Gee, the minute the usher saw I was in the Gallery, he told me I'd be upgraded. (Whee! Second time recently, and both on a Monday - which makes sense, I guess, as a less popular night for going out.) Awkwardly, I still had to climb all the way to the Gallery to get my ticket, then all the way down to the Stalls. Still, what with all this confusion, it started quite late, so I was in my seat well before the lights went down. (Actually, not the seat I'd been given - there was someone in that, so I just sat two seats down, figuring it wasn't worth the grief.) When I checked afterwards, I saw that seat is selling - for this production - for £65! which is quite a good return on the £16 I paid. A ridiculous pricing system, though - the rear stalls are definitely not worth that, and what's more, the four seats on each end of the same row are selling for £25. Maybe they're targeting ogliarchs with these high prices?!
If you peer at the above photo, you might be able to see a panoramic photo of sunflowers at the rear of the stage. A feature of this production is that each story has a backdrop of one or more photos, reflecting the theme or setting of the story - these are displayed on large cards, which are moved on- and off-stage as required, the panoramic ones in sections. And before anything else gets underway, a chap comes on to explain how all the photos were taken in Shukshin's hometown, in the Altai Republic. (And in one panoramic photo, we do get to see some gorgeous scenery.)
It runs for three hours, including an interval - four stories beforehand, maybe four after; it's hard to keep track. But that's a testament to how I was lost in the stories.. all are set in a rural environment that could be anywhere, and many deal with the arrival of relatives - or alien influences - from the Big City. The same actors swap roles from story to story, and the props are, mostly, that bench you can see in the photo.
By and large, the stories are more lighthearted before the interval, and indeed quietly hilarious.. themes include the shy guy who gets the girl: the man who sees a flash pair of ladies' boots and buys them on a whim for his wife without checking they'll fit: one man's adventures with a microscope. The team's comic timing is perfection, and the themes are universal. Mind you, it wasn't to everyone's taste tonight - the guy beside me left (which gave me a seat to leave my bag on), as did the couple in front (so I got a better view). My only quibble came with the surtitles, which were occasionally misspelt and sometimes just weirdly translated. :-) And mostly, the problem with them was that they lagged a little behind the action - so the Russian-speakers in the crowd were laughing before the rest of us got the joke!
The second half is darker, and no less worthwhile for it - it makes a great contrast, and I felt for the man with the unfaithful wife whom he adored, the man with the nagging wife, and the man - close to release from prison - who just couldn't wait to see home, so he escaped. Again, all beautifully acted. And throughout, we're treated to some very atmospheric music - the whole cast come on with accordions at the end. A well-deserved standing ovation followed. Runs till Wednesday - highly recommended; I won't say it didn't feel long, but by the end I was mesmerised enough to be surprised when they did end!
Tomorrow, off to Wilton's, for Lady of Jazz. It'll feel unusual to be there without a Meetup group!
On Wednesday, I booked at the Turbine Theatre, for Torch Song. This is the inaugural show at the new theatre in the revamped Battersea Power Station! But last week, London European Club (courtesy of Henning) advertised a concert of Cretan music at Jamboree, which sounds much more fun - so I've decided to go to that instead. Wow, it's years since I was last there!
On Thursday, North London Friends is off to A History of Water in the Middle East, at the Royal Court. Another where I got my ticket from the organiser.
On Friday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) - to Southwark Playhouse this time, for Preludes. D' you know, I bought their passport a while ago, which entitles you to cheap tickets to five shows - and of the last three I booked, something else came up for every single one! Hope I make this one.. reports of it being "weird" don't phase me in the slightest!
On Saturday, seeing the matinee of Solaris at the Lyric Hammersmith. Turns out that both UITCS and Love London Theatre, Arts, Music & Stuff (LLTAMS) are going - so I booked with both! Why not? Each requires you to buy your own ticket. And since only the organiser and I are going from LLTAMS, I hope we can merge.. Ivan was talking about possibly meeting up that evening, but then realised he had a train booked for the following morning, so we have to reschedule.
On Sunday, joining the London Improvisation Community Group for the first time - they have a show called Happily Never After at the Pleasance - part of the London Horror Festival.
Next Monday, I'm seeing Mother of Him, at the Park.
On the 15th, UITCS is off to the Albert Hall for Symphonic Queen - the Royal Philharmonic is performing Queen.
Then begins a long period of non-Meetup stuff. On the 16th, I'm heading to the ballet Manon, at the Opera House.
On the 17th, the Crick Crack Club (CCC) is back at Rich Mix, with Melusine. TUUP is the headliner on this occasion, which should be terrific!
On the 18th, Helen's in town, heading to a Midge Ure concert at the Palladium - we're meeting for dinner beforehand. Now, that's the day I should be flying back to Ireland - so I'm going the next day instead. And with my mother's birthday during the week - and not having any major holidays booked - I said, why not just take the week off and spend it in Ireland? So I am.
On the 28th, the CCC is back again - Ben Haggarty is in Soho Theatre with Grim Grimms - a dark take on fairytales, highlighting four lesser-known tales of the brothers Grimm. With musical accompaniment. Tickets weren't available when I noted this in my calendar - they are now, and will likely sell out.
On the 29th, I'm trying to persuade the social group from my former company to come with me to a Design My Night event - Fright Night Cinema is showing Hallowe'en in the Rivoli ballroom, with a themed cocktail bar and people dressed in spooky costumes. Now, that sounds like fun.. I've booked, at least.
On the 30th, back with Meetup at last - UITCS is at a mixed programme by Birmingham Royal Ballet, at Sadler's Wells. I've seen part of it before, and it's excellent.
And for Hallowe'en, The Embers Collective stepped up to the plate, with a storytelling performance called Witch, at The Jago.
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