Musical: Aspects of Love

Tonight, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) at last! Well, I couldn't resist a performance of Aspects of Love, by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with Michael Ball - I'd never seen it. Showing at the Lyric - there have been cheap offers, but the best I could find were with the official website. Aisle seat, for the legroom - thanks for the advice, Seatplan!

Handiest place to eat - as I'd be passing it - was The Lucas Arms, so I quit my work meeting early, there being nothing useful in it anyway, and headed down there. It was mostly empty - no problem getting a table. When I went to order at the bar, I saw one of the familiar faces - who greeted me with what sounded like surprise and delight! He made straight for the wine, asking, "Usual, is it?" and within five minutes, my meal was delivered to my table. And it was delicious, as ever. It's not for lack of enthusiasm that I don't come here that often, just that I do like to try and eat at my destination. But I'm only delighted to come back here! When I checked, it was a full 20 days since I was last here..

Had to get two buses, and in each case, I was just in time to miss one! Also in each case, another was right along after, though. I ended up being a bit early - they hadn't opened yet, and for the first time in months, I found myself queueing outside a theatre..

Ah, dontcha love Theatreland?! In one shot, our show, Les Misérables, and - just peeking out, in between, The Crucible.. Anyway, it wasn't long before the queue started to move, they checked our bags and tickets. I explained to the usher that I was meeting people in the foyer bar - we arranged to meet there, as half the group were sitting down there - and she said I'd have to go in the main entrance, and at showtime, come back out and have my ticket scanned again. Which was what I did. I skipped the photo op, in the foyer:

Ordered a (quite reasonably priced) drink, and bagged the only table in the foyer! Well, it's handy to have something to lean on, or at least put your stuff on. The others arrived in due course, and we chatted away - I needed to drink my whole drink in advance though: I didn't think they'd much like me taking it outside!

Nearly expired on the climb to the balcony - this has been a tough week so far for me, to be fair, and the lack of sleep - and stress - didn't help. Made it alive, surprisingly, and was greeted by two of our group, whom I didn't know, but I had mentioned my seat number on the event page, and so they located me! They were sat just in front of me, anyway. I have to say, from experience, the legroom was fine, even without swinging my leg into the aisle! View not bad either, although I had to lean a lot to see the near edge of the stage - happily, the balcony was half empty, and there was no-one behind me. Also found myself bobbing my head up and down a lot, to see around the railings:

Well, there's one song that everyone knows from this show - and by 'eck, they do it to death, frankly. I didn't recognise a single other song in the show. Mind you, it's a cracker - Love Changes Everything has stood the test of time. And so has Michael Ball's rendition of it. Mind you, the group's general consensus was that the same cannot be said for the plot! So.. in brief, a young French actress in wartime Paris, Rose, finds an 18-year-old American lad - Alex - has a crush on her. And says - OK then! accompanying him to his uncle's villa in the south. They have a brief fling - until his uncle arrives, and she falls head over heels for him (or his money?). So, Alex goes off in a huff, to be a soldier.

Fast-forward a few years - she's the uncle's mistress, then wife, then mother to his daughter, Jenny. Still has the acting career, and seems to be carrying on with one of her Paris hangers-on, Hugo. Whom she drops like a stone when Alex comes back on the scene..

Fast-forward some more years, and Jenny is growing up, Alex is still hanging around, and they start a relationship. Apparently, they've increased her age a bit in this production, to make it a tad less weird. Her dad - Alex's uncle - keels over with a heart attack at the news, and one of the best scenes is his wake, which turns into a Bacchanalian orgy, courtesy of a friend of Rose's. Whom Alex then decides is far better for him than Jenny - who might just be a bit young.. Oh, and Rose makes a fool of herself, throwing herself at him and begging him not to leave her. Michael Ball originally played Alex - in this production, he's the uncle..

Not all our group stayed to the end. Me, I thought the plot was, at best, bonkers, but I adore showtunes, and that one, as mentioned, is terrific, and keeps popping up throughout. Mind you, as I remarked to the group, outside, afterwards - it took Alex rather a long time to find a woman who wasn't related to him! Basically, don't go for the story - go for the music. Runs till the 11th of November - seems to be taking a holiday, the last week in August.

Meantime, we admired the new Coyote Ugly across the road:

A couple of dancers were just visible inside. And just at that moment, the rickshaws arrived, blaring music.. yes, you could say the town was hopping.

Film tomorrow - and I thought I might finally get to see The Blue Caftan! It's Moroccan, and again showing at what is still, for now, my local cinema. Although, checking the listings again, I found a new one - A Crack in the Mountain is a documentary about Hang So'n Doong, the largest cave in the world, which is in Vietnam. Looks gorgeous - but it's only on in the Curzon Wimbledon, at 5.40, which I'd never make in time if I stay at work as long as I should! However, it is on their Home Cinema.. which would also save the fare.. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

Monday and Tuesday, I'm also thinking of film. The film listings weren't helping my decision much, though - so I consulted my local cinema, which was happy to tell me that it's showing Return to Seoul on Monday, which seemed the best of the fare that day; The Blue Caftan doesn't seem to be showing next week. It's the story of a young French girl, returning to seek her roots in Korea. Looks engaging. But the new listings are finally out! and now, it's Beau Is Afraid. Funnily enough, it comes under the headings of comedy, drama, and horror! The title role is taken by the ever-watchable Joaquin Phoenix, who plays an anxiety-ridden man who, following his mother's death, decides to travel back home. Now, the Hideout (Horror, SciFi, & Fantasy) group that I'm a member of went to see this recently, and raved about it - when pushed, someone said what he liked was the surreal settings, and very black comedy.. nearest showing to me is the Picturehouse Central. Definitely worth a look.

On Tuesday, my local cinema's excellent doc house is showing Tina, a documentary about the phenomenon that was the late Tina Turner!

Next Wednesday, back with UITCS for Bleak Expectations, a Dickens-based comedy, with a different star every week, showing at the Criterion. I think we're getting Julian Clary.. I ended up going up a price band here, the cheap tickets all seemed so restricted!

And on the 8th, back with North London Friends, for the first time in, oh, ages.. we're off to The Park, to see The Shape of Things. Different people from last time, these are some I knew before.

Play: Dixon and Daughters

Tonight, having tried several sold-out shows, I finally plumped for Dixon and Daughters, at the Dorfman. Got the last cheap, restricted-view ticket in the pit. Unfortunately, was up most of last night working, and grabbed whatever chance I could to sleep this afternoon - was a little groggy by the time I left.

Headed down via GBK, as usual for here, so decided to eat there. It was pretty empty - and a family was heading away as I arrived, the son upset because they weren't eating there, and as the mother said, he'd had his heart set on it.. the waiter then explained to me that the chef would be on break for 20 minutes. I'd set out early though, and wasn't in a rush - so I ordered straight away, and waited my turn. The chef actually returned early, and lo, ever so slightly after 20 minutes later, I was fed! Delicious as ever, too.

Google Maps mistook the bus stop, but I got a bus without problem - there are plenty heading that way. And I just made it to the theatre in good time both to go to the toilet and get a drink, which I took in with me. I was in one of the high seats at the back - "restricted" view meant, in my case, I was beside a pillar that restricted the view out of the corner of my eye, so if I wanted to see the whole stage, I had to lean forward. Hardly a problem. More of a problem were all the people squeezing past me, and me having to hop out of my seat every time..

This time, the trigger warnings were available by QR code! I suppose that avoids people being triggered by the trigger warnings.. so, the play concerns itself with a family of sisters, as we discover in due course. The eldest, who has a daughter of her own in college, is first seen collecting her elderly mother (Brid Brennan) and bringing her home after an extended absence. This is the only daughter she's happy to see - but another has pretty much moved in in the meantime, about whom she has nothing good to say. And there's another woman hanging around, whom the mother doesn't even want mentioned..

As with most family dramas, this has secrets just below the surface. And it isn't hard to put the pieces together when you find out the mother has been in prison, not in hospital, as you might have thought. Apparently, the father's grave has been vandalised. And what's the story of this other woman, that the mother can't even bear to have mentioned..? Oh yes, we have a lot of secrets to uncover. A powerhouse performance from all concerned, in a 90-minute straight-through show. Very well done. Runs till the 10th.

Climbed those stairs onto the bridge to catch the bus back - Lordy, if I had to do that more often, I'd be fitter than I am! As it was, I had to stop to admire the scenery for a moment, halfway.. at the top, had the phenomenon of yet another bus sailing past us, despite several of us having extended our arms, well in advance. I've complained, but this is a real problem here - they really don't seem to want to stop unless they have a passenger that wants to get out! Never mind, there's always another along in a minute, here - such a variety of buses I can catch.

Tomorrow, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) at last! Well, I couldn't resist a performance of Aspects of Love, by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with Michael Ball - I've never seen it. Showing at the Lyric - there have been cheap offers, but the best I could find were with the official website. Aisle seat, for the legroom - thanks for the advice, Seatplan!

Yes, film on Thursday - and I thought I might finally get to see The Blue Caftan! It's Moroccan, and again showing at what is still, for now, my local cinema. Although, checking the listings again, I found a new one - A Crack in the Mountain is a documentary about Hang So'n Doong, the largest cave in the world, which is in Vietnam. Looks gorgeous - but it's only on in the Curzon Wimbledon, at 5.40, which I'd never make in time if I stay at work as long as I should! However, it is on their Home Cinema.. which would also save the fare.. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

Monday and next Tuesday, I'm also thinking of film. The film listings aren't helping my decision much, though - so I consulted my local cinema, which was happy to tell me that it's showing Return to Seoul on Monday, which seems the best of the fare that day - for now; The Blue Caftan doesn't seem to be showing next week. It's the story of a young French girl, returning to seek her roots in Korea. Looks engaging.

Next Tuesday, the same cinema's excellent doc house is showing Tina, a documentary about the phenomenon that was the late Tina Turner!

On the 7th, back with UITCS for Bleak Expectations, a Dickens-based comedy, with a different star every week, showing at the Criterion. I think we're getting Julian Clary.. I ended up going up a price band here, the cheap tickets all seemed so restricted!

And on the 8th, back with North London Friends, for the first time in, oh, ages.. we're off to The Park, to see The Shape of Things. Different people from last time, these are some I knew before.

Walk: The Great Plague 1665 - The Full Story

Today - which is yet another bank holiday, but the last for a while - I was with Discover London for a walk entitled The Great Plague 1665: The Full Story. Certainly makes a change from the Great Fire.. and another group I don't get to see often enough!

I was out in time to get a bus - which showed no sign of coming. Checking the ETA of my delayed bus - which should have come by then - on Buses Due, I discovered it wasn't due for another 15 minutes! Sod that, I might be late - I took the Tube. Arrived in brilliant sunshine - another day when I ended up carrying my coat around with me! As I remarked to someone else, you just don't know what to do with the weather, these days..

Apparently, the plague started really slowly - for a bit. A few deaths in Westminster - which, at that point, was far out of town - and one in the City, the victim being buried here:

Wasn't long before it ramped up though - half the population left (anyone who had somewhere to go), and in due course, the city gates were closed. There were quacks, of course - imagine what you'd do, faced with such a deadly disease and no idea what caused it, or how to cure it! We don't know we're born, these days. Anyway, we stopped at a pub named for one of these:

I have to say, one of the most fascinating facts of the walk was the name of our best source of information about the plague - A Journal of the Plague Year, by Daniel Defoe, of all people! Apparently, opinion differs as to whether this is better represented as fact or fiction, but it is a great record of the streets, the locales - I might get a copy, if I can. Also, she reminded us that the only confirmed plague pit was discovered, just a few years ago, under Liverpool Street Station! (Using new DNA techniques, they discovered the bacillus in the teeth.) 

It was really nostalgic for me, walking around the area - I lived there up to about a year ago! Passed this, too, once, so it was nice to get some more info about it - apparently, it used to be a Victorian bathhouse. Now a bar/restaurant, it apparently has a large basement area, and is available for private rental:

Ah, I miss the scenery around here!

The Lord Mayor at the time of the plague - apparently a forward-thinking man, who did much to mitigate the misery - is buried at St. Helen's, Bishopsgate:

We finished with a bit about Samuel Pepys - and a stop at his local church, St. Olave:

And so to The Liberty Bounds for some of us, with a nice view of the Tower, and Tower Bridge:

Some of us had food, some just drinks - but a lovely time was had! Have to say, too, the food was lovely - a really tender and tasty lemon and herb chicken, crispy chips, and a tangy dip. Plus a lovely, Marlborough, sauvignon blanc. Also delighted to meet some old faces, and that I managed to come today, on what was a really interesting walk. Cheered me up, in what is a difficult time - I had to rush to get back in time for the landlord's son, who was serving us our eviction notices, and then he ended up being nearly an hour late! And after I took the Tube back and all..

Tomorrow, having tried several sold-out shows, I finally plumped for Dixon and Daughters, at the Dorfman. Got the last cheap, restricted-view ticket in the pit..

On Wednesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats at last! Well, I couldn't resist a performance of Aspects of Love, with Michael Ball - I've never seen it. Showing at the Lyric - there have been cheap offers, but the best I could find were with the official website. Aisle seat, for the legroom - thanks for the advice, Seatplan!

And yes, film on Thursday - and I thought I might finally get to see The Blue Caftan! It's Moroccan, and again showing at what is still, for now, my local cinema. Although, checking the listings again, I found a new one - A Crack in the Mountain is a documentary about Hang So'n Doong, the largest cave in the world, which is in Vietnam. Looks gorgeous - but it's only on in the Curzon Wimbledon, at 5.40, which I'd never make in time if I stay at work as long as I should! However, it is on their Home Cinema.. which would also save the fare.. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

Wicked Wonderland: Burlesque Cabaret

Tonight, with CT at The Bedford, for Wicked Wonderland: Burlesque Cabaret. Unusual for me not to be doing a walk on a Sunday - hallelujah, a lie-in! Much needed.

There seemed to be plenty of eateries out that way, so I headed straight out there - by Tube, it being all of six miles, and unfeasibly long any other way. Thankfully, I got a seat - had to remind myself not to be surprised, because it wasn't rush hour, being a Sunday. Sure enough, when I finally got there - restaurants lined up, one beside the other . Now, I'd gotten a lovely whiff of curry as I left the house, so fancied an Indian. And so I headed for The Indian Room. Could see it across the Sainsbury's car park, so I took a shortcut that way.

It was practically empty - I took a table inside. And service couldn't have been more attentive - nor could I have asked more of the food! It was light, it was tasty - portions weren't too large, so I'm glad I ordered a few different things. A choice of wines, unusually for an Indian. I noticed they display a number of recent awards in the window.. I'm not surprised. Finished just in time for the short walk to the pub.

In The Bedford, a large room at the back had club-type lighting, and looked like my destination - I ordered a drink at the main bar first, which took some time. Mind you, the queues at the bars in the show area were as bad. By the time I got through to the ticket desk, the ground floor was pretty well full - I got sent upstairs. Decent view, though!

The show started quite late - lasted about two hours, I guess. Our MC for the evening was a past winner:

Now, burlesque can have a tendency to be same-y.. but some acts did add a touch of glamour:

Throughout the night, we had a variety: the traditionalists, the one who used sex toys.. there was one man, doing a sketch based on Matt Hancock! There was a highly erotic act, and one that demonstrated hula hoop skills. I wouldn't have chosen the one that won, but she was inventive, for sure - the only "drag king" of the night, she came on dressed as a music conductor, and her routine was based around music. After the competition proper was over, we got an act based on fire-eating! All good fun, in the end - pity they didn't extend the vote to us upstairs, is all!

Outside afterwards, the streets were full of pubs with people hanging out of them, singing - Balham certainly was buzzing! I shopped there before heading home, realising I wouldn't be in time for the shops back home. And took the Tube again, as it was getting late - we had fun en route when an unattended toddler decided to drag her pushchair off the train when the doors opened! The passenger beside me noticed, and grabbed her, and it, just in time. Just as well I did take the fast option, considering I was no sooner in the door than my mother decided to ring..!

Tomorrow - which is yet another bank holiday, but the last for a while - I'm with Discover London for a walk entitled The Great Plague 1665: The Full Story. Certainly makes a change from the Great Fire.. and another group I don't get to see often enough!

On Tuesday, having tried several sold-out shows, I finally plumped for Dixon and Daughters, at the Dorfman. Got the last cheap, restricted-view ticket in the pit..

On Wednesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats at last! Well, I couldn't resist a performance of Aspects of Love, with Michael Ball - I've never seen it. Showing at the Lyric - there have been cheap offers, but the best I could find were with the official website. Aisle seat, for the legroom - thanks for the advice, Seatplan!

And yes, film on Thursday - and I thought I might finally get to see The Blue Caftan! It's Moroccan, and again showing at what is still, for now, my local cinema. Although, checking the listings again, I found a new one - A Crack in the Mountain is a documentary about Hang So'n Doong, the largest cave in the world, which is in Vietnam. Looks gorgeous - but it's only on in the Curzon Wimbledon, at 5.40, which I'd never make in time if I stay at work as long as I should! However, it is on their Home Cinema.. which would also save the fare.. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

Walk: Highlights of Westminster

Ah well, so much for a relaxing weekend - in the wee small hours, the landlord sent us all a message (except, probably, the guy who's moving out next week), giving us notice to quit - he wants his flat back. So we have two months to find another place - took me that long to find this one! Fingers crossed.. it's mad out there.

Today, I was back at last with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners! It's been too long.. This walk was Highlights of Westminster. Unfortunately, I spent so long looking for flats last night that I missed out on quite a deal of sleep - so it was a groggy start. But, as usual, I managed - and what a beautiful day for it! Funnily enough, I'd have worn a lighter top, but when I put it on this morning, I felt chilly - but what I did wear was probably a bit heavy. Couldn't win - and in particular, I could have left my coat at home. Ah well, again..

Made it to St. James' Park Station quite early - just as well, what with the multiple entrances! Now, Laurence had said to meet at the Broadway entrance - yeah, but Broadway actually curves around the building, so there are technically three Broadway entrances.. the first time I met Mandy, she started from here, and had the same problem, chasing around to make sure no-one was lost! Well, we all seemed to find him - and gee, I met so many people I hadn't seen in ages! We started with the building itself - an imposing edifice:

and, of course, soon found ourselves battling the crowds outside Westminster Abbey:

Mind you, that was better than joining the queue to get in:

and isn't the Palace of Westminster lovely in the sunshine!

I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing Big Ben (yes, I know that's not its official name) without the scaffolding:

Tourist London was buzzing, and looking its best:

For all the crowds, though, I wasn't really expecting a queue to get into a pub!

The horse guards were out, as usual - and as someone remarked, they must have been stifling in those uniforms!

Not sure I ever before noticed this statue of George III! It's rather unassuming, as statues go:

And I got to see the renamed "HIS" Majesty's Theatre, for the first time!

We finished in Piccadilly Circus, with the statue that's turned the wrong way:

My though, it was exhausting, tramping about in the sunshine - it was a relief to get to lunch at last, which was at Henry's again. And we were exceedingly well fed - following which, after some discussion, we ended up in The Market Tavern, down the road a bit. Where good drink and good company were in abundance. Delighted to see folks again! Roll on the next one. I did go to bed for a few hours when I got home, though - I really needed it.

Tomorrow, with CT at The Bedford, for Wicked Wonderland: Burlesque Cabaret. Unusual for me not to be doing a walk on a Sunday - hallelujah, a lie-in!

On Monday - which is yet another bank holiday, but the last for a while - I'm with Discover London for a walk entitled The Great Plague 1665: The Full Story. Certainly makes a change from the Great Fire.. and another group I don't get to see often enough!

On Tuesday, having tried several sold-out shows, I finally plumped for Dixon and Daughters, at the Dorfman. Got the last cheap, restricted-view ticket in the pit..

On Wednesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats at last! Well, I couldn't resist a performance of Aspects of Love, with Michael Ball - I've never seen it. Showing at the Lyric - there have been cheap offers, but the best I could find were with the official website. Aisle seat, for the legroom - thanks for the advice, Seatplan!

And yes, film on Thursday - and I thought I might finally get to see The Blue Caftan! It's Moroccan, and again showing at what is still, for now, my local cinema. Although, checking the listings again, I found a new one - A Crack in the Mountain is a documentary about Hang So'n Doong, the largest cave in the world, which is in Vietnam. Looks gorgeous - but it's only on in the Curzon Wimbledon, at 5.40, which I'd never make in time if I stay at work as long as I should! However, it is on their Home Cinema.. which would also save the fare.. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

Film: A Plein Temps (Full Time)

Tonight, film again - and I saw A Plein Temps (Full Time), at my local cinema. Certainly looked good, with a pacey trailer, focusing on real-life stresses of a single mother, working in Paris and battling train strikes! Well, we all know something about that, eh.. 

Started late, giving me time to get through some of the mountain of backlog of things I have to do myself. I moseyed off in due course, headed straight to GBK - where they sat me on that bench in the middle. Ugh, I hate sitting there - if anyone sits on the other side, it's like being on a bouncy castle! I ordered straight away, but it was a bit busy - it took them fully 20 minutes to bring my order, by which time I thought they'd forgotten. And when they did, the chef had been a bit inventive with the burger - I've complained before about the chicken escalope being too long for the bun. Well, this time, he'd cut it in half, and squashed the two halves together in the bun - completely unworkable, I had to take out one half and eat it with a knife and fork! which kind of defeated the purpose. Half the chips were cold, and he'd absolutely doused them in whatever they shake on them there - not the most successful of meals.

At the cinema, I had a much nicer wine - they didn't have the chocolate honeycomb bites I'm so fond of, so I settled for chocolate buttons instead, which turned out to be tiny! About 1/3 the size of those you can buy in the shops. I ate about half - but oh, it was so nice to settle back in my comfy, reclining seat, with my nice wine and some chocolate, at the start of a long weekend.. needed that! Could have done with another wine, actually. Also nice to go at my own pace; sometimes, you just don't want to have to work around other people!

Boy, this film is way too realistic. A kind of ticking clock soundtrack heightens the tension of a week in the life of this woman, in a menial job in Paris, trying to juggle interviews for a better one, trying to navigate strikes in a country that seems to do them so much better than the UK! Crikey, if you thought UK trains were bad - in this film, the trains, buses, taxis, and by the looks of it, bin collectors, are all out on strike together! This poor woman literally cannot get out of Paris on one night, and has to leave her children with the hapless old lady whose daughter is already complaining that she's being used.. She has to spend some of her dwindling funds on a hotel, and trek out early next morning to buy a suit for her interview that afternoon. And that's just the start of it..

This isn't another Clockwise - there's a little comedy, but it's all realistic, to the point where I was willing her on, wondering how I could have helped, had I been around. Completely engaging, as she deals with one person after another, giving her grief, and constantly takes phone calls on the run. She gets drenched in the rain, runs along in heels, hitchhikes along the road.. oh, what a relief when it all ends! which isn't to say I didn't enjoy it. I enjoyed it a lot! It was just almost as exhausting as living it..

Here's to a - hopefully - pretty relaxing long weekend. Tomorrow, back at last with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners! It's been too long.. This walk is Highlights of Westminster. Now, I wonder whether there'll be any coronation-related material..

On Sunday, with CT at The Bedford, for Wicked Wonderland: Burlesque Cabaret.

On Monday - which is yet another bank holiday, but the last for a while - I'm with Discover London for a walk entitled The Great Plague 1665: The Full Story. Certainly makes a change from the Great Fire.. and another group I don't get to see often enough!

On Tuesday, having tried several sold-out shows, I finally plumped for Dixon and Daughters, at the Dorfman. Got the last cheap, restricted-view ticket in the pit..

On Wednesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats at last! Well, I couldn't resist a performance of Aspects of Love, with Michael Ball - I've never seen it. Showing at the Lyric - there have been cheap offers, but the best I could find were with the official website. Aisle seat, for the legroom - thanks for the advice, Seatplan!

And yes, film on Thursday - and for now, it's looking like I might finally get to see The Blue Caftan! It wasn't showing this evening - but it is coming up for that evening. It's Moroccan, and again showing at my local cinema. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

Play: The Last of the Pelican Daughters

Tonight, I was back with TAC for a play called The Last of the Pelican Daughters, at The Courtyard. Looking around the area for somewhere to eat - I hadn't been there in a while - I came across Schnitzel Heaven! Goodness, that sounded interesting - I booked a table, because you never know. And headed off good and early.

Arrived in good time, and by this stage, someone had said she was interested in coming too - so when I was ordering wine, I wisely ordered a bottle. Crispy squid to start, and I decided that the katsu chicken schnitzel sounded interesting. When my companion arrived, she ordered a green salad - and fancied the traditional wiener schnitzel.

Whoof, they do feed you here! The squid was beautifully tender, with a very tangy sauce - and both our schnitzels were huge. They couldn't seem to decide what to do with mine, serving a jug of katsu sauce on the side, but also a slice of lemon and a knob of butter - honestly, I think the butter worked better with it. The katsu was a bit thick, and didn't really go best with it. Having said that, I absolutely loved the schnitzel itself, and would be delighted to come back! The price difference between the "regular" and the "specials" menu, BTW, is explained by the fact that they include sides with the specials. The only complaint my companion had was that she'd chosen her "green" salad for its lower calories - whereas what she got was packed with ingredients it shouldn't have, and dressing! Perhaps a bit too enthusiastic.. but they did happily charge her phone, behind the counter. Great service throughout. Highly recommended - it's a bit north of the Courtyard Theatre, on the other side of Pitfield Street.

A short trot then, via a zebra crossing, to the theatre, where they were just going in. No trouble finding a seat - it wasn't that full. A few of the actors were already in situ:

So, this is the occasion of their late mother's birthday, on which they've gathered to remember her. The lawyer is also due the next day - they have to organise the sale of the house. But this play is more about the interplay among the siblings and their respective partners. The story isn't really anything new - but it's well written, it's funny, and the acting is decent. The action is frequently interspersed with music from the side, as they play songs their mother liked. 90 minutes straight through, and quite enjoyable - you could do worse. Runs till Saturday.

We went for a drink in the bar afterwards, where the actors also gathered once they'd changed, and the music was cool jazz:

Tomorrow, film again - and such information as I have now suggests I'll be seeing A Plein Temps (Full Time), at my local cinema. Certainly looks good, with a pacey trailer, focusing on real-life stresses of a single mother, working in Paris and battling train strikes! Well, we all know something about that, eh.. 

On Saturday, back at last with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners! It's been too long.. This walk is Highlights of Westminster. Now, I wonder whether there'll be any coronation-related material..

On Sunday, with CT at The Bedford, for Wicked Wonderland: Burlesque Cabaret.

On Monday - which is yet another bank holiday, but the last for a while - I'm with Discover London for a walk entitled The Great Plague 1665: The Full Story. Certainly makes a change from the Great Fire.. and another group I don't get to see often enough!

On Tuesday, having tried several sold-out shows, I finally plumped for Dixon and Daughters, at the Dorfman. Got the last cheap, restricted-view ticket in the pit..

On Wednesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats at last! Well, I couldn't resist a performance of Aspects of Love, with Michael Ball - I've never seen it. Showing at the Lyric - there have been cheap offers, but the best I could find were with the official website. Aisle seat, for the legroom - thanks for the advice, Seatplan!

And yes, film next Thursday - and for now, it's looking like I might finally get to see The Blue Caftan! It's not showing tomorrow evening - but it is coming up for that evening. It's Moroccan, and again showing at my local cinema. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

Film: Shadow of a Doubt

Today, it was film again - and up to last week, it was still looking like The Blue Caftan, which was always near the top of the list. It's Moroccan, and showing at my local cinema - not that either of those film listings websites seemed to think so at the time, so I had to confirm on the cinema's own website! Grr.. But on later inspection, I discovered Shadow of a Doubt, a Hitchcock thriller showing at The Garden Cinema. Not advertised at all on my old cinema website.. had to go to the new one!

Of course, today was also the day of the late-running weekly work meeting - should have been over in time to get to the cinema, but it ran over. That's a very longwinded bloke that was speaking in it.. I eventually just signed off; it wasn't for my benefit anyway, it was mainly to tell the salespeople what idiots they are (that bloke is keen on telling people what idiots they are), and I left. Think I only missed about the last five minutes. And I would need to go to the toilet - so arrived a bit late. I couldn't even have chosen a faster public transport option - my quickest choice was by foot! The lady who sold me my ticket warned me that the film was about to start, so I'd better hurry.. I chose an aisle seat, to disturb people as little as possible.

Pity I didn't have more time to explore - this cinema, which I'd never been to before, apparently only opened last year, and seems to have an intriguing, art-deco design. The box office is at ground level, everything else in the basement (they have a lift). There are two screens, and a large bar, with what look like a lot of private alcoves. It was easy to find the screen, and my seat - and oh, what a plush, comfy seat! Reclines, too! And I arrived during the trailers - perfect.

So, this film was made in 1943 (although at one point, someone references 1888 as being 53 years ago, as I recall.. Perhaps I misheard). Anyway - Hitchcock is known as the Master of Suspense, but this film only shows early development of that, although there are definitely some tense scenes. The story concerns a young girl who's all excited when her uncle and namesake comes to visit, only to start to wonder whether he's the killer wanted by the police.. and actually, we're left in no doubt as to his nefarious connections, right from the start. He's carrying a large amount of cash, and seems to be avoiding two guys who are casing the house where he's staying.

So, the tension arises not from trying to figure out whether he's guilty - but rather, what she's going to do with her information, and how far he's willing to go to keep his secret. More appealing, actually - to me, at least - was the humour in the film, not all intentional, methinks! Now, some of it was - her father (the fugitive's brother-in-law) is a great comic character, a mild-mannered bank teller (and what a lovely house he has, for a mere teller), who in his spare time has a passion for dreaming up ways to murder his best friend. Who, to be fair, does the exact same! And our heroine's little sister has some great comic scenes.

But just as many laughs came from the audience at the depiction of women! Oh Lordy, I dunno how much of it was intentional, but what a different era.. the vicar at the party, refusing a drink, and remarking that he assumes his wife will do the same. The heroine herself, simpering at the arrival of her glamorous uncle. The schoolgirls, keeping an eye out for potential husbands. Oh, and the detective, who's barely spoken to our heroine before he decides he's "in love" with her. A different time indeed..

Definitely not up to the standard of some of his later work, but an interesting early example. On the way out, I could have done with the loo - but could I find it? The dim lighting didn't help, and I gave up. I'd be delighted to come back here though - especially with more time to explore! My route back took me past GBK, where - for only the second time - I used the toilet, and - for the second time - the main one was blocked! And so, for the second time, I used the disabled one. They took my order at the table tonight - it wasn't busy at that time. And it was delish - apart from the bit where I nearly choked on a breadcrumb. Hey-ho, I lived to tell the tale..

Tomorrow, I'm back with TAC for a play called The Last of the Pelican Daughters, at The Courtyard.

On Friday, film again - and such information as I have now suggests I'll be seeing A Plein Temps (Full Time), at my local cinema. Certainly looks good, with a pacey trailer, focusing on real-life stresses of a single mother, working in Paris and battling train strikes! Well, we all know something about that, eh.. 

On Saturday, back at last with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners! It's been too long.. This walk is Highlights of Westminster. Now, I wonder whether there'll be any coronation-related material..

On Sunday, with CT at The Bedford, for Wicked Wonderland: Burlesque Cabaret.

On Monday - which is yet another bank holiday, but the last for a while - I'm with Discover London for a walk entitled The Great Plague 1665: The Full Story. Certainly makes a change from the Great Fire.. and another group I don't get to see often enough!

On Tuesday, having tried several sold-out shows, I finally plumped for Dixon and Daughters, at the Dorfman. Got the last cheap, restricted-view ticket in the pit..

Next Wednesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats at last! Well, I couldn't resist a performance of Aspects of Love, with Michael Ball - I've never seen it. Showing at the Lyric - there have been cheap offers, but the best I could find were with the official website. Aisle seat, for the legroom - thanks for the advice, Seatplan!

And yes, film on the 1st - and for now, it's looking like I might finally get to see The Blue Caftan! It's not showing on Friday evening, even in my local cinema - but it is showing there that evening. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.