Play: Pilgrims

Tonight, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Pilgrims, at the Orange Tree Theatre. And for once, I left in time! Well, the late start time made that easier. Tube, of course, this far out - and interestingly, the next scheduled train was listed on the display as "see front of train" for destination.. what's interesting was that the next train had a blank display on the front! :-) It turned out not to be going to Richmond - but the one after was.

Happily, I didn't have a repeat of my last journey there, and the train did make it all the way. A short walk to the theatre, and I met the others in the bar - they'd managed to score a table in the corner! After a seemingly interminable queue to get a drink, I joined them for a pre-show chat. Now, this wasn't pre-show for all of them - a couple had been to the first show this evening, which they raved about; this is all part of a directors' festival, you see. All short plays. And it did sound interesting..

Anyway, in due course we all trooped in for ours. Staging for this is minimal - some blocks, a couple of wooden frames that look homemade. A lot of the play is spent rearranging these to represent different scenes. There are also a couple of rucksacks - one for each of our two lads, keen on mountaineering. They've been best pals for forever. But when this girl comes on the scene, trouble ensues..

So far, so predictable, eh? Yes, the writer of this play thinks so too. Prepare for a plot twist, as the writer decides to rewrite the classic love triangle trope, as well as the idea of the little woman that stays at home while the man goes off adventuring. The first scene does actually give you a lot of the plot, and as someone said, the play takes a long time to wind its way around to the conclusion - but I enjoyed the journey: and as they say, sometimes the purpose of the journey is not the destination. The characters are believable and likeable, the conversations quite natural, and I really enjoyed it. Some lovely singing, too. Runs for just over an hour - highly recommended. Selected times until the festival end, on Sunday.

It was lovely to see folks again, and have a chat. Tomorrow, I'm off to the Bunker..  they have a program of plays by black writers, called This is Black, and that day, I'm seeing Double Bill 2 (they run on alternate days).

On Wednesday, London Literary Walks has a walk called Moby Dick (ahoy!). It's around Greenland Dock.

On Thursday, I'm at a UITCS double bill at the Orange Tree! The Mikvah Project and Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography! (ahem..) Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

Next Monday, I booked for This is Black, Double Bill 1. But gee, Civilised London (CL) just advertised another night at Wilton's - featuring, on this occasion, the Lucky Dog Jazz Trio. Now, that'll be a blast! So I'm going to that, instead.

On the 13th, back with Anthony's Cultural Events and Walking Activities Group - they're at a free outdoor concert in Canada Square Park, called the Magic of the Movies. Again, I'll be watching the weather.

Now, UITCS is at Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet the same night, at Sadler's Wells - and I was gutted not to get a ticket. But guess what - I got one for the next night! Last seat in the house, in fact.. love Matthew Bourne.

On the 15th, back with The Embers Collective, who are performing Full Moon Stories at Cafe Cairo.

On the 16th, I'm back with the Best Authentic Walking Tours in London (aka Funzing) - for the Sex, Drugs, Sausage Rolls Tour. Unusual for me to find a new walk!

On the 17th, going to see The Doctor, with Juliet Stevenson, at the Almeida. Now, I'd originally booked for this for the 15th, forgetting that The Embers Collective were meeting that day. Can happen when I'm booking lots of stuff. When I realised my mistake, I thought I just wouldn't bother with this - then saw that London Dramatic Arts are going on the 17th! So I switched my ticket to that night, and let them know I was coming too. Now, the organiser is selling tickets for this, and doesn't appreciate competition - or anyone advertising another way to get tickets. Which might be why she deleted the comment I left to explain that I'd be there that night too! I haven't had a message from her either - so I suppose she'll be ignoring me, then. Wouldn't be the first time.

On the 18th, going with CL to the Cartoon Museum - with optional dim sum afterwards. Yes please!

On the 19th, I'm finally going to see Evita, at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Never have seen it.

On the 20th, with the London European Club at the Globe - we're going to risk The Comedy of Errors.

And on the 21st, I'm seeing Showtune - an evening of Jerry Herman music - at the Union Theatre.