Tonight, I was at an Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) double bill at the Orange Tree! The Mikvah Project and Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography! (ahem..) Amusement ensued in the office, when I named the second play, but mixed up Megabyte and Gigabyte! Ah well..
Happily, my Tube came just as I arrived. The unfortunate thing about heading out earlier is that the Tube is so much more packed. It was Stamford Brook where I finally got a seat.. of course, we had the customary delay pulling into the terminus. So in the end, I was a little late joining the others. Never mind, they managed to score a table in the bar again, excellent! Not easy to do, as there are only two..
Well now, this was an evening of excellent plays, and much, eh, nudity. I wasn't expecting it in The Mikvah Project, really, but then it is set in a mikvah, which turns out to be a Jewish bathhouse. At the beginning, they lift panels from the floor to reveal a pool of water - but for quite a while, they don't go near it, and we did begin to wonder whether they would. It seems that traditional use of the mikvah does require nudity.. and sure enough, after a bit, off they go. In and out, clothes on and off, throughout the play. People wondered how one of them got his hair dry so quickly!
The story concerns a teenage boy, who unexpectedly falls for a grown man at the mikvah. Not what you'd call kosher. It's beautifully acted by the two participants, as we watch the uncertain teen batter away at the older man's defences - he's happily(?) married, trying for a baby.. unsure of his reaction to this presumptuous teen. He's played by Robert Neumark Jones, whom I'm sure I've seen in things before.
I thought it was an excellent play, and we all enjoyed it - it's funny, it's real, the characters are believable. Not to mention the odd flash of nudity! Finishes on Saturday, highly recommended. Sold out tonight, booking necessary. Oh, and the aforementioned Robert Neumark Jones hung out in the bar between shows, and was sat in the front row for the next one - his face much more animated than when he was performing!
After a nice break in the bar in between, we headed in again for the show with the more intriguing title of Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography, noting the mirrors positioned around the room, which hadn't been there before. Again a two-person show, this one features a man and a woman, and asks us to consider the perils of online dating. Of course, the main problem with it is that you don't usually get anything resembling reality - but the fantasy world of online dating isn't the only one explored, with nods to online porn (and unrealistic standards of physical attractiveness), as well as the travel channel, and cookery programs (tempting us to dreams we can never fulfil).
Both characters are fantasists, him obsessed with porn - and Italian cooking, her with shopping - and living on a Greek island. Getting them together is a recipe for disaster, and makes for a grim conclusion, as reality strikes, right at the end. A very downbeat play, still it's very well written and beautifully acted. And alternately hilarious and poignant.. also finishes on Saturday, also highly recommended. (Caveat: contains flashing lights.) Although, for my money, The Mikvah Project was more entertaining.
The long-promised rain finally materialised as we left the theatre - on the one day it wasn't predicted! Tomorrow, I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On Monday, I booked for This is Black, Double Bill 1. But gee, Civilised London (CL) then 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. And given Tuesday night's offering from This is Black, I'm so glad about that..! Not only that, but the organisers got in touch yesterday to explain that one of the plays for that program.. isn't actually audience-ready yet! (Amateur hour, I knew it.) Instead, they're organising a series of public readings, to gauge audience reactions. They invited people to get in touch if they wanted to change their bookings. Well now.. so I got in touch, and am getting a refund! Nice..
On Tuesday, 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. This is now sold out completely for the run, apparently.
Next Thursday, 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment