Tonight, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (!) for yet another Camden Fringe double bill: Boris - the Musical! at the Cockpit again (the London European Club - LEC - were also going to this), and Make Advena Great Again, at Camden People's Theatre. Goodness, that's only a short walk from home..
So, after I'd finished a bottle of wine at the office (don't worry, I had lunch with it! from Cafe Milano, downstairs - who seem to have got their card machine working again, BTW), I set off. All the way down to Piccadilly Circus to catch the 139 - sadly, I'd just missed one, but figured I'd be ok waiting for the next. Which I was - but only just about; the blasted bus was diverted, and I ended up walking further than I'd have liked! As I was collecting my ticket from the box office, the organiser saw me and called to me that they were just going in - and the queue was kind enough to let me in just a bit behind them. So we were, indeed, all sat more or less together.
Of course, this was a musical about Boris Johnson. And the actor playing the chap in question was apparently pressing the flesh in the bar beforehand - certainly, he seemed effusive afterwards as well, giving me as firm a handshake as I've ever had. (Wonder whether the real Boris would have done as well..?) And so we spent a hilarious hour or so, being educated in the life (to date) of this most self-obsessed politico.
It was fantastic.. witty, great use of popular tunes, which they'd set their own words to: and topical.. they must have crammed pretty much every political factoid over the last couple of years into it, even if just as a throwaway line. Like the one about the pig.. the description of the Bullingdon Club as "a cross between Downton Abbey and Fight Club" was inspired, as was the Church of Brexit, the faithful singing the chorus and evoking the spirit of Farage. Cameron and Gove were in it, and Corbyn - discarding his red tie - but I got the greatest kick out of Theresa May, desperately trying - above all - to avoid having to speak to ANYONE, a horrified expression on her face.
Terrific stuff. I was just sorry that we didn't have time to stay with the others afterwards, but the organiser and I had somewhere else to be, of course! And with one person joining us who hadn't been at the first show - we had to get there asap. Which meant catching the next bus to, oh, pretty much the top of my road! We arrived a few minutes late, but soon identified him as the only guy on his own. And after not very long, we went into the theatre.
Bench seating in the front row had cushions all over it - our organiser wisely observed that it seemed hard, and instead we sat on chairs in the second row. UV lighting helps with the decor, highlighting the colours on the peacock-like sheet erected as a backdrop. And on the actors' faces, which are gaudily painted.
So, the basic premise is that Advena is an institute for the investigation of alien contact. As in extra-terrestrials. One of the characters is hoping to get an internship there - she's always been fascinated with them. But - have they something to hide?
What a contrast in shows. The first tonight had so much to pack in - this, really, has so little. The actors' enthusiasm is impressive - and is the main reason to see the show. There's just one morose character - Sandra - who acts as a good counterfoil to the endless chirpiness of the others, and is therefore perhaps the most memorable. Otherwise.. nah, we'd really have done better to stay in the Cockpit, with the others. Anyway, runs till Sunday, if you're interested.
Afterwards, we repaired to The Jack Horner, for just the one - handy for me, almost right across the road from home! A decent pub, if over-infested with loud music - and toilets that looked like they'd experienced a toilet paper war!
Tomorrow, after a welcome lie-in, 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 Sunday, I'm off on a day trip to Bath, with Carpe Diem: booked while I was in Barcelona, recently. Tarnation, an early start - ah well.
On Monday, 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 Monday 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. Mary and I were also thinking of going to the pictures - watch this space.
On Tuesday, 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. And the organiser of last night's event is keen to hear my feedback - of the venue as well as of the show - as she's taking a group there later in the year.
On Wednesday, I was 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. And then, London Literary Walks advertised one. So, instead, I'm off on The Michelin Walk.
On Thursday, back with London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night, for a Funzing talk. 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, courtesy of Amazon Tickets.
On the 5th September, I was back with the Scarlet Ladies for a talk on Generation Sex. Until Let's Do This advertised a concert that sounds really good.. at the Apples & Pears Bar. Hey, I do allow myself to change if something sounds better.. and as I say, the Scarlet Ladies are not my kind of ladies.
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 - the LEC 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, I was 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. However, much more attractively, Let's Do This are reviving what used to be a regular Man with the Hat event - we're off to St. Martin-in-the-Fields, for some Vivaldi concertos. With a discount, yet! London Concertante, as usual.
On the 8th September, until the other day 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.. Must try and pick up some decent walking shoes at the weekend.
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 again given by the author. Another thing that had no tickets, then it did (no notification)! I'm not going to believe any messages about door closures. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On the 18th September, I was 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! But you'll never guess - the Crick Crack Club finally announced their autumn schedule last Friday, and now, that night, I'm off to Eaten Father, Eaten Mother by Ben Haggerty. In Soho Theatre, first time in ages.
On the 19th September, back with the Scarlet Ladies, for a talk entitled 100 Women - Their Breasts, Their Stories. Although actually, if I didn't like the other night's, I think I'll hate this - will be looking for alternatives.
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 September, the same - with DiscoverLDN.UK. I rather doubt it though - don't you?
On the 23rd September, I was to do the same, but am now headed to the launch of Rob Luft's new album, Riser, at King's Place. As advertised by The London Jazz Meetup. I finally ended up paying their membership fee after booking an event with them the other day, for November, which someone is attending that I know. So I figured it was wiser!
I had booked the same free comedy, with the same group, 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, I had booked at Hampstead Theatre, for No One Will Tell Me How to Start a Revolution. North London Friends are attending - and charging extra, so I was going it alone! But now it turns out I'm spending the week in the Stockholm office - back on the 8th.
On the 3rd October, it was free comedy in Hammersmith - nominally. With Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich. So, that was easy to cancel, for Stockholm!
On the 4th October was 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! So, four things in all I had to cancel, without refund.. what the hey, I'll doubtless be saving money in Stockholm! Expenses paid, after all.
On the 9th October, I'm finally going to see the show so many people have asked me whether I'm seeing. Ink is showing at the Duke of York's Theatre.
And on the 10th October, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Ballet Boyz at Sadler's Wells.
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