The downstairs of Wilton's has a distinctly Wild West flavour, in the distressed wood panelling and stairs, and the Western-style signage. Anyway, we chatted away, and when it was time, took our seats upstairs. It wasn't completely full, so the one of our group who had the bad fortune to sit on the other side soon joined us. I was the only one who ultimately ended up on a high seat - gratified to see they're bolted to the platform they're perched on! Well, there were free seats beside them, in front of me, but I'd taken some trouble to clamber up there, and was comfy enough where I was. Seeing the stalls 1/3 empty, our organiser asked an usher whether we could move down - no way, they were hoping to sell last-minute seats, and anyway, they'd have charged us the difference! Jeez, that's stingier than most theatres in London. And I must say, there's a vast disparity in prices - whereas I only paid £9, the seats right in front of me cost £24! Doesn't make sense. Particularly as the view of the people in front of me could be impeded by audience members just as much as mine, if they leaned forward!
This is a series of interconnected stories, actually - some written by James Graham, whose name is on the overall piece, some crowdsourced. We agreed that his were kind of better. Actually, I didn't know what to make of this initially, as we jumped from story to story with no conclusion. Things improve massively after a while, when we return to the unfinished stories - and yes, they do all knit together quite satisfyingly in the end. They're all about London, and the idea is to reproduce Dickensian London - so we see criminals, the lower classes.. well, plus ça change.
At the interval, we looked enviously at the trays of food passing out - I do know the food is good here, and our organiser swore that, next time, she'd pre-order a pizza! On this occasion, we didn't think they'd have enough time bot to cook and serve it, so we passed. And when we were called back, we discovered that you could easily make your way to the stalls (price £34, BTW). Where the view is much better - and the acoustics. And you get a much better view of the excellent projections on the rear of the stage - sketches of bits of London, which we agreed, I think, are the best part of the play. Including the animations of birds in flight, which are an integral part of the plot.
It's an interesting cross-section of different snapshots of London life, but the most interesting - for us all, I think - was the ultimately cringeworthy reunion of ex-lovers, where he discovers she's on the point of getting engaged to someone else. The twist in the tale is delicious! Runs till the 27th.
Tomorrow, the U2 circus is in town again (figuratively speaking) - I'm off to Amsterdam. The actual concerts aren't until Sunday and Monday, but I'm going for the weekend: a relaxing one, given that they've played here often enough before that I've seen all the sights I want to! Sunday's concert, I had to get a ticket for from Viagogo, but Monday's I managed to get from Ticketmaster (TM), the official vendors. The concerts are in the Ziggo Dome again, and I'm staying in Hampshire Hotel Eden, handy for Rembrandtplein, where the restaurants are, and for the no. 4 metro line to the venue. I just hope the stairs are less steep than the last place! Flights (Easyjet) and hotel booked through Expedia.
Flying back Tuesday lunchtime, taking the whole day off, naturally, and that evening I'm back with UITCS for The Height of the Storm, at Wyndham's. Booked through What's on Stage.
On Wednesday, I'm with Let's Do This for another Turkish meal - this time at Sofra. It'll also be the first time since June I'll have met Mary!
Next Thursday, film again - already booked though, because they were already selling out. It's part of the London Film Festival at the BFI - Be Natural is the story of Alice Guy - Blaché, the first female filmmaker, and is narrated by Jodie Foster. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend, again.
On the 15th, back with North London Friends for The Wild Duck, by Ibsen, at the Almeida. I wasn't in time to get one of their tickets, so booked my own - what the hey.
On the 16th, comedy with Ahir Shah at Soho Theatre.
On the 17th, a real dose of nostalgia - Mayerling ballet, at the Opera House. My favourite ballet, this was also the last event we attended here with the Man with the Hat. And the second last event ever. At least it'll be less evocative since, for once, I'm sitting facing full-on! He always had us in the slips, so I haven't faced the Opera House stage since I started with his groups! I'd watch it blindfolded just to have him back again, though. We miss you, MwtH.
On the 18th - why, I'm off to Manchester. For U2, unsurprisingly. Yes, I get busier around now as they come around these parts. Taking the train that 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 the 19th and 20th. Ironically, the English concerts are the only ones whose tickets are being 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 TM. Just remembered at the weekend, by which time it seems 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 says, if I contact them that week, they'll 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..
I take the train back on the 21st. 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 the 22nd, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club for Buddha Babies, again at Soho Theatre. Naturally, not advertised on their Meetup group - they have advertised an event this weekend, but of course, I'm out of the country.
On the 23rd & 24th, 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're also being posted. Helen is going on the 23rd.. sat in the corporate box, poshly! Nah, I'd rather be closer and sweatier, thanks!
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 of next month, 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 in Dublin, 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've decided to read myself to a performance of Macbeth, at the Wanamaker Playhouse.
On the 13th, we have our monthly team outing - might only be the two of us, but hey!
On the 14th, back with 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, News of the Strange, from the Crick Crack Club, at Soho Theatre. Not advertised on their Meetup group, of course.
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.
And on the 26th of next month, I'm back with UITCS for Programme Three of Pinter at the Pinter - Landscape / A Kind of Alaska / Monologue.
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