Of course, the eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed that neither of those was what I ended up going to.. nope, it was another of those groups that shall be nameless (but wasn't always so shy - if you're a regular reader, you'll remember me mentioning a group that specialises in films). Well, last Tuesday - as I was hurrying to the British Library - they put out an offer to see Mr. Mercedes tonight! Including a Q+A with Harry Treadaway, who plays the title character. Based on the award-winning book by Stephen King, and part of the Stephen King season the BFI are running until early next month - and today is actually his 70th birthday! I was mad keen to go. Unfortunately, the internet connection en route was dicey, and by the time I checked again, once I'd got where I was going, the tickets were all gone. I could've got a full-price ticket, but didn't fancy it.
Lo and behold, just this morning they got in touch again, to say they'd secured extra tickets.. and I got one! Whee.. my second ticket to this season from them. So I left work a bit earlier than I otherwise would've, to walk across the river. It had been raining quite unpleasantly, but had eased off by the time I left. This time, I knew to join the queue at the "Guest Passes" desk - not as central a seat as last time, but never mind.
I settled down in my plush and comfy seat, and soon we were into the two-episode preview. This is the first King novel not to venture into the world of the fantastical, and has impressed many - a straightforward thriller, if you like, but with that touch of dark King magic. Reading the blurb that accompanies all showings here, I learned that the pace of the tv series is much slower than the book - they've padded it out with the elaboration of many of the minor characters. Which is no bad thing, as I thought - and as it proved.
Basically, this is the story of a psychopath who drives a Mercedes into a crowd of innocent people (ooh, quite topical then!). Not a spoiler - this happens in the first scene, and is not for the faint-hearted. He kills several, but is never caught - the case continues to plague the detective who investigated it and has now retired (Brendan Gleeson). He spends his days brooding, drinking, and evading the charms of his persistent - and nosey - next-door neighbour (Holland Taylor, reminding me in this very much of a now-deceased neighbour of my mother's). Until, that is, he starts to get messages from "Mr. Mercedes", the man who drove that car..
I really liked it, and will look to see the rest of the series. I think it's very well cast - I just bought the book, in fact, and will have to decide whether to wait until I've seen the rest of the tv series before I read it! The Q+A introduced us to the villain - looking quite reasonable, in person - who explained to us how he took a psychopath test, just out of curiosity, and how he got into the mind of the character. We discussed how topical the story is, and indeed it seems that the book's finale has the psycho planning a suicide bombing at a pop concert. As they were preparing to shoot this, the news of the Manchester bombing came though - and they decided to switch the targeted venue to another public event.
Someone in the audience brought up the subject of everyday violence - the speaker mentioned Grand Theft Auto, and I was reminded of a clever shot in the first episode, where our first introduction to the electronics store where Mr. Mercedes works is to have the camera pan across a couple of screens where people are playing violent video games. We had a good old natter about how he actually met the ever-busy Stephen King on set, once (he wanted a cameo), and how the series - which has premiered in the States, and has had its first episode air in Ireland - hasn't aired here yet! He couldn't predict when it would. And he finished by filming us all singing Happy Birthday to Mr. King and emailing it to him!
Tomorrow, it was the same free comedy - with DiscoverLDN.UK. But, d'you know, it was only last week I remembered they'd actually cancelled it! I'm now off to Proof, at The Courtyard.. with the (another un-nameable) club that charges £3.60. And I don't book that free comedy any more, considering I'm unlikely ever again to go to it.
On Saturday, I was to do the same comedy, 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! Sold out now, I believe.
I had booked the same free comedy, with the same group, on Sunday, 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 Monday, 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 Tuesday, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats - to see Wings, at the Young Vic. Accidentally booked standing, I think.. :-/
On Wednesday, I was with Up in the Cheap Seats again - for Jekyll & Hyde, presented by the National Youth Theatre, at the Ambassadors Theatre. But gee, of course, London Literary Walks is out again - King's Cross and John Betjeman, this one. Likely to be the last of the year - I couldn't miss it.
Next Thursday, I was 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! But then TunedIn advertised flamenco at Sands Films.. irresistible really. So I've booked that instead. And then RSVPed with the World Music Meetup, when they finally got around to advertising it. 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.
On the 10th October, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Ballet Boyz at Sadler's Wells.
On the 11th October, back with Funzing (London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night) for a talk on Revolution in Iran: Girl with a Gun. This will be an interview with a female Kurdish revolutionary.. on the Battersea Barge, which I believe can get choppy. Never mind. This is one I got for free, for completing a loyalty card with three talks.
On the 12th October, Let's Do This are back to St. Martin-in-the-Fields, where London Concertante is performing Bach Violin Concertos. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
And on the 16th October, back at Southwark Playhouse with Up in the Cheap Seats - this time, it's for A Day By the Sea.
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