Comedy: The Monday Club

For today, TAC had tickets to The Two Popes, at the Rose Theatre in Kingston. Sadly sold out of them - as have CT. But I thought it really sounded interesting, and tried to book direct with the theatre - only to discover that my account seemed to be suspended! Now, it's nearly seven years since I was last there - so that could be the reason. However, I didn't get a chance to call them until today.

I couldn't actually remember what address I was at, at the time - but I had checked when I was last there, and was able to tell him the year. So he did find me, after a few minutes, and re-activated my account. Great! and I went on to look for tickets. Which.. were now sold out. Back to TAC, which had tickets for the Museum of Comedy, which runs something called The Monday Club. Now.. I've had experience of them actually charging more for comedy nights than the venue itself! so decided I'd check on the website. Sure enough, where TAC would have charged me £3.60, the Museum of Comedy was only charging £3. So I booked direct with them, instead.

Figured I'd eat in The Museum Tavern, not far from there. It looked pretty packed - but as I went in, the server was cleaning a table, and I sat there. No table service, mind, nor facility to order from the table - I've had table service here before, but maybe it's different on a Sunday! I had to grab a menu from the pile at the end of the bar - chose a main, and ordered at the bar. Happily, nobody nabbed my table in the meantime. I had hunter's chicken, and a glass of wine - took it a little while to arrive, but I was done in about an hour, which was pretty perfect for heading to the venue.

I followed the directions on Google Maps - and then saw the street sign outside of the venue. Goodness, it's in the crypt of the church!

Cafe-style seating, at little, round tables - I got a drink first, which turned out to be Casillero del Diablo! one of my favourites. Then took a seat to the side.

The seat next to me was taken by a chatty lady who turned out to be a regular - she was duly joined by her friend, who had just joined 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners! What a small world. And we swapped details of other events to go to. The entertainment for the night was in two halves, quite the lineup of comedians - caveat, this is a new material night, so of variable quality. One of the most entertaining individuals of the evening was the dog that someone had brought, who wandered amongst us all evening, and had a wonderful habit of letting out a single woof! whenever there was a pause in speaking - thus frequently providing the answer to a question, or commenting.

Of the humans - well, as the lady beside me remarked at the interval, it's amazing what people will pay to see. Two were really good.. Ant Dewson, with his keyboard and comic songs, and Josh Baulf - who finished the evening with a fantastic set, and whose career started on Britain's Got Talent! Well, on the basis of this show - yes it does! Would be delighted to see these two again.

For tomorrow, I'm thinking film - and after much consideration (and removal of films from the list), what's coming up is My Old School, a documentary about a student called Brandon Lee, who attended a Scottish school. So far, so ordinary - except he wasn't what he seemed at all! He refused to be filmed for this, and his voice is lip-synched by Alan Cumming. By this stage, only showing in the Curzon Camden. Handy thing is, my Curzon membership is also valid there, and I'm still entitled to free films!

On Wednesday, I'm finally back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group - we're headed to the Barbican, where the London Symphony Orchestra is playing Ravel and Debussy, in the "Half Six Fix". I bought a cheap wildcard, so shall find out my seat on the night - CT subsequently advertised it too, even cheaper, rats.

On Thursday, Over 40 Living the Life is - again - headed to the Vauxhall Comedy Club, on a "special deal for regulars". And I am - again - headed there on my own. Because, if you book direct, tickets are cheaper than the price quoted for this group - regardless of whether you're a regular. Now I just need to figure out how to access the online loyalty card I got from them, last time.. and I should probably donate something, this time! They're very good at guilting people.

And then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend. Film-wise, they are showing Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song - a biopic, which I'd love to see. But it's only in the evening, which I can't manage! (sob) Which leaves the (joint) highest rated as Bodies Bodies Bodies! Set at a teen country house party, in the middle of nowhere. Opinion is divided as to whether this is a horror or a murder mystery, but everyone agrees it's a comedy - and it sounds right up my street. FYI the other at the top of the ratings is See How They Run, which is a murder mystery comedy, with Saoirse Ronan as the overenthusiastic young copper, striving to assist the detective, Sam Rockwell, in 1950s London. Also stars Adrien Brody as the victim, and Harris Dickinson and David Oyelowo among the suspects. Gee, as it said in the paper, this type of film is regainig popularity!