Like on Monday, I could walk to the meeting point.. and arrived at the Mason's Arms in good time. I joined them down the back - under the watchful eyes of Churchill..
(brrr.) More photos here.
Anyway, apart from that, it's a pleasant place - all wood and glass inside, a forest of flowers outside. When it was time, we left - still missing one of our number, but as with last time, he rang when he was nearby, and caught up with us.
A lovely evening for a walk, too. The usual round of fascinating folks and facts followed. The Rosettis, for instance, lived at Rosetti House, just down the road. We passed the house of Edward R. Murrow, and heard all about his adventures with radio during the Second World War. We passed the site of the house where Lister lived. Learned all about dioramas, and the development of photography. We passed on to the elegant terraces surrounding Regent's Park.. I found that Cumberland Terrace seemed to have the best sound for listening to Jesus Christ Superstar, over the trees!
We made a special detour to a dark courtyard, to see London's jelling stone - an ancient Danish artefact, including runic script:
..and finished up in the lively area of Camden. A longish walk - but packed with so many different things, it's no surprise. The evening ended convivially in The World's End - a cavernous place, which I've often passed but never before entered. I finally decided to walk home - it wasn't that far really, and I need the practice for next month. Sadly, passed en route a venue that I've visited many's the time. another victim of progress:
RIP The Forge. Too late to blog, that night.
Yesterday, 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. Passed it the other week, in fact. And gee, all of five minutes' walk from the office! Which was handy - I needed the extra hours at work, with everything I'd had to do, and made the theatre about 10 minutes before showtime. Identified the group, gathered outside - but with the crowd flooding the theatre doors, I figured I'd better get my ticket, which I had to collect from the box office. And with the crowds streaming in, I couldn't realistically have joined them outside, after that.
So started my trek up to the balcony - where most of us were seated. It's a very long way, you know.. lots and lots of stairs, balustrades interestingly snuggled in purpose-built niches in the walls. Seatplan had kindly informed me that Row A was tight for legroom - as I could see, people struggling to find somewhere to put their knees! They did say the same for Row B - but I'd seen that an aisle seat was available there, which was what I chose. Have to say, Row B was quite ok; there is a rail, but free space underneath means there's plenty of room to flex your legs. Just do try not to kick the heads of the row in front - they have enough problems, cramped as they are! Awkward to get into Row B though, not much step space. The view is high, but perfectly good: cabaret-style tables in the stalls and on stage, as you can see..
Mind you, with the seat backs as upright as they are, I kept having the feeling that I was being pushed forward - and ended up quite stiff.
It would've helped if I'd moved more - but you see, I was so enthralled! Audra McDonald is a six-time Tony award winner, it seems - and oh my, on the evidence of this, she deserves every one. Dressed in an elegant white gown - eventually donning the gardenias for which Bille Holiday was famous - she storms the house in a 90-minute show, which takes the form of a cabaret concert in a supper club. And in that time, she seems literally possessed by the spirit of Billie Holiday. I've never made much study of Billie Holiday - but it sounded authentic to me.
Kudos to her for singing for that long - and for eight shows a week - in a voice that isn't her natural one! We heard classics such as God Bless the Child and Strange Fruit - and also, as during the course of the evening, she succumbed to the effects of the booze, constantly in her hand - she told us about her sad life. Wow. This is an absolutely amazing performance - not to be missed. Runs until the 9th only.. rush out and get a ticket. I'd have joined in the standing ovation at the end, had I not been so oddly positioned at the very edge of the stairs!
Afterwards, to the Hippodrome - somewhere, again, that I've passed about a million times, but never before entered. We did have a bit of trouble getting in - the bouncer on the side door wanted ID, unexpectedly! So we wandered around the front, where he was happy as long as he could peer in our bags. Passing the slots and gaming tables, we headed to the upstairs bar - after waiting forever to be served, we made our way to the lounge, along appropriately decorated floors:
We could have gotten served in the lounge, but would have been charged for table service. And so we had a convivial drink, in plush surroundings, and good company:
Again, home too late to blog. Tonight, back with the same group (!) for yet another Camden Fringe double bill: Boris - the Musical! at the Cockpit again (the London European Club - LEC - are also going to this), and Make Advena Great Again, at Camden People's Theatre. Goodness, that's only a short walk from home..
Tomorrow, 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 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, 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment