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.
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!
On Thursday, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) at the National for Hadestown. My new co-worker raves about it. Then back to Ireland again for the weekend.
On Monday, I'm back to the National for I'm Not Running.
On the 5th, LDN Talks @ Night and London Speaks Sessions (both Funzing) advertised a "Winterville" talk on The Science of Santa, where we get the scientific explanation of how he does it. Taking place at The Windmill. However, seems they meant the day before, when of course I'm busy. So instead I'm going to True West, with Kit Harington, at the Vaudeville. Cheapest tickets from the venue.
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.
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, a full 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! Our new starter saw it last week, and proclaimed it "weird". Well, weird is good.
On the 11th, I was going with North London Friends to The Convert, at the Young Vic. Discounted top-price seats, it seems! And then, the Crick Crack Club sent around an advertising email - and damnit if they haven't arranged a meeting that night! The House of Nine Lives is at the British Library, and has Nell Phoenix, Tim Ralphs, and TUUP talking about pussycats. Irresistible. However, I don't get my money back for the play unless they sell on the ticket - hopefully they can.
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.
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