Comedy: Frankie Boyle -Work in Progress

This evening, I finished my Meetup run with a trip with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) to Leicester Square Theatre to see Frankie Boyle, who has a work in progress show. The weather app couldn't seem to decide whether it'd rain, but eventually came down on the side of it, so I took a (light) coat.

Galloped to get my writing test done - at least a first draft, I'm still to send it in - before I left, and took a couple of buses there. It's ever so slightly far to walk! Ah, the nostalgia of the Prince Charles cinema, next door - I see they still have the same slogan!

We chatted for a bit outside, then headed in, as the house was open - and I hadn't had time to eat, so queued at the lobby bar, which has the snacks. A bag of Maltesers went down a treat! And I got to my seat in decent time.. although I was mithered trying to keep my stuff out of the way of all the people who wanted to squeeze past to get to their seats. I did a fairly good job of not spilling my wine - except the once, when a big splosh of it went over a seat in front! Just as well there wasn't anyone in it..

Ah, Frankie. One of the most un-PC comedians out there, and what else would you expect of a Glaswegian with parents from Donegal. Some remarked afterwards that he hadn't been as out-there as expected - well perhaps, but he did ruffle a few PC feathers. And always remember, these are WIP shows. Me, I loved it. Highlights included, among his many descriptions of Boris Johnson, the "chewed toffee that's been pulled from the coat of an Afghan hound"!

The show lasted an hour, during which he went through two small bottles of water - must've been hot up there. The royal family got some digs - and I particularly liked his Irish section, which I thought he got spot-on, with his descriptions of the different categories of Irish music - one for songs about leaving this town and going to America, another category for how now that you're in America, you wish you were back home.. as he said, it's funny 'coz it's true. And oh my, the sad Donegal accent.. LOL! If you doubt it, have a listen to wee Daniel some time!

Afterwards, we chatted briefly outside again, then went our ways. I fancied something decent to eat, and thought I'd try Imperial China again! OMG, I guess this is another casualty of covid - I won't be back. They don't seem to have proper menus any more, it's all done in the style of a dim sum menu - although they weren't serving dim sum. But all I got was a folded paper menu, a brief description of each item and a check box. I wasn't even given a pen or a pencil to indicate what I wanted - happily, I had a pen in my bag. And they don't seem to have the same range as before.

I had hardly started my chicken spring roll starter when they brought the main. They needn't have bothered. I hadn't been that keen on ordering lemon chicken, but it was all I could see - and frankly, it was as tough as an old boot. The rice was ok, the rolls were fine, the wine was decent - but I couldn't finish the chicken, paid and left. Yuck, what a disappointment.

On the bus home, I had to stand for a while - a fat **** (I'm not as brave as Frankie Boyle) had stashed her luggage on the seat beside her. Despite sitting right in front of a luggage storage rack! And never mind me standing - there was a guy on crutches, standing in the luggage area. She blithely played with her phone the whole journey and ignored everyone. Now, just because she was too fat to squish the case in front of her is no excuse. Happily for me, I got a seat after a couple of stops. (The guy on crutches had gotten off by now.) And when I eventually got off, I was immediately cheered by the sounds of buskers, two on electric guitars, one on drums, playing a decent rendition of Paradise City to an appreciative crowd. Oh, what a choice of song..!

Tomorrow, I'm heading - at last - to Summer by the River at More London. This is for a free evening of music, curated by Soho Radio. Meeting someone for this, we are getting food beforehand at Wawa - she's keen on ramen. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend. Unlikely to get to a film at the weekend, as I need to get my car serviced for its NCT - sooner the better, and I couldn't last time I was back.

On Monday, I was headed to see The Throne, a comedy about to open at Charing Cross Theatre, in which the Queen gets locked in a portaloo with a staunch republican. Time Out had an offer of £10 tickets for the cheapest seats for this - a saving of more than 50%! Sadly, I then got word that remaining performances of this production have been cancelled, due to covid. Still with nothing on Meetup that appeals, I'm back with TAC for a classical concert - Mario Brunello is playing Bach on the violoncello piccolo, at Wigmore Hall. He's playing in the evening as well, but cheap tickets are available for the matinee.

On Tuesday - tan-ta-ra! I finally managed to get a decently priced ticket to Jerusalem, at the Apollo. I have heard so much about this, and it's always at the top of the Time Out listings - nearly as hard as Hamilton to get a reasonably priced ticket for, so I'm delighted to get one, if only not to have to look any more.

Next Wednesday, back to Summer by the River again.. for Bumper Blyton: Improvised Adventures for Grown-Ups! Improvised comedy in the style of Enid Blyton books.. sounds jolly good!

On the 28th - another UITCS event that Meetup finally decided to flag to me. So I've booked to go with them to see Briefs Factory's show, Bite Club! at Queen Elizabeth Hall. Drag, burlesque.. should be fun!

On the 29th, I was thinking about the National Theatre's River Stage 2022. This will be the first night of the Hackney Empire's Young Producers Weekend, and there'll be some dance and some music. But now, Civilised London has organised an Ecuadorian meal at El Inca Plebeyo - so I'm going to that instead. His choices are always good. Meeting beforehand at The Canonbury Tavern.

On the 30th, back in Greenwich with Bucket List London - we're starting with the Old Royal Naval College and National Maritime Museum. Was originally supposed to be the Queen's House to finish, but turns out they're booked out all day for a wedding, despite not having clarified that on the website! Then in the afternoon, we're headed to Eltham Palace and Gardens. Quite the packed day..

On the 31st, back with TAC for the opening night of I'm Not Myself Today: A Villainous Cabaret at the Bread and Roses in Clapham. An hour in which someone discusses with us why we all love the villain!

On the 1st, I'm going to the Kiln Theatre for The Darkest Part of the Night. Another troublesome website - I tried for days to get it to work..!

And on the 2nd, thinking vaguely about the Camden Fringe, which runs all next month - there's, for example, an interesting audio event called A Little Drape of Heaven, where you hold a precious item of clothing to your heart, then press play to access a YouTube link that you've paid for. Hmm.. Meantime, I had booked a walk with Laurence and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners for yesterday. This is The Magic of Midtown - and as I said to him, it finishes very near my new home! And wouldn't you know it - he postponed it, as a result of the heatwave, to this day. Not that I'm not glad he didn't run it yesterday - but I hope I can still make it..