure Hunts promised Helen and me free tickets to a treasure hunt she was organising that day - in recompense for that treasure hunt, not run by her but advertised by her, where the organisers never showed, and instead marked us as no-shows. However, the event on the 28th still hasn't been advertised, and what with severe engineering works at Waterloo for the whole month, Helen's not sure she can make it at all. We shall see.

On the 29th, I'm off to see Five Guys Named Moe, at the Marble Arch Theatre - a pop-up, it seems! From the Box Office provided the best deal on this occasion.

On the 30th, back with Up in the Cheap Seats, for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, at the Apollo (although booking is with the Young Vic), with Sienna Miller, Colm Meaney, and nudity. Cheapest tickets this time were with LoveTheatre.

On the 31st, back with those two Funzing groups. This time, the talk is entitled "Can You Trust the Media?", and is given by Annie Machon, who gave an interesting talk last month on Russian Hacking. Another 30% discount. I just wish she'd use some visual aids.. At the Lighthouse again, terrific. :-/ Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

On the 4th September, I'm finally going to see Dreamgirls, at the Savoy. Amazon Tickets, again.

On the 5th September, back with the Scarlet Ladies for a talk on Generation Sex.

On the 6th September, I'm with another new group - North London Friends - for an interview with Michael Palin, at the Knowledge Centre Theatre at the British Library. I was really torn, though - London European Club is off to an early music concert the same night, and I do love that - but had already booked this, and it is Michael Palin. Hey-ho..

On the 7th September, back with North London Friends, and another talk on Fake News - different speaker, mind! This is the Fulbright Commission annual lecture, at the British Library.

On the 8th September, until today I was still technically booked for free comedy in Hammersmith with DiscoverLDN.UK. But, as I say - good atmosphere, but the comedy is usually pretty bad. I was saved - again - by Up in the Cheap Seats, who are off to see Doubt, a Parable, in Southwark Playhouse. Aww.. it's so long since I was there, and I have so many good memories of it from my time with the Man with the Hat!

On the 9th September, Helen and I have our 25km sponsored walk, in aid of Haslemere's Cat Protection Society. We're going as Dick Whittington and his cat, respectively, and the route is the Thames Bridges Trek. You can donate here..

Which will tire me out nicely, just in time for my flight to Prague the next morning! I'm at a conference there, Sunday to Tuesday. (What a nice company I work for!) Gee, but I love Prague - most beautiful city I've ever seen, and I've seen a few. They're putting me up at a nice hotel too, just down the road.

So, I fly back on the 12th September, and on the 13th I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats, at Sadler's Wells, for the Hofesh Schechter Company grand finale.

On the 14th September, I'm at another talk with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts - this one, at Southwark Cathedral, is about the River Effra, South London's Secret Spine. Another free Eventbrite event, this is to publicise a book about the subject, and the talk is given by the author. Another thing that had no tickets, then it did! Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

On the 18th September, I'm off to Showstopper! at the Lyric. Ticket courtesy of From the Box Office again. I have actually seen this before - but, being an improvised musical, it literally is different every time!

On the 19th September, back with the Scarlet Ladies, for a talk entitled 100 Women - Their Breasts, Their Stories.

On the 20th September, Funzing (same two groups) and Jennifer Rees again - this time, a fun talk about the Psychology of Batman Villains! The first of hers for which I managed to get a 30% discount.. and it's on nice and close to me again. Seems to be a feature of her talks!

On the 21st September, technically, free comedy in Hammersmith - with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, and DiscoverLDN.UK. And on the 22nd and 23rd September, the same - with DiscoverLDN.UK. I rather doubt it though - don't you?

I had booked the same on the 24th September, but was again saved - this time, by the World Music Meetup! They're off to see Kefaya, in Nell's Jazz and Blues bar, back in my old stomping ground of North End Road! Happy days, when I was working there..

On the 25th September, a group called Theatre and Stuff is off to see Prism, at Hampstead Theatre. They're charging extra to go with them, though - so I happily bought my own ticket. What the hey, odds are I won't know any of them anyway.

On the 26th September, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats - to see Wings, at The Young Vic. Accidentally booked standing, I think.. :-/

On the 27th September, with Up in the Cheap Seats again - for Jekyll & Hyde, presented by the National Youth Theatre, at the Ambassadors Theatre.

On the 28th September, with another new group: London, Surrey and Beyond.. for an event called "A Unique Experience. Olde Pub, Gerry's Private Club, 2 'i's Famous Fish 'n' Chips". Which says it all, really! Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.

On the 2nd October, back at Hampstead Theatre, for No One Will Tell Me How to Start a Revolution. North London Friends are attending - and charging extra, so I'm going it alone!

On the 3rd October, free comedy in Hammersmith - nominally. With Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich. Or not!

On the 4th October, Up in the Cheap Seats and Labour of Love, with Martin Freeman, at the Noel Coward Theatre. Cheapest tickets from the venue, for once!

On the 5th October, same group - headed to see the Company Wayne McGregor, at Sadler's Wells.

And finally! on the 6th October, headed to see Chekhov's The Seagull, at the Lyric. Third night in a row for that group - almost as busy a group as I am a person!