Tonight, delighted to be headed back with the London European Club - having cancelled my last outing with them - for the Best of BE Festival! This is the top three shows from the annual BE Festival in Birmingham, which they take on the road. Showing at Jackson's Lane. (And with da boss on holiday, I was less likely to cancel this one!)
Sure enough, I headed out in good time, taking the bus that goes from right outside the office to right outside the theatre! Got a seat after a couple of stops, on what was a very crowded bus. Mind you, it took forever, and I nearly fell asleep. Never mind, I had beaten the organiser to it - and although the cafe doesn't take cards, the bar does, so I got myself a drink and plonked myself on a seat near the theatre door. Where we all eventually convened - well, six of the nine who had RSVPed.
Funnily enough, we were pretty much all sat directly behind one another! Nice seats they have, too - very comfortable, despite being folding seats. Great upholstery! I was second row from the front. As to the show - three acts, and a somewhat varied reaction.
I think we were all impressed with the first act, who had us bemused before he came on, what with his stage full of mousetraps, and a table at the back sporting what looked like a bottle of Tullamore Dew, and twelve shot glasses. Yeah, you can guess what happens next.. basically, he gets himself nice and tipsy with a drinking game, then charges around doing things you really shouldn't attempt at home. As someone remarked at the Q+A afterwards, the most suspenseful act she'd seen in a long time! Very clever.
The second act just had everyone perplexed, the performer reciting - either verbally or on tape - over what he's doing: also things you shouldn't do at home, these were potentially somewhat more damaging. And we all spent our time trying to figure out what on earth he was trying to communicate. Not a hit.
After a 20-minute interval, during which we had to vacate the auditorium, we returned - well, most of us - to a stage full of electronics. Clever, this guy - he rigs up the whole stage to respond to him - whether by pedal, or by an impressive array of buttons on his hoodie. A real geek's dream - he can start and stop the video that plays on the screen on the back (and a small one at the front), control the lights - and bounce balls around on some kind of pressure-sensitive surface that converts the bounces into music. Combined with a dry sense of humour, this would have been a much more enjoyable act for me if I hadn't been one of those dragged up on stage. See, I KNEW the four hats to the side had a purpose. Tip: DO NOT sit at, or near, the front - no wonder my row was so empty for the second half! Apparently his full show takes an hour - talented guy.
The short Q+A afterwards introduces us to each performer - the guy nobody had liked had a whole row of (inane) friends there! which answers the question as to whether he'd known his volunteer in advance. And the (Swiss) guy who comes on first let us in on his take on circus acts - which is that they're people spending years perfecting some completely unusable talent, which is nonetheless completely impossible. Nice. Yeah, if it weren't for the middle guy, I'd have no problem recommending the show. Anyway, they're touring England for the rest of the month.
With no-one in a sociable mood after, we headed home - my bus fairly flew, apart from running into traffic coming from some football match. Tomorrow, headed out with The London Jazz Meetup, for Janet's Jazz Night with Richie Garrison & Grazina Pukaite, at Jazz Cafe Posk.
On Saturday, back - for the first time in ages - with London Social Detours, who are doing a Plagues, Pestilence, & Pathology Trail. Must remember to take cash - payment is on the day. And afterwards, to The George, which is always good.
And on Sunday - which is Paddy's Day - for the first time since I came to London, I'm hitting the London Irish Centre! Their Big Gig is headlined by Kila, who are excellent!
No comments:
Post a Comment