Play: Europe

Last night, back with North London Friends for Europe, at the Donmar Warehouse. Nice not to have to worry about picking up a ticket, for once - they were providing them. All I had to do was to show up outside the theatre, 7ish - which I managed. Well, 7.05. Got my ticket from the organiser, stayed outside for a bit talking plays, and eventually trailed the others into the bar. Handily, we'd been upgraded to the stalls! I do believe it's the first time I've been sat downstairs, here..

I was in the back row, but nowhere is too far from the stage, here. It's set in a railway station - right on a border, in some indeterminate part of Europe (quite central, by the sound of it, from the varied destinations of the trains that charge through without stopping). And firstly, I do have to give a shout out to the special effects in this - you really do feel as though a train is passing through!

We have a small cast of characters - the station is staffed by the stationmaster and a trainee, but they don't really have anything to do; it's literally been weeks since a train stopped there! The stationmaster can't reconcile this with the - as he says - 400-page timetable. But things rattle along personably enough - the trainee is married to a local lad, but spends her time trainspotting from the station roof and dreaming of parts foreign. Her husband has his own problems - he's just lost his job, and has nothing to do but hang out with his mates, sculling pints and complaining. One of them, mind, is desperate to leave - doesn't see any future there. He's tempted by the tales of a wheeler-dealer acquaintance of theirs, who hops over and back across borders, wherever he sniffs out a profit.

And then a couple of people show up - an elderly man and his daughter - camping out in the deserted station. Consternation! Who are they, what do they want? Do they present a threat? or an opportunity..?

A nice overview of how different people see borders and the people who cross them, this play leaves you in no doubt which side it's on, as the villains of the piece emerge. Call it a microcosm for the migrant issue - imagine what could happen when two - just two - strangers show up, needing help, in a small place whose inhabitants are already worried about the future, and in need of scapegoats. The locals are in need of some way to reassert themselves, prove they can make a difference. In the play's explosive climax, we are left with a frightening vision of how far things can escalate, rapidly - as some characters move on, and some are left behind, trapped in the past, in one way or another.

There are vague references to the Yugoslav conflict - with that, and the mention of different European currencies, I think it's set around then. But oh, so relevant to today, with the threat of terrible things on the horizon. Highly recommended. Booking also recommended, with limited availability on most shows - certainly, it was pretty full last night. Runs till the 10th.

Afterwards, in search of somewhere to have a drink, we just wandered across the road, where a sign advertised a live band, upstairs in Tango Terra. Investigating further, we found that classes had been in progress, but the nice lady at the desk said that yes, we could come in and just sit around and have a drink - she asked for a small donation, which one person kindly paid, and we were in. Grabbed some seats at the side - most of us weren't brave enough to take to the floor, but a couple did. And it was a lovely, elegant way to end the evening, watching dancers much more accomplished than we are. Many thanks to the gent who bought me a drink.

Tonight, I'm back to Ireland for the weekend. The first three days of next week, back with Up in the Cheap Seats. On Monday and Wednesday, we're at LAMDA - Monday for The Ofsted Massacre.

On Tuesday, we're at Trafalgar Studios - I'm finally going to see Equus, with its nudity and blinding of horses. Have to see what all the controversy is about!

On Wednesday, the play is My Children! My Africa!

On Thursday, our overdue social from the company I was last with - this month, we're off to the Queen's Head and Artichoke, for dinner and drinks.

And next Friday, Helen is in town again for training - and we're off on the Hidden Horrors Haunted History London Ghost Walk. Which I was on before, but wouldn't mind going on again - it's good (as I can see from the review I left), and I could do with reminding, after all. Let's see how much I've forgotten.. It's also Funzing, and I got a 15% discount with the code Fun15, which can only be used once. Advertised by Best Authentic Walking Tours in London - so Funzing does still have a Meetup group for walks.. Don't believe what they say about "no refunds" though, the Funzing rule of a full refund up to 48 hours beforehand still applies.