Acosta Danza - Evolution

Yesterday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Acosta Danza - Evolution, at Sadler's Wells. Last time with them this month. So I took my usual walk up there - veering slightly to the right of the suggested route, to avoid the unpassable roadworks. My route ended up being more like 45 minutes than Google Maps' estimated 25 - but who's counting?!

Unusually, when I booked this, I wasn't given the option of an e-ticket, and had to queue at the desk, where the frazzled woman, rather than asking to see anything, just asked for my name and postcode. And then I had all those stairs to climb, which I gamely did, finding the group sat at the back - at least I wasn't the last there, this time. When we went in, I had my usual, solitary seat, and kept it.. but it was funny, as soon as the lights went down, to watch the stream of people rushing to the empty middle seats! Not as many free seats as last time, but there were enough.

They weren't handing out cast lists this time, so we didn't know the running order - until someone noticed it was posted to the side of one of the doors. (The programme, BTW, is only worth buying if you're into the pretty pictures, or perhaps cast biographies - don't buy it in hope of finding out anything about the pieces! But in fact, just enjoy..

The first piece was my favourite of the night, certainly - Satori is a new work. A joy for anyone who likes purple - a huge, purple sheet is at the centre of proceedings, while dancers cavort in, under, and around it: but regardless of your preferences for colour, the imagery is stunning, as the dancers form the most beautiful shapes. Contains strobe lighting and partial nudity.

After the first interval, Paysage, Soudain, la Nuit sees a somewhat more conventional piece (well, it could hardly be less conventional than the first!), in a cornfield. And after a brief pause, the beautiful Faun, with the music of Debussy, takes us through to the next interval.

The final piece, as usual, is a crowd-pleaser; Rooster does an excellent job of illustrating the music of the Rolling Stones - starting with Little Red Rooster, and with sundry male dancers playing the rooster, and sparking off the female dancers. I was having a fine time, rocking out, all on my own, over the side.. and as far as I was concerned, the music improves as the piece continues. Hell, I nearly started dancing myself when they started Paint It Black.. love that song way too much! Oh, and don't start clapping till the lights go down - he's got a closing treat in store. ;-) Highly recommended - runs till Saturday.

Everybody scuttled off like lightning as soon as it was over - well, since nobody wanted to stay and chat, I was on the bus by 10! However, no blogging last night - I had to come in early for a meeting. Which, ironically, was moved half an hour earlier last night, after I'd left. So I actually missed it. Ho-hum.

Tonight, Anthony's Cultural Events and Walking Activities Group is off to a performance entitled Virginia Woolf - Killing the Angel, at the LSE. So I decided to go on my own, and save the Meetup fee - I haven't had that much luck with socialising with them, anyway. And that Meetup soon filled. But you know what? Yesterday, the LSE sent an email to all attendees, to say that they'd allocated more tickets than they have places, because it's a free event, and not everyone shows. So it's first come first served, no latecomers admitted, they'd be opening the doors at 6.. hmm. I've had bad experiences with those before - and honestly, I have way too much to do, to be queueing all evening. So I implemented Plan B - and now I'm going to a film. Top of the rapidly decreasing list is Marriage Story, with Scarlett Johansson as part of a perfectly matched couple who, unfortunately, find themselves splitting apart because their work drags them away from home all the time. Cue a nasty court spat over custody.. showing in the Barbican, in a while. Selling out a bit, so I booked.

Tomorrow, back with Spooky London - the John Snow Pub. Then another weekend in Ireland.

On Monday, the Crick Crack Club is back with Rebel Children, at the British Library. Ben Haggarty & Jan Blake - ooh yeah!

On Tuesday, my annual trip to Winter Wonderland - heading to Cirque Berserk and the Ice Kingdom, as usual. Someone said he might come along.

Next Wednesday, the first night in ages with North London Friends! We're at A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, at Trafalgar Studios.

And on the 28th, our ex-company's social group's Christmas meeting. We had a tiff about the venue - the organiser decided on Thai Square, which I think is overpriced and underwhelming. So he started to grumble about the difficulty of getting somewhere before Christmas - which will take a group, and doesn't cost the earth. Still though, he came up with an alternative - we've decided on the Warwick Castle pub in Little Venice. Lovely area, the pub sounds nice - with a Christmassy open fire, and a room we can book - and hey, it's a pub, which won't throw us out as quickly! Must get on to booking their wine deal.. 10% off if you order at least £150 worth. Which I'm sure, among the dozen or so that are coming, we'll manage to drink. And gee, he's had us choosing what we want off the menu. I also asked for the wine list - and now am waiting impatiently for someone - anyone - to get back to me with an idea of what they'd like to drink!