Two buses to get there, but it worked out absolutely fine. As I was boarding the second, large drops started to fall on my head - sure enough, the sky, brilliant blue just minutes before, had turned black just about there. And it lashed rain for the rest of my journey - happily, I wasn't out in it for very long.
I had the most ridiculous wait at the box office, behind a woman who seemed to be enquiring about the entire season. I haven't seen the like in years - has she not heard of the internet? Mind you, I can't talk.. when I was looking for this booking, for some reason I completely missed the e-ticket in my inbox, just seeing the confirmation! Which was why I was queueing in the first place. Not finding my physical ticket, the poor girl was very flustered, and asked me for my order number.. took me ages to search my inbox, during which time I told her it was booked in November, and she found it anyway. Oops, sorry..!
While I was waiting, I got a text from the organiser - apparently, some others did too - to say that he had no idea when he'd get there, as someone had fallen in front of his train. Sorry to hear about the unfortunate victim, of course - but Lordy, this organiser has the worst luck with public transport! Well, I queued for ages to get a drink - the performance being sold out, the place was packed - and schlepped upstairs, where I met the others on the mezzanine - the upstairs bar was too packed. And we had a nice chat.
And so into the theatre - most of us were in the stalls. This is based on the true story of Dr. James Stagg - you might not have heard of him, but he was the meteorologist that was instrumental in persuading Eisenhower to delay the D-Day invasion for 24 hours. He's played by Olivier award-winner David Haig, who also wrote it - and my God, does he make the weather interesting! You could not wish for a more tense and exciting play, as they use the now-archaic technology to try to make longterm predictions - easy to see why it sold out. Perfectly balanced, with just enough science to make sense, but not so much as to become overwhelming.
In fact, the constant scurrying and frantic action reminded me of work. It's true what they say in the blurb - tense, exciting, and moving by the end. The sense truly comes across that this is a man that believes passionately in what he's doing - and it's infectious. Also very impressed by Eisenhower in this. Highly recommended - I joined with others in a standing ovation at the end. Runs till the 28th of next month - booking highly recommended, with limited availability for many performances. Contains scenes with lightning - the weather wasn't great, which is what makes the story interesting.
Our organiser bravely made it to us at the interval! and then schlepped back home, having had a sufficiently trying night. As for my cough - it flared up in the second half, violent as ever, and boy was I glad to have invested in some menthol sweets. I guess it'll go, one day.. anyway, when we left, the rain had stopped, and I was delighted to be able to get a direct bus home.
Tomorrow, I'm back to Ireland (yes, again!) for Easter, flying back to London on Monday. I see there's a treat for BBC viewers - Andrew Scott's Hamlet, from last year, is being broadcast on BBC2 on Saturday. Interesting choice for Easter. I just wonder whether his performance will be as electrifying on screen as it was live.. Man with the Hat, if you're reading, make sure to watch this! I know you would have loved to see it live.
On Tuesday, Meetup is throwing up a couple of things I'd have been interested in - Up in the Cheap Seats is off to the ballet at the Opera House, and North London Friends is off to see a play called Black Men Walking at the Royal Court. And wouldn't you know it, by the time I got around to checking, they were both sold out! Blast. (Mind you, I read a not-great review of the play, the other night). Although there seemed subsequently to be some tickets left for the ballet, which is now sold out again. Anyway, in the meantime, I got the last £15 ticket - from the official website - for Bat Out of Hell, in the Dominion Theatre. Rear stalls - not so shabby. Should be fun. Then a couple more events were advertised that I'd have been interested in - too late, guys, I usually book earlier than that!
Next Wednesday, I'm headed (finally, it's been so long!) to see the Crick Crack Club perform The Gods and Monsters Show at Rich Mix. Now, I don't know what's with the head of their Meetup group, but she seems to think it's on two days later - I did comment on the event page to that effect. Just check the venue website, as I then said. Or indeed, the Crick Crack Club's own website. Daft woman hasn't changed it yet. Not that it wouldn't have suited me to have it on another day - I'd be missing London Literary Walks' first outing of the year, damnit! But it's for a very good cause..
Then I checked, and wouldn't you know it, he subsequently shifted the walk to the 5th! Seems he now works alternating shifts, so dates can change at short notice. Well, this one worked out great for me. Sadly, I'll be missing North London Friends' trip to the Moors Bar Blues Jam and Drinks - well, you can't have everything. I'd never be up to Crouch End in time after the walk.
On the 6th, with nothing much on Meetup, I booked - with my £3.60 club, when they finally put something on - for Banana Crabtree Simon, at the Drayton Arms. A play about dementia, it might be terrible, but I can give it a try.
On the 7th, back with Up in the Cheap Seats, for The Inheritance, at the Young Vic - both parts, so the whole day! With each part running to about 3.5 hours, I hope it's worth it.. Vanessa Redgrave takes part (only in Part II).
On the 8th, I had booked for London's Grime & Punishment Tour, with Walking in London again. However, when I checked Crick Crack's Meetup group.. I discovered I'd forgotten about their story of The Liberty Tree - Robin Hood and Other English Radicals, at the British Museum! What's more, it's hosted by Hugh Lupton, and my second-favourite storyteller, Nick Hennessy. I'd have hated to miss this - thank heaven there were still tickets. Not to mention that I could blithely cancel the walk, as it's Funzing, and it'd already been used to amass a loyalty discount, so I had no penalty at all.
On the 9th, back with Let's Do This for Nell & the Hot Mess Muggers, at Wilton's. Now, that should be a good night..
On the 10th, the London European Club (LEC) advertised a free classical concert in St. John's, Smith Square. Email musikolondon@gmail.com for tickets, subject to availability.
On the 11th, Up in the Cheap Seats is off to see Pericles, at the Barbican.
On the 12th, the LEC is going to Voices of America, at Sadler's Wells. Goodee, two nights in a row that I can walk! Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On the 16th, tragically, a Crick Crack event that I found out about too late.. Red Bead Woman, with Martin Shaw at Soho Theatre, is sold out. Never mind, he's not one of my favourites anyway. Instead, back with the Funzing talk groups, London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night (until they cancel!), for The Story of Accent and Identity.
On the 17th, (nominally) going with London Science Events for a talk on Gravitational Waves and Beyond, at the Royal Institution. They've given no Meetup details, so I'm not anticipating a social evening.
On the 18th, Funzing again, for The Strangest Feeling: Déjà Vu, at Gabeto, in Camden Market. Presented by Anthony Peake, whom I spent a long time researching to make sure he's not a sceptic, as I have extensive personal experience of precognitive experiences.
On the 19th, back with London Literary Walks - he's only doing them fortnightly now, it seems. Well, he's covered half of London at this rate! And he seems to prefer Thursdays, which are working out better for me so far. This one is called Guitar Bands Are on the Way Out, Mr. Epstein.
On the 20th, I got the very last ticket to The Phlebotomist, downstairs at Hampstead Theatre. I'm going with Up in the Cheap Seats - North London Friends are seeing it in preview, but it was already sold out for that night. For the 20th, one of the group is looking to sell her ticket, if you're interested - I didn't see that until I'd got mine.
On the 21st, I'm back with London Discovery Walks for yet another ghost tour - this one is called Ghosts of the Old City - just like my last walk!
On the 22nd, back with Up in the Cheap Seats, for a film music gala at the Albert Hall.
On the 23rd, a Funzing talk - An Introduction to the Dark Net. At Sink.. For which I earned a loyalty discount, on account of all I booked the other night!
On the 24th and 25th, back again with Up in the Cheap Seats: the 24th is for An Ideal Husband - part of the Oscar Wilde Season, at the Vaudeville. Stars father and son, Edward and Freddie Fox. And Susan Hampshire. The 25th is for Mood Music, at the Old Vic, with Ben Chaplin.
On the 26th, the LEC is attending a lecture at the LSE, on Euroscepticism and the Future of European Integration. And then I'm back to the highly non-Eurosceptic Ireland again, for the weekend.
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