With a software release out, and documentation pending, my boss was up against the wire to get his stuff in. And he couldn't manage it in time for me to publish it as well.. so I took off, said I'd be back (much) later. I was a little early - annoyingly, just missed my bus. I still caught one 10 minutes before Google Maps said I had to. A short walk from Kingsway - I'm not used to coming from that side, but again, Google Maps is invaluable - and I got to the Opera House as people were streaming in. Confusingly, they also seemed to be streaming out - possibly something to do with the filming that was going on. Anyway, with people streaming down the main staircase, I cheated and took the lift - which I had all to myself! And so I arrived, nice and relaxed, with six minutes to go - by 'eck, I'm lucky I didn't leave when Google Maps said I could!
It was nice not to have to take the lift to the top level - alighting at Level 5, my door was right in front of me. Gosh, did they always put letters and numbers on them? It's been so long.. for the longest time, I've just been following signs for "slips" or such. And my row was very close to the entrance. You know, I could have gone for a cheaper seat, but I hate being in the upper amphitheatre - you're right up against the ceiling, and it feels as though you're in the attic!
£25, this seat for this show, BTW. You can stand for £5, and as I say, there are plenty of cheaper seats - I just fancied a decent one. From here, I could see everything - and even hear the ballerina pant in the last scene! Happily, not only did I have no-one right beside me - so I could spread out - but there was no-one at all inside me on that row! So, even better, I didn't have to get up for people to pass. Where were we with the MwtH? The top level to either side of the stage. He always got us decent seats - but you could get a crith in your neck, constantly looking at the stage from an angle.
The show runs, in total, for nearly three hours - with two intervals. Still, these seats are so comfy that there's no need to get up and move around, as there is in most places. Bear in mind, you can't bring food or drink into the auditorium - they're protective of their upholstery, as the chap in front of me discovered, trying to eat an ice cream. I was over to the side, and actually peered at both side slips, idly wondering whether I'd see anyone I recognised - it was weird to be there on my own. The MwtH formed a great community. I miss them.
This is the ballet that's sumptuous, passionate, brooding and intense. It opens with grand court scenes, the dashing heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire flagrantly dallying with - frankly, anyone in a skirt, to the chagrin of his wife. He's also consorting with revolutionaries - altogether, a combination to be despaired of, as is his obsession with guns. This leads to a fateful conclusion in his hunting lodge at Mayerling, where he dies in a murder-suicide pact with his latest, young mistress.
It's a spectacular ballet - unusual, as they say, for centring around the male dancer, but also notable for its incredible athleticism. The moves can look quite violent, as he swings his lover around the stage, and both drag themselves along the floor. This production actually seemed less dramatic to me than the last I saw - the moves seemed that little more restrained. Instead, they seem to focus more on the deterioration of the prince, shown as a dashing, romantic figure at the beginning. As the story progresses, he becomes ever more desperate in his chasing of women, turns to drugs, and has an unhealthy obsession with both revolutionaries - and guns. The end becomes inevitable, you can see it coming.
I think I prefer it this way - the story makes sense, rather than just being gasp-inducing. Anyway, a terrific production - runs on selected dates till the 30th. Go see..
Damn, it was cold out, though!
Tomorrow - why, I'm off to Manchester. For U2, unsurprisingly. Yes, I get busier around now as they come around these parts. Taking the train tomorrow evening - it was the cheapest, and so much handier than having to make my way to and from airports and watch what I pack! I should arrive walking distance from my hotel, Roomzzz Corn Exchange, which itself is walking distance from the venue, the Manchester Arena. And right beside the shopping centre, apparently! That could be handy.. if only to buy provisions, as this is an aparthotel, so I can cater for myself.
The concerts themselves are on Friday and Saturday, and I'm expecting a more enthusiastic audience than my section at the last concert! Really, who'd believe such apathy from a U2 crowd?! Ironically, the English concerts are the only ones whose tickets were posted to me - and would you believe it, what with booking them in January and moving in June, I completely forgot to make the connection. So I forgot to update my address with Ticketmaster (TM). Just remembered recently, by which time they'd already been posted. I've contacted my old flatmates, but the only response I got was from one who's also moved out - happily, TM said, if I contacted them this week, they'd void the old tickets and issue new ones that I can pick up at the box office. There's always some palaver on a U2 tour, and this isn't the first time I've had to pick up my tickets in Manchester!! Outside of England, they're all e-tickets..
Well, good luck with TM. I replied to my initial query emails - no response. With time tight, I thought I'd better ring them - yeah, good luck with that too, they don't provide the phone number! My boss was good enough to search for me - for future reference, if you need it, it's
0333 321 9999. Not on their website, not in the emails where they were telling me to contact them - he had to get it from a database of customer service numbers. I ask you! Anyway, the guy - with an appropriately Northern accent - promised me faithfully that the tickets would be at the box office for me. And I have to pay £5 per ticket for the privilege - never mind, it's sorted. As for email? I submitted another online query, to be told that my tickets would be posted soon, and to get back to them if I didn't have them within three days of the gig. Which it already was.
I take the train back on Sunday. Better not leave it too late, as I've actually booked for the Smithfield & Clerkenwell Walk: Guts & Glory, with Walking in London - but more specifically, with Katie of Look Up London! Excellent - I was booked for this in July, but she had to cancel. She's one of the best around. Should be close enough to me, too, and it doesn't start too early. And it being a Funzing event (like all of Walking in London's) I scoured my old Funzing discount codes, and discovered that Funzing_Fb20 seems to be working again - for all of them I've recently booked! So, a 20% discount - better than any recently offered on their Facebook page.
On Monday, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club for Buddha Babies, again at Soho Theatre. Naturally, not advertised on their Meetup group. I wonder whether that's now defunct, as they have advertised no upcoming events.
On Tuesday and next Wednesday, I don't have to travel so far to see U2 - they're playing the O2 in London. These tickets, I got my address changed in time for, it seems - they've just arrived. Helen is going on Tuesday.. sat in the corporate box, poshly! Nah, I'd rather be closer and sweatier, thanks! I wonder how many of them stand during the show.. I am absolutely mithered with Twickets alerts for ticket offers for these shows!
The 25th is my colleague's last day before he quits for a new life in Stockholm - we're headed out that night. Amazing that I still had that day free when we arranged it!
On the 26th, I fly to Belfast. Yep, U2 again. Told ya. Staying in the Crescent Townhouse, walking distance from the SSE Arena, where the concerts take place on the 27th and 28th. On the 29th, I'm taking the train down to my mother for a week - makes more sense than jetting back and forth to her!
On the 5th, I'm back up to Dublin. U2 again, dont'cha know? Staying in the Clayton again, which is a hop, skip and jump from the 3Arena, where there are concerts on the 5th and 6th. Would you believe, not even I could swing a ticket for the 5th - well, I'll just rock up on the day, and hopefully I can get something at the box office. I have heard of such things happening. I've had stranger things happen!
On the 7th, I fly back to London (BA) - purely so I can work on the 8th, before flying back to Dublin that night! Was supposed to be Cityjet, but they've now ended their flight schedule after this month - so now I'm going Ryanair. Same hotel, same venue, same band - on the 9th and 10th. I fly back on the 11th, exhausted, and finished with U2 concerts for the year!
On the 12th, I booked for Macbeth, at the Wanamaker Playhouse. And then Let's Do This finally posted that date for the Shirt Tail Stompers at Wilton's - well, I couldn't miss that! Eh, anyone want a spare ticket for Macbeth?
On the 13th, we have our monthly team outing - probably just the two of us, but hey.
On the 14th, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) at last for Love Lies Bleeding, at the Print Room at the Coronet. Got my ticket from London Theatre Direct.
On the 15th, I'm going to try the Seven Deadly Sins Pub Naughty History Tour. Walking in London again, so discounted again! Then I'm back to Ireland again for the weekend.
On the 19th of next month, News of the Strange, from the Crick Crack Club, at Soho Theatre.
On the 20th, back with UITCS for Pinter at the Pinter - Pinter plays at the Pinter Theatre. Two long ones on this occasion - this is Programme Four: Moonlight & Night School.
On the 21st, back at last with The London Jazz Meetup, who are off to the London Jazz Festival for a concert by the Faraj Suleiman Quartet at King's Place. UK premiere, apparently!
On the 22nd, with UITCS at the Garrick for Don Quixote. The only cheap tickets left for this were terrible, so I went a bit upmarket. A bit - I'm still behind a pillar!
On the 23rd, I'm on a Paranormal Activity Tour - ooh! Now, for this one, we get ghost-hunting equipment, which could make it interesting - I don't fancy the dowsing rods, myself, but we'll see. Walking in London, again. Discounted, again. And this was after my loyalty discount - so I got it at better than half price! which is good, considering the price.
On the 24th, I'm off on my own to see A Small Place, at the Gate.
On the 25th, back at last to Winter Wonderland! That evening, I'm off to Cirque Berserk - an annual tradition for me. The latest show is the cheapest, so that's the one I booked.
On the 26th, I'm back with UITCS for Programme Three of Pinter at the Pinter - Landscape / A Kind of Alaska / Monologue.
On the 27th, I'm going to see Company, by Sondheim, at the Gielgud. No tickets available for the upper levels on the official site - they must all have been bought up by resellers! Cheapest I found was with OfficialLondonTheatre, run by See Tickets.
On the 28th, I'm with Walking in London again (and the same discount) for the Haunted London Pub Tour.
On the 29th, I'm back with UITCS at the National for Hadestown. Then back to Ireland again for the weekend.
On the 3rd of December, I'm back to the National for I'm Not Running.
On the 4th, I'm off to the Bush, for Drip.
On the 5th, LDN Talks @ Night and London Speaks Sessions (both Funzing). This is a "Winterville" talk on The Science of Santa, where we get the scientific explanation of how he does it. Taking place at The Windmill.
The 6th could be interesting - Hazel of Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts, London Guided Walks (and, indeed, Walking in London) has a Christmas Carol Tour. Now, the last two events I booked with her turned out to be no-shows.. the first might not have been her fault, as she was advertising someone else's event, but the second, she just missed the ball on and left three of us standing on a street corner. We shall see whether this event happens, I guess! Now, it's technically more expensive if you book on Funzing - but if you have my discount ;-) it comes down to the same price she charges on her own site, without the booking fee! So I did it that way.
On the 7th, back with UITCS at the Royal Court, for The Cane. Got the very last ticket, phew!
On the 8th, with them again at the Orange Tree Theatre for The Double Dealer.
On the 9th, the Crick Crack Club is back at the British Museum for I Know Not, an afternoon of Sufi legend.
On the 10th, I'm off to the Bridge Theatre for A Very, Very, Very Dark Matter, by Martin McDonagh. Starring Jim Broadbent, this is a dark take on Hans Christian Anderson!
And on the 11th of December, I'm going with North London Friends to The Convert, at the Young Vic. Discounted top-price seats, it seems!
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