Play: The Corn is Green

Good to be back in London - for flat-hunting as much as for anything else. However, I returned to a malfunctioning fire alarm in our flat, making the most atrocious racket. Mercifully, my bedroom door blocked most of it, and my earplugs some more - but I could still hear it, and it contributed to me being awake at 4am. Now, I'd left my phone on to charge - and when I do that, I don't switch it off, as I normally do at night. I forget why - I think it might be harder to turn on if it's charging. Anyway, while it and I were awake, a message came through from someone I'd contacted about a room! So, in the wee small hours, I arranged a viewing for yesterday evening. Up in the direction of King's Cross, just at the border of what I'd consider walking distance from the office.

I got up really early - wasn't really able to go back to sleep once I was awake, anyway - so I decided to finish early as well, and eat in that area before the viewing. Headed for the Indian Lounge again - I was surprised that the over-enthusiastic staff member (who practically chases people down the road if they show an interest) didn't come out while I was studying the menu! But no, I was left to come in of my own accord, and the friendly manager showed me to a table. Dunno why I bothered looking at the menu, inside or outside the door, considering I had my usual! The tv projector wasn't on, this time:

The food was generally lovely, and the pulau rice I found particularly nice! The peshwari naan was also very tasty. And it's nice that they provide large glasses of wine, which many Asian restaurants don't. I have to say though, the butter chicken was rather salty! Might not have that if I'm here again. But as I remarked on leaving - I felt I had to explain my unfinished meal - I had to rush somewhere. I made sure to avail of the free shot they gave me with my bill, mind..

I then had a trot up the road to the flat viewing. Got myself most of the way, and found myself in an estate at the back of the station. Had a little trouble finding the right number, but a flatmate was showing me around, and helped me with directions. And ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner! Big room, plenty of storage - not to mention the large empty space at the rear of the wardrobe that I could use as a walk-in wardrobe! and a decent-sized, private balcony. Plus, fewer stairs than I have now, not so much extra to pay, available immediately (although he did suggest that I wait a few weeks to move in, because it's going to be painted), and it faces away from the road! How different from where I am now. Oh, and he said references would be "nice", which bodes well. Fingers crossed I don't have this one snatched away from me as well.. I've sent him everything I can, and contacted work and my landlord for references, but no word back from him yet; I suppose he has to run it past his landlord. And perhaps they're waiting to see whether a better candidate comes along. Here's hoping..

Anyway, it was in a good mood that I headed off for my evening's entertainment. I was off to The Corn is Green, at the National. I see this was also a film, which I remember seeing on tv, years ago.. Bette Davis played a teacher in a deprived area in the 1930s, who had one promising student whose lot in life she sought to improve, despite his humble circumstances.. I was lucky enough to get to the loo before the rush, then got a celebratory drink on the way in, in plastic so I could take it into the auditorium and wouldn't have to gulp it. This also has the advantage that you can get a seat, as soon as the house opens - the lobby was crammed, so I started off by wandering around while drinking..

On the way in, I noted the warning notice that this is set in the early years of the last century, with "different attitudes" from now. Jeez, talk about hand-holding. I was in the Stalls for once, of the Lyttleton. Row V, the very back row. But it was unfortunate that my seat number led me to enter by the left-hand door.. because it turns out the mixing desk is on that side, blocking access to the back row, so I had to schlep all the way across the row in front (happily, empty at that point) to get to where I needed to be! I wasn't the only one, of course. Still, excellent view:

I knew the story - but the staging of this is excellent! The author (as we discover he is) starts by attending a swanky ball in the 1920s - but is lured away by this story, and finds himself back in a small Welsh mining village, some years before. Interestingly, the first half of the play takes place on a bare stage, the surrounds suggested by the author, who weaves through and around the onstage action. This contrasts vividly with the second half, where the set is fully built around them! I suppose this is meant to suggest the unfinished nature of the school at the beginning of the story, which is quite well-established by the end. More striking still about the production is the near-constant presence of a male voice choir, their beautiful singing providing a soundtrack evocative of the Welsh valleys.

So, I loved it. The singing is sublime, the acting spot-on, and in particular, Nicola Walker as the inspirational teacher is a pleasure to watch. It's funny, the story is gripping.. go see! Runs till the 11th June, highly recommended.

Last night, it ran too late to blog - I had to be up for a meeting this morning. Tonight is film - with a few Indian films at the top of the list looking unappealing, I rejected them when I checked out the trailers. Which left CODA! Winner of best picture, best supporting actor, and best adapted screenplay at the Oscars, this was actually showing a while ago and is no longer on general release. I missed it at the time, and am lucky that Riverside Studios decided to re-release it, on foot of its Oscar success, for just two days, today and tomorrow. There's only one showing each day though, and early enough, so I'll have to hustle to make it all the way out there in time! Not booking out, so I haven't booked. "CODA" stands for "Child Of Deaf Adults", and focuses on the hearing child of deaf parents, who kind of deserts them when she decides that she actually wants to pursue a career they can have no real appreciation of - singing, of all things! Marlee Matlin plays the mother.

Tomorrow, I have another flat viewing scheduled - with no word about the last one, I think I'd better attend. It is slightly closer to the office, you never know, it might suit better. For the evening, I was without anything in particular to do for a while - unusually for a Wednesday! Of course, Meetup annoyingly doesn't always show everything running on a particular day - not even for your own groups. So it was only last week that it reminded me that Up in the Cheap Seats had an event on! They're going to see The Misfortune of the English, at the Orange Tree, and I got the last cheap ticket in the front row. It's based on the true story of a group of English schoolboys who arrived in Nazi Germany in 1938 to go on a walking tour in the Black Forest - just as a blizzard kicked in. And it'll be lovely to see some folks I haven't seen in ages! My only social event of the week, too. Delighted I caught this.

On Thursday, back to Riverside, for a rescheduled concert. Liza Pulman - The Heart of It was supposed to happen over lockdown. She'll be singing popular show songs.

Then back to Ireland for the weekend. Yes, almost every weekend this month - it just worked out that way. I'd normally have been in London last weekend you see, except for staying in Ireland to see my friend. And this trip for the upcoming weekend was already booked when that was organised. Now, it's a long weekend, so I have an extra day there - can see two films! The Arc Cinema now being the cheapest around, I'm concentrating on that - there isn't anything special showing in Limerick anyway. Higher rated is The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, a comedy where the versatile Nicholas Cage plays a version of himself, apparently sending up his iconic characters. I'll have to see how many I recognise - I'm not the most dedicated follower of his work! So, thinking of that for Saturday.

And for Sunday, it's looking like Downton Abbey: A New Era. Like the tv series, the films focus on an aristocratic English family: Dame Maggie Smith as the dowager Countess, Hugh Bonneville as the Earl, Brendan Coyle as his valet, Laura Carmichael as one of his daughters, Jim Carter as the butler, Penelope Wilton as a cousin, and friend of the dowager Countess, whose son is heir to the earldom, as the Earl and Countess have no sons. I was never a fan of the tv series, and didn't see the first film, but hey, it should be watchable. Apparently, in this one, a film crew arrives at the stately home - the real-life Highclere Castle.

Back then on Monday, and next Tuesday, a revamped version of Oklahoma at the Young Vic!

On the 4th (Star Wars Day - May the fourth be with you), I'm at last back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners! Ah, it's been too long.. someone suggested that I skip off work for a couple of hours during the day to go on the walks, but seriously, every time I checked when his walks were, I had a meeting that clashed! So, not an option. Anyway, this is the Cool Camden Pub Walk! It was actually rescheduled - was originally supposed to happen tomorrow, which was why I was left with nothing to do tomorrow. Unfortunately, on the 4th, it clashes with a couple of other things - a Civilised London (CL) meal I was actually booked on (happily, he gave me a refund of my deposit), and leaving drinks for my favourite ex-boss from my last company. Tarnation. Well, can't be helped - this is a pub tour I really want to go on. I was originally booked for an online talk that night - Fight Them on the Beaches is a talk about the greatest speeches in parliament. Courtesy of Guided Walking Tours in Brighton and Sussex. But they record the talks, so I can catch it afterwards. True, isn't it - everything happens on Wednesdays!

On the 5th, I'm off to Scandaltown, at the Lyric. Yet another play by the prolific Mike Bartlett, this is a revamped Restoration comedy, set in modern-day, debauched London. As always, love his stuff and am really looking forward to this. But wouldn't you know it, now CT has tickets.. ah well..

Just as well I had the 6th free when another ex-boss, Ivan, asked when we could do drinks again! He also suggested we try to find somewhere quieter than the last place - not an easy ask, for a central venue on a Friday night. Ah, but I have contacts.. the organiser of CL once recommended to me a pub just off Charing Cross Road, which he knows as quieter than the usual - I couldn't remember the name, but he reminded me it's the Round Table. I'd have booked, but they seem not to take bookings on Fridays. Our ex-colleague is coming, and for the first time, my aforementioned ex-boss from my last company! Should be cool.

On the 7th, back with Laurence and the 45+s - this time, it's a walk called Red Lights, Rabble Rousers & RocknRollers, around Soho. And Helen is coming up for it! So, a highly sociable week!

And on the 8th, back with the Crick Crack Club. This is The Origins of Life and Death, with Jan Blake, at the British Museum, which I missed in January. Limited availability at time of writing, as they have socially distanced seating.