Left in good time, and could walk everywhere:
Sadly, this Hotel Chocolat didn't have what I want either! The search continues. And I didn't get a free choccie here. Anyway, for now, I was off to the Barbican - weird, approaching from the other side of Silk Street, but I found my way!
I'd had to read the arrangement email twice to get the meeting location - "side of the bar" on Level -1. It was only on the second read that I got the fact that it was Level -1, not Level 1 - that is where the box office is, and is also the entrance to the theatre stalls, so it made sense. I don't blame the three people who mistook it though, and were waiting upstairs.. Meantime, downstairs, I did a circuit of the bar and ran into someone who had to collect his ticket. And then we hung out at the side of the bar, until our organiser came and got us, and took us to the side of the adjacent cafe, where some others had gathered..
So we hung out there until it was time to go in. My e-ticket - which could be displayed on my phone - was unfortunately quite tiny, and could only be fully seen by zooming out even further! Happily, the usher who showed me in had good eyesight. And took so much trouble over it that he clean forgot to check my bag! So I climbed up some stairs, and down some more, to my seat in the prow of the Upper Circle. Where you have plenty of room, and are nice and snug, in that corner all on your own - but there is an annoying rail right in your eyeline. And I did miss a little of the action, right to my near side:
And so to the play - 90 minutes without interval. Almost as bare a stage as last night, tonight's did include a potted plant on a stand, and two deckchairs. And a cane, although it's not really used to effect. The story actually pretty closely follows the plot of the film, despite some saying afterwards that they didn't remember this or that (well, it was a long time ago) - on St. Valentine's Day, 1900, a group of young ladies from a refined Australian boarding school take an outing to the local landmark of Hanging Rock, where there is a picnic. It's a hot day - that's summer, in the Antipodes - but while most slumber afterwards, a small group decide to explore the rock further. Some never return..
It starts as narration - five young women perform the whole thing, switching from one part to another, usually with a costume change. The costumes in general, while school uniforms, are modern-day ones, not from 1900 - although one costume from 1900 does make it in eventually. And one man's costume, which helps with identification.
After the exposition, when the girls head on their last, fateful journey up the rock, things start to get weird. Different chapters are introduced by surtitles, punctuated by darkness, which is when people come on and off, and props get moved. Actually, I think they do a great job of reproducing the sense of disorientation that I felt from the film - and all of this from an almost empty stage! I loved the sheer sense of unnerve, unsure of what on earth will happen on stage every time the lights come up, as the sense of civilisation collapses. Recommended, if you love the film. Runs till Saturday.
Afterwards, most felt they had to rush off, for one reason or another - despite quite an early finish! Just the one stayed, and we kept each other company for an hour or so, chatting, and musing on why this group - of all that we go to - is so disinclined to socialise afterwards. It's not unheard of - but frankly, it's unusual. Of the 36 Meetups I've been to with them so far, in only nine of those cases did we go for drinks afterwards: and on three of those nine occasions, the organiser didn't join us! Up to them, of course - but not typical of other groups that I'm in, and I do think it's a crying shame. Standing around discussing the evening is all very well - but wouldn't it be rather nicer to sit..? You might ask why I don't host my own - frankly, I don't have the time: and frequently, the energy - to do it as I would like to see it done.. the Man with the Hat has spoiled me for that, and I wouldn't like to do anything inferior to his.
Tomorrow, Up in the Cheap Seats again, for Beats on Pointe. Unfortunately, this is in the Peacock, rather than the closer Sadler's Wells. I suspect it won't be a late night - another we're unlikely to be drinking after. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.
On Monday, I'm off to see Jake Bugg at the Palladium (yes, another that used to be walking distance..) Honestly, I'd never heard of him, but he sounded ok on YouTube.
On Tuesday, an opera in Sanskrit..! without subtitles. Satyagraha is at the Coliseum, and is about Gandhi. So I should figure it out - could do with the Sanskrit scholar from last night's play! Gosh, it's ages since I've been there..
Next Wednesday, Summer and Smoke (Tennessee Williams) at the Almeida. Does include actual cigarette smoke, and a gunshot. North London Friends are going, but I'm going independently. Limited seats available..
On the 1st, back with Up in the Cheap Seats at the Bridge Theatre, for what I hear is a stunning performance of Julius Caesar. You get the choice of being part of the crowd - I'm not. Modern setting.
On the 2nd, back with North London Friends, at Hampstead Theatre, for Acceptance.
On the 3rd, Up in the Cheap Seats, and Beginning, at the Ambassadors Theatre. For once, not an official ticket for this - got better value with What's on Stage!
On the 4th, I found another Southwark tour - excellent! The "Family Friendly Liberty of the Clink" tour is run by Walking in London.. therefore Funzing.. and Londonist is involved somewhere too. Hard to keep track of everyone involved in walks. The standard code (crazy_fun) is still giving 10% off on Funzing's website.
On the 5th, London European Club is headed to Monologue Slam, an actors' showcase at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East.
On the 6th, Up in the Cheap Seats is at Sadler's Wells for a performance by Ballet British Colombia.
On the 7th, Let's Do This is off to a jazz evening at Two Temple Place. Beautiful venue - should be a lovely evening.
On the 8th, Walking Victorian London is running a walk around Il Quartiere - Tales from Italian Clerkenwell. Excellent - I've had my eye on that for a while. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
And on the 12th, London Dramatic Arts is at Caroline, or Change, at Hampstead Theatre. As usual, too expensive for me, and I got my own ticket, at about half the price. She's only going with one unnamed guest - maybe she won't go at all!
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