Tonight, with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) at the Garrick for Don Quixote, with the RSC. The only cheap tickets left for this were terrible, so I went a bit upmarket. A bit - I was still behind a pillar! Got caught up doing various things, and left a little later than I intended - sure enough, was just in time to miss my bus. Wouldn't you know it though, another was right behind. With a kind driver, I might add - along the way, someone had missed the 38, as she later told someone on the phone, and asked our driver whether he took the same route. No, he said, but he could take her as far as she needed along the route. He checked where she was going, and dropped her close enough that she could walk - and for free! Great bus service, to be honest.
Me, I ended up walking down Charing Cross Road - which has been awkward for as long as I've been doing it, what with roadworks, and hoardings blocking the pavements. It's even worse now, with hoardings also on the side of the road you can actually walk down! The pavement was so crowded at one point, with people walking in both directions, that we came to a complete stop. Dreadful planning. Mind you, with the road narrowed as well, it's hard to see what they can do better.
Collected my ticket at the box office - once the little old lady who'd barged in front of me realised there was someone at the next window and went there instead. Don'tcha just hate old people who think their age entitles them to be rude? Don't tell me she didn't see me.. she was glancing at me the whole time to see whether I was likely to make a fuss. Well, I got my ticket before she did hers anyway, and made my way to the Stalls bar - which you access through the Stalls; it's at the back. I had a chat with those clustered in the corner, and got myself an overpriced glass of wine. Went large - why not, when I could take it to my seat? It was plastic..
I was behind one of the forward pillars. As you can see in the photo, I could see most of the stage - all of it, if I leaned a bit! There were some free seats, including one beside me - I could have moved if I'd wanted. But I was quite fine. Apart from the obligatory coughing fit just after the start - WTF causes it to flare up just at the start of every show? Probably the combination of consciously not coughing on the way in - and talking to people just at the start.. Well, after some exasperated looks from those around me, I did manage to stop. The sips of wine probably helped. Never recurs during the same show, interestingly.
Most of our group, if not all, seemed to be in the Stalls - one chap, at least, had his ticket upgraded at the last minute. Under-filled upper levels, I guess. And several of the group seemed to be in the front two rows. I know this because they had intense audience interaction. Really, I was to be glad I was behind a pillar when the food fight (!) started. One bread roll landed near me, and an usher rescued it and flung it back on stage - there was an enthusiastic exchange of rolls, back and forth, for several minutes! Not only that - jeez, we had instructions to cheer, we had banter: and most memorably, our poor organiser demonstrated the art of being in exactly the wrong place at the wrong time, when she was practically dragged on stage, being draped over one of the actors, at the edge, for an extended period. Definitely different. Wonder what David Cameron thought - apparently he was sat behind her!
I adored this. It's just kind of perfectly surreal, the story of a daft old man in La Mancha who reads a lot, fantasises a bit too much, and decides to ride out as a knight errant and have adventures! I've passed through La Mancha - truly, there didn't seem to be a lot there, and I can imagine the locals fantasising. Off he pops, with shabby armour, and persuading his servant to tag along as a squire, with the promise of wealth. And as he wreaks havoc in the area, he causes much mischief - and perhaps also revives some chivalry, as is his aim.
It's as well performed as you'd expect from the RSC. And quite hilarious - as someone remarked at the interval, a great start to the panto season! The musical numbers are beautifully sung - and the band, hidden up in a musicians' gallery at the rear, play a variety of styles from classical guitar to flamenco to ballad. I was in heaven with the Spanish stuff, of course. Not quite to everyone's taste - I fancy the auditorium was a little emptier for the second half - but jeez, I can't recommend it highly enough. Includes haze and flashes. Currently booking till the 2nd of February. Oh, and I just missed my bus again on the way back - and this time, had quite a wait for the next. It's very unfair, how they've separated the sign and the shelter at that stop - people who don't know stand under the shelter, which also has the display, but the buses stop at the sign, much before that, and sail past the shelter!
Me, I ended up walking down Charing Cross Road - which has been awkward for as long as I've been doing it, what with roadworks, and hoardings blocking the pavements. It's even worse now, with hoardings also on the side of the road you can actually walk down! The pavement was so crowded at one point, with people walking in both directions, that we came to a complete stop. Dreadful planning. Mind you, with the road narrowed as well, it's hard to see what they can do better.
Collected my ticket at the box office - once the little old lady who'd barged in front of me realised there was someone at the next window and went there instead. Don'tcha just hate old people who think their age entitles them to be rude? Don't tell me she didn't see me.. she was glancing at me the whole time to see whether I was likely to make a fuss. Well, I got my ticket before she did hers anyway, and made my way to the Stalls bar - which you access through the Stalls; it's at the back. I had a chat with those clustered in the corner, and got myself an overpriced glass of wine. Went large - why not, when I could take it to my seat? It was plastic..
I was behind one of the forward pillars. As you can see in the photo, I could see most of the stage - all of it, if I leaned a bit! There were some free seats, including one beside me - I could have moved if I'd wanted. But I was quite fine. Apart from the obligatory coughing fit just after the start - WTF causes it to flare up just at the start of every show? Probably the combination of consciously not coughing on the way in - and talking to people just at the start.. Well, after some exasperated looks from those around me, I did manage to stop. The sips of wine probably helped. Never recurs during the same show, interestingly.
Most of our group, if not all, seemed to be in the Stalls - one chap, at least, had his ticket upgraded at the last minute. Under-filled upper levels, I guess. And several of the group seemed to be in the front two rows. I know this because they had intense audience interaction. Really, I was to be glad I was behind a pillar when the food fight (!) started. One bread roll landed near me, and an usher rescued it and flung it back on stage - there was an enthusiastic exchange of rolls, back and forth, for several minutes! Not only that - jeez, we had instructions to cheer, we had banter: and most memorably, our poor organiser demonstrated the art of being in exactly the wrong place at the wrong time, when she was practically dragged on stage, being draped over one of the actors, at the edge, for an extended period. Definitely different. Wonder what David Cameron thought - apparently he was sat behind her!
I adored this. It's just kind of perfectly surreal, the story of a daft old man in La Mancha who reads a lot, fantasises a bit too much, and decides to ride out as a knight errant and have adventures! I've passed through La Mancha - truly, there didn't seem to be a lot there, and I can imagine the locals fantasising. Off he pops, with shabby armour, and persuading his servant to tag along as a squire, with the promise of wealth. And as he wreaks havoc in the area, he causes much mischief - and perhaps also revives some chivalry, as is his aim.
It's as well performed as you'd expect from the RSC. And quite hilarious - as someone remarked at the interval, a great start to the panto season! The musical numbers are beautifully sung - and the band, hidden up in a musicians' gallery at the rear, play a variety of styles from classical guitar to flamenco to ballad. I was in heaven with the Spanish stuff, of course. Not quite to everyone's taste - I fancy the auditorium was a little emptier for the second half - but jeez, I can't recommend it highly enough. Includes haze and flashes. Currently booking till the 2nd of February. Oh, and I just missed my bus again on the way back - and this time, had quite a wait for the next. It's very unfair, how they've separated the sign and the shelter at that stop - people who don't know stand under the shelter, which also has the display, but the buses stop at the sign, much before that, and sail past the shelter!
Tomorrow, 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. Therefore Funzing, so discounted by 20%, again, with the code Funzing_Fb20. And this was after my loyalty discount - so I got it at better than half price! which is good, considering the price.
On Saturday, I'm off on my own to see A Small Place, at the Gate.
On Sunday, 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 Monday, I'm back with UITCS for Programme Three of Pinter at the Pinter - Landscape / A Kind of Alaska / Monologue.
On Tuesday, 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 Wednesday, I was with Walking in London again for the Haunted London Pub Tour. But we've now arranged our team night out for that night. I'll have had enough ghostly things for the moment, anyway.
Next Thursday, I'm back with UITCS at the National for Hadestown. Then back to Ireland again for the weekend.
On the 3rd, 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 ;-) 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 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 was going to see it tonight - I must ask her about it tomorrow.
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 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment