Today, I was back with the Crick Crack Club, for Orpheus Dismembered, at the British Museum, courtesy of Ben Haggarty. The event there that I'd already heard of. And gee, eatery of choice down there is the Museum Tavern! Hmm..
After a late night, I did manage to drag myself out of bed in time - and, despite the dire weather forecasts of earlier in the week, it was a lovely, sunny day. The queues to get into the museum weren't too bad, and I went in by the "timed entrance" queue - not that anyone checked that. A quick bag check, and off I went - I wonder whether they've implemented measures to speed this process up, because it was horrendous last time I attended storytelling here!
Ah, I love this building - it's so spectacular. And the event was well-signposted, for anyone who didn't know the way - of course, I did. Joshua Whiskey on the door, as ever, and plenty of ushers to direct us - we were informed that this was sold out, so please don't leave any gaps. Having said that, there were some free seats around me..
Dunno why there weren't more stage lights at the beginning - during the interval, Ben produced a big bag of them and proceeded to lay them at the edge of the stage. There must have been some delay in setting up. Anyway, he was accompanied on this occasion by Jonah Brody, and both used a variety of instruments, which you can see to the right of the stage.Classified as over-16s, and I could see why - Ben began the show by reminding us that (at least on some sites) this show was advertised as "Greek Myths Unleashed". Now, as he explained, anyone familiar with Greek myth would already be aware that that, in itself, constitutes a whole heap of trigger warnings - and, as he pointed out, these were going to be "unleashed", no holds barred, on the audience. Hold onto your hats..
It was as bawdy a rendition of Greek myth as I've heard, or could want. Never vulgar, he nonetheless didn't hold back, going into sometimes graphic detail, treading a fine line with the audience. But then, of course, Zeus did have a habit of sleeping with lots and lots of characters.. and Ben injected the whole performance with his customary humour. Jonah accompanied brilliantly, his gentle sounds providing the backdrop, and creating a kind of aura, woven around the words.
I've heard most of this, at one time or another, in one form or another - although I didn't realise that Thrace covers the greater part of modern-day Bulgaria! but it's always good to hear the master do it. And Ben really surpassed himself today, weaving the story and embellishing it with such rich and powerful language - Truly, when he got to Orpheus, at the end of the show, he described the story so poetically as to make it seem completely new. I, for one, was really moved. You won't hear classical mythology told better - keep an eye out for this man!
He'd warned us that there'd probably be an announcement that the museum was closing - there always is, by the time these shows are over. Wouldn't you know it, it came just as, in the story, Apollo was making an announcement..! And so ended another successful outing with the Crick Crack Club - and as we got ready to leave, I overheard someone remark to her companion how "powerful" this was.. Well, yes!
And so to the Museum Tavern, where there were two small, free tables by the door. So I grabbed one, and ordered at the bar, which seemed quicker - it's a curious mixture here, I've always had table service before, but today, everyone seemed to be ordering from the bar. Also curious is how I tend to have chicken here, unlike in The Lucas Arms, also a Greene King pub, where it's pie or bust! Well, I think the first time I was here, I had never had the pie, so didn't know how great it is - and now it's just become a tradition. I tend to come here on Sundays, and have the Sunday roast - but today, seeing chicken kiyev on the menu, I thought, it's a long time since I had that, I'll have it for a change! Service came with a smile, but took some time - they were busy. And the chicken was very moreish - although not very garlicky. Still, I was fed. Pity they don't clean up a bit more thoroughly, though.. the busyness meant tables were left a little messy..
Tomorrow is film, so I was waiting for the film listings - and I was delighted with what came up. Top of the list was Tetris, would you believe! Now, this is a game I used to love - and it seems it also has an interesting backstory! The chameleon-like Taron Egerton plays the American businessman who wants the rights, but it seems the inventor is actually a programmer in Soviet Russia. Cue lots of Cold War-style intrigue - right when the USSR was collapsing, in 1989. So, also looking forward to sights and sounds I remember from then! Also stars Toby Jones. Seems the real story wasn't quite as exciting as depicted - but you know what they say about not letting the truth get in the way of a good story! Anyway, the trailer looks fantastic. Streaming on Apple TV+, if you have it.. In cinemas, it seems to be exclusively in the Everyman - not all of them though, and the closest showing to me is in the Screen on the Green. I'm too damn interested not to see this.
And then its rating fell. :-( Now, top of the list is Mrs. Chatterjee Vs. Norway - based on the true story of an Indian woman, living in Norway, whose children were taken into care. Differences in perceptions of how children should be raised, apparently. Only showing in Cineworld Wood Green at a time I can manage - but do you know, I'd much rather watch Tetris. Anyway, its rating is rising again. Watch this space..
Tuesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for The Unfriend, in The Criterion Theatre. A comedy about a British family that befriend an American lady while on holiday over there, and agree to keep in touch. Now she's on a plane over to see them - and they've discovered a terrible secret about her! How to they get rid of her - politely..? Sounds excellent. My though, I had terrible trouble trying to find a decent seat - everything left that was cheap seemed to be behind a pillar! and they aren't small pillars, as I discovered thanks to Seatplan. I finally plumped for something in the back row of the Dress Circle, where the pillars are thinner. Hey, you never know, I might be upgraded..
On Wednesday, back with the Horror Book Club, at the Prince of Wales in Drury Lane, as usual. And wow, this month's book is a doozy - House of Leaves is a massive tome, which I started reading years ago and never did get finished. I couldn't find that copy, so ended up buying it again - but am I finding the time to read it? Well, I'm doing my best, and it is a cracking read. Here's hoping I get it finished in time, as it's quite dense.. I'm still only under 200 pages through a nearly 700-page story..
On Thursday, with a bank holiday next day, flying back to Ireland. Aer Lingus, because I left it too late to book with Ryanair, and the evening flights were gone. Now, I have an old friend, Vicki, in Cork, whom I usually go down to see once a year, staying the night - usually at Christmas, but she was too busy for me last Christmas. So we've arranged for me to go and stay on the 11th this year, coming back the next day. Now, that realistically means I can't fly to London before the 13th - but with nothing unmissable on the 14th, I'm flying back that day instead. I finally got my holiday request in - no word yet.. Well, if I am denied the holiday, I'll just have to take the laptop with me. Which could get interesting, as I'd have to have it on in the car on the road to Cork..
Now, my boss suggested - quite a while ago - that we might have a jaunt to the head office in Tel Aviv on the 16th! I hadn't heard anything since, though - so I asked him yesterday. He did happen to be online, and confirmed that it won't be until at least next month now - wants to get the latest release out. So I'll be in London that week. However, there isn't honestly much coming up on Meetup - so, for the 19th, I've booked For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide.. at the Apollo. I have a front-row seat in the Dress Circle - now, I seem to remember ridiculously tight legroom, here - so I'm at the end of a row, and Seatplan says it'll be OK if I lean forward..
Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend. On the 24th, back with UITCS for The Secret Life of Bees, at the Almeida - no seats left in the stalls! Seatplan made me wary of the cheapest seats, so I'm in the next bracket up..
And on the 25th, back with Over 40 Living the Life, for dinner at the Greenwich Yacht Club again. Well, it was good last time - good food, cheap prices, good company. Three of us going so far - I'm sure there'll be more!
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