Tonight, I was back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) at the National for Hadestown. My new co-worker raves about it. Left in reasonable time - just in time to miss my bus, of course! What with that and the traffic, moving like treacle, it was quite late by the time I got there - took the lift up to the Olivier, and joined the phenomenally long queue for the box office! Never seen the like.
As I joined the queue, I noticed tonight's group organiser just collecting his ticket - sadly, by the time I worked my way to the head of the queue, they'd gone in - ah well. Instead, for company, I had a perky young American college student, who was dead excited to be there, and anxious to tell the whole story. To be fair, it was quite a tale - he was actually studying in Florence, and had flown in specially for a long weekend, to see this. Into Heathrow - and his flight had been delayed, with the storm, so he'd literally just landed two hours before. He had to run the last bit.. and he looked it, all flustered and red-faced! Isn't it lovely that he just made it in time - especially considering how much the tickets cost.
With several people in the queue behind me, they started late. And although, as my group said afterwards, the first half was weak on plot and slow to get going - well, they had plenty of exposition. This is based on the story of Orpheus and Eurydice - Orpheus, here, has a guitar, and Eurydice is a poor girl who chooses death over an empty stomach. The show is opened by Hermes, in a striking silver suit (a reference to his Roman equivalent, Mercury?). He introduces us to Hades - silent for the moment - and his wife, Persephone, in vivid green for summer, who changes into an identical outfit in black for winter. Finally, we have the three Fates, strutting their stuff and singing their lungs out for the duration.
Yep, my co-worker was right - damn, is this catchy! Jazz, rhythm and blues will have you tapping your feet. The performances are excellent - although I found Hermes a bit hard to understand to begin with. Hades, when he gets going, has the most terrific growl of a voice! How appropriate, for the King of the Underworld. The story picks up pace in the second half, of course, and the ending is both sudden and sweet - very touching. I loved the analysis of why he turned too early - I've never before heard it described in terms of him having confidence when he had someone for support, but not on his own, in the dark.. I loved it, and joined in the standing ovation at the end - happily, that student, who was sat in front of me, was one of the first to leap to his feet. What a relief that he liked it, after all that effort to get there! Runs till the 26th of January - most shows with limited availability, some sold out, and nothing as cheap even as what I paid, which wasn't cheap. But this is worth seeing.
Somehow, I managed to miss my group at the interval - but happily I ran into them afterwards, and we compared notes. And yes, I just managed to miss my bus again! Never mind, I got another after a few minutes. Tomorrow, back to Ireland again for the weekend.
On Tuesday, I'm off to the Bush, for Drip.
Next Thursday, 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. Whether this event happens is anyone's guess! Now, it's technically more expensive if you book on Funzing - but if you have my discount (Funzing_Fb20) ;-) it comes down to the same price she charges on her own site, without the booking fee! So I did it that way. But then Henning, with the London European Club, advertised a Happy Xmaths evening at Imperial College, the same night! Festive fun for maths geeks. Plus it's free - you just have to register with Eventbrite. (I see London Social Detours is also doing it now - for a fee. Funny, I wouldn't have put her down as mathsy! Oh, also London Science and Geek Chic Socials.) Anyway, I thought it'd be great to get back with this group. And since I booked the walk with Funzing, I've cancelled and will get a full refund. And I feel no sadness at missing an evening with Hazel, after what's been happening. But gee, this evening is proving to be one of the more popular- now a colleague has booked it for his leaving do. So I'm now going to that instead. Nibbles arranged at The Enterprise.
The 12th is our office Christmas party, but Let's Do This has advertised a Christmas dinner- which sounds a more attractive prospect. So I'm doing that instead. Places filled up quickly with regulars.
On the 13th, I'm thrilled to be going to Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, at Sadler's Wells, with UITCS. He's a fantastic choreographer, but I've never before gotten around to seeing this all-male version. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
And on the 17th, the Crick Crack Club is performing Gilgamesh, at Soho Theatre. With Ben Haggerty in the spotlight, this will be a treat! Sold out, of course - you have to book these things early. Meeting Helen for a meal beforehand.
Last night, I'd booked with Walking in London again for the Haunted London Pub Tour (also Lantern Ghost Tours, via Funzing). But we then arranged our team night out for that night. Mind you, it was trouble getting the team out of the office, with everything they had to do!
It tended to rain, so we didn't fancy going very far - in fact, we ended up going just next door, to The Draft House. It was slightly less crowded than everywhere else around, in this run-up to Christmas. Also quite overheated. We managed to get stools upstairs - and after a short while, it really started to empty out, and we got a table. Obviously an after-work place. Anyway, there we stayed, with wine and an incredible variety of beers to choose from. Toilets for the ladies are up a few steps - the gents get to go in on the level. Once inside, you have the oddest, convex mirrors.. Otherwise, an unremarkable place. Owing to the generosity of my boss, I can't testify to the prices, but it is a decent place for a tipple. When they threw us out at 11, we repaired back to the office - handily, they left the cap on my bottle of wine, which I just brought back with me. And in the office, it turned into a very late night indeed - no blogging was feasible by that hour!
Tonight, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) at the National for Hadestown. My new co-worker raves about it. I don't really think I'll be drinking - my system is still in shock after last night. Tomorrow, back to Ireland again for the weekend.
On Tuesday, I'm off to the Bush, for Drip.
Next Thursday, 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. Whether this event happens is anyone's guess! Now, it's technically more expensive if you book on Funzing - but if you have my discount (Funzing_Fb20) ;-) it comes down to the same price she charges on her own site, without the booking fee! So I did it that way. But then Henning, with the London European Club, advertised a Happy Xmaths evening at Imperial College, the same night! Festive fun for maths geeks. Plus it's free - you just have to register with Eventbrite. (I see London Social Detours is also doing it now - for a fee. Funny, I wouldn't have put her down as mathsy! Oh, also London Science and Geek Chic Socials.) Anyway, I thought it'd be great to get back with this group. And since I booked the walk with Funzing, I've cancelled and will get a full refund. And I feel no sadness at missing an evening with Hazel, after what's been happening. But gee, this evening is proving to be one of the more popular- now a colleague has booked it for his leaving do. So I'm now going to that instead. Nibbles arranged at The Enterprise.
The 12th is our office Christmas party, but Let's Do This has advertised a Christmas dinner- which sounds a more attractive prospect. So I'm doing that instead. Places filled up quickly with regulars.
On the 13th, I'm thrilled to be going to Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, at Sadler's Wells, with UITCS. He's a fantastic choreographer, but I've never before gotten around to seeing this all-male version. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
And on the 17th, the Crick Crack Club is performing Gilgamesh, at Soho Theatre. With Ben Haggerty in the spotlight, this will be a treat! Sold out, of course - you have to book these things early. Meeting Helen for a meal beforehand.
Tonight, I went to see Company, by Sondheim, at the Gielgud. No tickets available for the upper levels on the official site when I booked - they must all have been bought up by resellers! Cheapest I found was with OfficialLondonTheatre, run by See Tickets.
Headed off in good time, arrived at the theatre with time to spare. Just as well - nobody at the door was explaining that you don't go to the box office to collect your tickets, the desk with tickets is right at the other side of the lobby. Through all those crowds again, and back outside to get to the beginning of the queue. Collected my ticket, and back against all the crowds to get to the entrance to the Grand Circle - which is outside the lobby. Blasted nuisance.
Climbed the stairs, trod the strangely sloping floors, and got to the Grand Circle - where the usher forgot what he was supposed to be doing. "Oh, eh, yes - just down there", as I was heading down to my row.
My gosh, the guy beside me was narky - asked me whether I had a cleaning cloth for glasses, as his were wet, and I'm not sure he believed me when I said I hadn't. Complained about the aircon. Complained about the people we had to get up to let in - to be fair, as I said, I don't know when I last had to get up so much. And as soon as one of the girls between me and the aisle got up at the end, he was actually pushing against me to get out! Jeez, the second one hadn't even moved yet..
Well, at least he enjoyed it. You'd have to be awfully curmudgeonly not to - it is Sondheim, after all. The orchestra are perched on a ledge above the stage, which takes the form of a series of rooms, meant to represent the various rooms in New York where the characters meet. It's the story of Bobby (in this production, transmuted into a woman), who's just turning 35, and not yet partnered up. And beginning to feel the passage of time. Bobby does the rounds of a number of married - and soon-to-be-married - friends; we see some blind dates, and experience Bobby's frustration with the whole thing.
I guess I wasn't in the mood - I was a bit narky today. So I found the first numbers a bit staged, a bit superficial. Catchy, though. But you know.. you can't resist Sondheim. And fear not, even if you dislike musical theatre, this will win you over. The friends are excruciating - but they're supposed to be. I gotta say, my single favourite scene of the entire show was the apartment of the gay couple, getting ready for their wedding. With one of the grooms getting cold feet and a minister popping out from all corners to sing beatifically, it's absolutely hilarious. And I didn't look back from there.
The scene in the bar, where Bobby gets drunk, has a much darker tone. And the scenes with the friends take some interesting twists. It's excellent - and the standing ovation at the end was well deserved. Now booking until the 30th March - and I guarantee you'll enjoy it.
On the way back, I just missed my bus, and would have to wait so long for the next that I figured out I'd be back on the Tube in the time I was waiting! So that's what I did. It was a musical journey, appropriately - in Tottenham Court Road, someone was mangling Baker Street (one of my all-time favourite songs, and how long it is since I heard it) - and in a perfect note, as I changed trains in Euston, I heard what I think was Bach, although I couldn't swear to it. Sheer beauty. Tomorrow, I was with Walking in London again for the Haunted London Pub Tour (also Lantern Ghost Tours, via Funzing). But we've now arranged our team night out for that night. Assuming my flu-ey colleagues are able!
Next Tuesday, I'm off to the Bush, for Drip.
On the 6th, 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. Whether this event happens is anyone's guess! Now, it's technically more expensive if you book on Funzing - but if you have my discount (Funzing_Fb20) ;-) it comes down to the same price she charges on her own site, without the booking fee! So I did it that way. But then Henning, with the London European Club, advertised a Happy Xmaths evening at Imperial College, the same night! Festive fun for maths geeks. Plus it's free - you just have to register with Eventbrite. (I see London Social Detours is also doing it now - for a fee. Funny, I wouldn't have put her down as mathsy! Oh, also London Science and Geek Chic Socials.) Anyway, I thought it'd be great to get back with this group. And since I booked the walk with Funzing, I've cancelled and will get a full refund. And I feel no sadness at missing an evening with Hazel, after what's been happening. But gee, this evening is proving to be one of the more popular- now a colleague has booked it for his leaving do. So I'm now going to that instead. Nibbles arranged at The Enterprise.
The 12th is our office Christmas party, but Let's Do This has advertised a Christmas dinner- which sounds a more attractive prospect. So I'm doing that instead. Places filled up quickly with regulars.
On the 13th, I'm thrilled to be going to Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, at Sadler's Wells, with UITCS. He's a fantastic choreographer, but I've never before gotten around to seeing this all-male version. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
And on the 17th, the Crick Crack Club is performing Gilgamesh, at Soho Theatre. With Ben Haggerty in the spotlight, this will be a treat! Sold out, of course - you have to book these things early. Meeting Helen for a meal beforehand.
Tonight, I was back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Programme Three of Pinter at the Pinter - Pinter plays at the Pinter Theatre. This time, it was advertised as Landscape / A Kind of Alaska / Monologue. Got my ticket from Ticketmaster. My last meeting of the day was, happily, postponed to another day, as so often happens, so I got away early enough to get the bus.
I changed in Strand - and as the bus came to a halt, rather abruptly, someone coming down the stairs crashed into someone standing near the bottom. Wouldn't you know it, they were old friends! As they got off, the one thanked the other for "saving her life". Me, I got on the next bus heading to Trafalgar Square - after all, they'd all take me a bit further towards my destination. And Strand is a long road.
At the theatre, as usual, they have a desk where people can more easily collect their tickets. Mine, of course, was bottom of the pile.. they don't really seem to have much of a system. Anyway, the various members of the group found each other, and formed a big enough group in the cramped lobby that we were politely asked to move to a bar. So we went upstairs, where the Moonlight Bar was slightly less crowded, before we eventually dispersed to our various levels. This time, I was a level lower than last week, in the Dress Circle - handy, as it's directly accessible from the lobby. Right by the wall, which was handy for leaving my stuff - oh, and several seats beside me were unoccupied, so I had plenty of room to spread out!
Well now, as has happened before, there turned out to be more plays in this than were advertised. I bought a program at the interval, to be able to keep up with them. The stage was revolving gently before the show started, actors gradually sneaking onto it and taking their places. And first up, we were surprised to see Penelope Wilton.. turns out she's doing 12 performances in this series, and her monologue was Tess, an amusing and deceptively innocent short.
They then came rapid-fire. Landscape has a man and woman, talking completely at cross purposes, each apparently unable to hear the other. And for this, we had Keith Allen, and Tamsin Grieg giving a star turn with a completely believable Irish accent. Hardest accent in the world to fake, they say. I did love the difference in tone between the two, her all dreamy and nostalgic, him gruff and practical.
Apart From That has Lee Evans and Meera Syal on the phone to each other, repeating this meaningless phrase. Girls has Tom Edden desperately trying to recall the details of a story he heard, where a female student presented her male teacher with a note that read "girls like to be spanked". He gets to be quiet in That's All, though, where Lee Evans and Keith Allen are holding a vivid conversation, for all the world like gossiping old women, and all three in curly wigs. Periodically, they look with great suspicion at the silent Tom Edden on the end - hilarious!
Ending the first half, we have God's District, where Meera Syal plays an evangelist from North Carolina, spreading the word of the Lord among Londoners, and Monologue, where Lee Evans has a deep discussion with an empty chair.
The second half starts with That's Your Trouble, Lee Evans and Tom Edden discussing the universe at a bar, and Special Offer, where Meera Syal receives an offer she can't refuse - or can she? Trouble in the Works is a hilarious sketch between two co-workers, one telling the other that the workers are troubled. Tom Edden and Lee Evans again. Night has Tom Edden and Meera Syal reminiscing about how they met, and the evening ends with the only really downbeat play of this programme, A Kind of Alaska, where Tamsin Grieg plays a woman who wakes from a coma after 29 years, all confused about her current reality. Meera Syal is her sister, Keith Allen her doctor. Quite moving.
Having the most plays of any single programme I've seen in this Pinter at the Pinter series so far, this was a most entertaining evening, the majority of the plays comedies, beautifully acted. Whetted my appetite for more - this group is holding more outings to them next year, I'm just not that far ahead in my booking yet. Interestingly, as we chatted outside afterwards, whom did I notice near us but the organiser of London Dramatic Arts - curiously, she was also at last week's. Privately, it seems - she doesn't have any more Meetups organised until next year.
Heading back, I caught the bus to Aldwych - where he's supposed to drop us at the same stop I can catch my next bus at. Hell, I thought it was bad the last time this happened - tonight's driver stopped as soon as he got into Aldwych! So I had something of a schlep up to the stop. Pushing through hordes of people, I wondered what was going on - finally realising that it had to do with the three, full-size, tourist coaches that were parked right at my stop, picking up passengers! Those of us waiting for regular buses had to squeeze between the coaches, breathing in diesel fumes, and stand in the road, beside the busy traffic, even to see whether our buses were coming. And when mine eventually did, we had to board in the middle of the road! There was nowhere for our bus to park. I've complained to TFL - this is illegal. Just wish I'd taken photos of the bus company names - there must be CCTV though; I hear this is the most-videoed city in the world.
On Thursday, I'm back with UITCS at the National for Hadestown. My new co-worker raves about it. Then back to Ireland again for the weekend.
On the 4th, I'm off to the Bush, for Drip.
On the 6th, 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. Whether this event happens is anyone's guess! Now, it's technically more expensive if you book on Funzing - but if you have my discount (Funzing_Fb20) ;-) it comes down to the same price she charges on her own site, without the booking fee! So I did it that way. But then Henning, with the London European Club, advertised a Happy Xmaths evening at Imperial College, the same night! Festive fun for maths geeks. Plus it's free - you just have to register with Eventbrite. (I see London Social Detours is also doing it now - for a fee. Funny, I wouldn't have put her down as mathsy! Oh, also London Science and Geek Chic Socials.) Anyway, I thought it'd be great to get back with this group. And since I booked the walk with Funzing, I've cancelled and will get a full refund. And I feel no sadness at missing an evening with Hazel, after what's been happening. But gee, this evening is proving to be one of the more popular- now a colleague has booked it for his leaving do. So I'm now going to that instead. Nibbles arranged at The Enterprise.
The 12th is our office Christmas party, but Let's Do This has advertised a Christmas dinner- which sounds a more attractive prospect. So I'm doing that instead. Places filled up quickly with regulars.
On the 13th, I'm thrilled to be going to Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, at Sadler's Wells, with UITCS. He's a fantastic choreographer, but I've never before gotten around to seeing this all-male version. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
And on the 17th, the Crick Crack Club is performing Gilgamesh, at Soho Theatre. With Ben Haggerty in the spotlight, this will be a treat! Sold out, of course - you have to book these things early. Meeting Helen for a meal beforehand.
Well, Christmas starts here - today, I was back at last to Winter Wonderland! This evening, I booked for Cirque Berserk - an annual tradition for me. The 8pm show was the cheapest, so that's the one I booked. Calculated when to leave so that I'd have enough time beforehand, but not too much, in the cold.
The journey there, by two buses, was a story of buses just missed and alternatives coming along shortly afterwards - and it was lovely to pass the Christmas lights around Piccadilly Circus. Pity I'm not doing a lights tour this year. I damn near got out there for a look. Anyway, it wasn't long before I was passing through the gates to Hyde Park again. Now, they do warn about crowds at the weekend - sure enough, the "green" entrance just at Hyde Park Corner was so packed that we were ushered along to the "much larger" "blue", Knightsbridge, entrance. Where we shuffled along for 20 minutes to our bag searches. En route, we were entertained by the screams from the "Hangover" ride, a drop tower that overshadows the trees nearby.
Funnily enough, of all the years I've been here, this is the first time I've been on a weekend. Oh dear, it was manic - probably best avoided. Nowhere could I turn but I was faced with buggies, slow movers, people stopping randomly. One drunk young lady decided I was her best friend. And it's massive, so even if you know where you're going, it takes forever to get there.. and you don't know, because all the high structures block the view! I couldn't even see the big top until I was practically tripping over it.
More photos - and videos - here. Well, I finally found the market, tucked away among all the rides and food stalls, and bought a couple of nice presents - so I was a lot happier. And by that stage, it was nearly time to head to the big top for the circus, especially given how slow it was to move. On the way, I stopped in at one of the many toilet facilities - kudos to them, there are plenty, and they're in pretty great condition. Particularly for such a high volume of customers!
So, I made the big top about 15 minutes before showtime - a little later than the 20 suggested, but still early enough to be nearly at the head of the queue. It was lovely and warm. Unfortunately, this was due to the massive air vent, which I ended up standing right in front of. We could hear the last show, still in progress - running late, as you can expect from a show that runs hourly. It was nearly 8 by the time we were let in, and I took a central seat, for once.
They now start with the bikes in the cage, as well as finish - these are obviously the big draw. The crowd agree, and hardly bothered to applaud the aerialists that come next - a classic case of "follow that!". They have a juggler, doing his act on top of a moving buggy - unfortunately, at our show he was probably a bit tired, and dropped a couple. Happily, not the burning torches. A nice addition to this year's show is the magician, who performs several tricks throughout, with great aplomb. There's a talented wirewalker, an impressive bmx biker, and an acrobat in a wheelchair, who performs charmingly together with a strongman. Of course, at the end, we're back to the bikes again, building up to five of them, whizzing around the iron globe like angry hornets, the highlight being when the globe splits apart as they're still going. The lady beside me obviously hadn't seen that before, and gasped. I see they had enough business to put on an extra show - there was another queue to get in as we left.
Now, when I was printing out my ticket for this (as you must), I noticed a new attraction this year - the Magical Ice Kingdom (Secret Forest), which looked good. With several timed entry slots throughout the day, I'd decided to leave it until I got there to see what my schedule was like - I hadn't had time before the circus to think about it, but I headed along now, got a ticket for the 9pm slot, which had just started.
They say to leave half an hour for this, but I raced through it in 10 minutes. Mind you, that was because they keep the temperature at a balmy -10C.. the exhibit is spectacular! Not just in the skill required to produce these works, but the sheer imagination! This "Secret Forest" has your usual forest creatures, but also fairies, fauns.. and some spectacular works of art. Various photo opportunities are presented, but I passed. Seriously though, this is unmissable.
Exit is through the gift shop. More importantly, exit from the gift shop is through The Explorer's Rest pub.. which is where the alcoholic hot chocolate is to be found this year! A choice of a shot of amaretto, Bailey's, brandy, fireball, or orange liqueur, which I went for - just the thing to warm your cold bones after the ice display! So there's a highly recommended itinerary - ice display, followed by hot chocolate with your choice of shot. Cream optional, straws available. Winter Wonderland runs till the 6th of January - enjoy!
Outside, I waited forever for a bus, only for the one I wanted to disgorge its passengers and sail past without a by or leave. Checking the website, it turns out there is a disruption to service until Tuesday, because of the installation of Christmas lights. Well, it's in a good cause - but they could have mentioned it on the stops! After that, I gave up and took the (overcrowded) Tube. Crowd control at Hyde Park Corner station urged us to the end of the platform - which would have been fine, if we'd been able to squeeze through the crowds! Anyway, I was rather glad I didn't try to squeeze on the first one that came, because afterwards the platform emptied out, and I could head down to the end - where he turned out to be telling the truth. Head to the end if you want a seat..
Tomorrow, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Programme Three of Pinter at the Pinter - Pinter plays at the Pinter Theatre. This time, it's Landscape / A Kind of Alaska / Monologue.
ON Thursday, I'm back with UITCS at the National for Hadestown. Then back to Ireland again for the weekend.
On the 4th, I'm off to the Bush, for Drip.
On the 6th, 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. Whether this event happens is anyone's guess! Now, it's technically more expensive if you book on Funzing - but if you have my discount (Funzing_Fb20) ;-) it comes down to the same price she charges on her own site, without the booking fee! So I did it that way. But then Henning, with the London European Club, advertised a Happy Xmaths evening at Imperial College, the same night! Festive fun for maths geeks. Plus it's free - you just have to register with Eventbrite. (I see London Social Detours is also doing it now - for a fee. Funny, I wouldn't have put her down as mathsy! Oh, also London Science and Geek Chic Socials.) Anyway, I thought it'd be great to get back with this group. And since I booked the walk with Funzing, I've cancelled and will get a full refund. And I feel no sadness at missing an evening with Hazel, after what's been happening. But gee, this evening is proving to be one of the more popular- now a colleague has booked it for his leaving do. So I'm now going to that instead. Nibbles arranged at The Enterprise.
The 12th is our office Christmas party, but Let's Do This has now advertised a Christmas dinner- which sounds a more attractive prospect. So I'm doing that instead. Places filled up quickly with regulars.
On the 13th, I'm thrilled to be going to Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, at Sadler's Wells, with UITCS. He's a fantastic choreographer, but I've never before gotten around to seeing this all-male version. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
And on the 17th, the Crick Crack Club is performing Gilgamesh, at Soho Theatre. With Ben Haggerty in the spotlight, this will be a treat! Sold out, of course - you have to book these things early. Meeting Helen for a meal beforehand.
First weekend in months I've been in London! It felt very good not to be packing a case for once. Today, I was off on my own to see A Small Place, at the Gate. Drat, a matinee.. ah well. I got myself up about in time, checked how long the bus would take - and took the Tube, because Saturday is quite a heavy traffic day and the buses are slow. Anyway, it wasn't as bad as rush hour, and I got a seat after a bit.
I've figured out the trouble with Notting Hill Gate Tube station! It's not me, it's them - the Coronet cinema is signposted wrong. It's correctly listed as being on the south side of Notting Hill Gate, but they give the wrong direction from there. I checked, being early for once - and headed, I thought, in the same direction. I have been to the Gate Theatre before, but I think it must be so long ago that I hadn't even started the blog.. turns out it's actually to the north, on Pembridge Road, rather than anywhere near the Gate cinema, which is beside the Coronet. Ironically, this is the one corner with no Underground exit, so they have - correctly, as it happens - signposted it on two exits. Which is no real help to finding it. I suggest Google Maps.
A tiny entrance leads to a steep stairway, and a desk with a person sitting behind it who dispenses laminated tickets to people who have bought one, which are then taken from you again as you enter the auditorium. As I arrived, she was busily reassuring the claustrophobic woman in front of me that yes, she could sit near the door, and she herself would show her out, if need be. (She was fine, as it happened.)
Seating for this is interesting - the whole room is the stage, in a way, and bench seating points in all directions. Having said that, it's worthwhile trying to pick somewhere where you can see as much as possible - and that could be tricky, as it was mostly full when I arrived, and almost completely so by start time. Two actors are already in position, at desks at different parts of the room.
It's a short, intense piece - essentially a visual representation of a book of the same name, which gives a history and contemporary social commentary of Antigua, as told by someone who grew up there. It starts and ends with an actor reading directly from the book - and a well-written work it is, describing the superficial experience of the tourist who arrives there. Quickly, we move on to scathing commentary on British rule, and eventually to the current (at time of publication), corrupt government. The most prominent family, politically, are compared with Papa Doc and his son, Baby Doc, in Haiti. And a vitriolic passage lists the various incidences of corruption and neglect that have been perpetrated by the Antiguan government.
This is one angry writer! She says she can't go back now, for fear of her life - and she's openly angry at history, at colonials ("criminals"), at politicians - and dismissive, at best, of tourists. But you know what else? She's witty, she has a great turn of phrase, and this is a really enjoyable show. She presents reasoned arguments about why this colonised country has turned out as it has. She makes some very harsh remarks (with which I agree) about British (well, English) colonialism, and for that reason, I would not recommend this to anyone who might feel offended at the suggestion that England should be ashamed of itself. As she says, they're not all bad - the good ones just stayed home!
I really enjoyed it. Recommended to the un-offended.. runs till the 1st. Coming out, of course it took my phone ages to get online, while I shivered in the cold - and when it did, it informed me that buses were still going to be slow. So it was to be Tube again - at least I got back quicker.
Tomorrow, 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 Thursday, I'm back with UITCS at the National for Hadestown. Then back to Ireland again for the weekend.
On the 4th, I'm off to the Bush, for Drip.
On the 6th, 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. Whether this event happens is anyone's 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. But then Henning, with the London European Club, advertised a Happy Xmaths evening at Imperial College, the same night! Festive fun for maths geeks. Plus it's free - you just have to register with Eventbrite. (I see London Social Detours is also doing it now - for a fee. Funny, I wouldn't have put her down as mathsy! Oh, also London Science and Geek Chic Socials.) Anyway, I thought it'd be great to get back with this group. And since I booked the walk with Funzing, I've cancelled and will get a full refund. And I feel no sadness at missing an evening with Hazel, after what's been happening. But gee, this evening is proving to be one of the more popular- now a colleague has booked it for his leaving do. So I'm now going to that instead. Nibbles arranged at The Enterprise.
The 12th is our office Christmas party, but Let's Do This has now advertised a Christmas dinner- which sounds a more attractive prospect. So I'm doing that instead. Places filled up quickly with regulars.
On the 13th, I'm thrilled to be going to Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, at Sadler's Wells, with UITCS. He's a fantastic choreographer, but I've never before gotten around to seeing this all-male version. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
And on the 17th, the Crick Crack Club is performing Gilgamesh, at Soho Theatre. With Ben Haggerty in the spotlight, this will be a treat! Sold out, of course - you have to book these things early. Meeting Helen for a meal beforehand.
