Play: The Unfriend

Tonight, 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..? Sounded 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. We were texted a link to our tickets, five hours before start time.. which, as well as preventing scalping, is handy for finding them at the last minute!

Wow, it's over six years since I was last here - but I hadn't forgotten that there are tons of places to eat. Having a look at what was available, I booked a table at the Angus Steakhouse for 6. Had a couple of options for buses - and as I approached, I saw, damnit, I'd just missed one. Nearly didn't make it at all, mind you - as I crossed at the zebra crossing, all the cars were stopped in a traffic jam anyway: but as I stepped onto the crossing, gazing at the bus I wasn't going to make, I heard an expletive to my right. Which was just as well, because it made me pause - at which point, a b****y cyclist sailed past me, at speed, not an inch from my face. No intention of stopping at a pedestrian crossing, of course.

Well, another bus was along in just a minute, literally. I then had to change buses, which involved me crossing both ways at a large junction. I waited for the pedestrian lights to turn green - and, sure enough, as I crossed, had to navigate a whole fleet of cyclists, cycling illegally in all directions. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times - BAN CYCLISTS IN CENTRAL LONDON!! They're a danger to pedestrians, too many of them not bothering with rules of the road, and absolutely no enforcement. Sick to the hind teeth of them.

In other bus news, we had fun when a tourist family, without much English, and with a pushchair, got on - at the back, because that was the closest door to them! and then had to push forward through the aisle, past people blocking the way, to where they could park the buggy. Ah well, you live and learn..

Saw my first ever Ramadan decorations!

And so to the Steakhouse, where I arrived early, and was seated immediately. Brief panic when I couldn't find my phone, which wasn't in any pocket, or in the outside pouches of my bag - I finally found it on the seat, where it must have fallen out of my coat pocket! Jeez, that was scarier than the cyclist..

But anyway, service was quick and faultless - I remember the first time I was here, when it was a very different story. For starter, I asked what the soup was - had to ask him twice, because it sounded exactly like "liquid potato"! I passed, given the "potato" part, later figuring out that it was probably "leek and potato". 

By the time of my original booking, I had ordered, and been served my starter. Poor guy didn't realise there was a drink as well, though, until I told him - at which point, he looked for guidance to the waiter who had taken the order, who pointed to the drink sitting on the bar, which the guy who'd brought the starter then fetched. Too many people doing too many disconnected tasks.. there was someone different again to bring my main, and another person to clear up. And not enough communication among them all, I think..

The starter consisted of four moreish southern fried chicken goujons, which came with a mayo dip and were gorgeous. For main - well, I just had to have steak. I actually don't that often, even in a steakhouse - but I felt like it today. The smallest is 8oz, which does me just fine - I later saw someone served a massive chunk, and I really don't know how she managed it. So, the "Angus cut" is cooked medium by default - although he did check - and I didn't bother with a sauce; I don't think a good steak needs it. I had onion rings and skinny fries with it - and polished the whole lot off, and it was all terrific.. was given the bill in good time, and took myself off to meet the others.

This theatre is completely in the basement.. and it's a beautiful building!

One quibble - there's very little signposting! I had to ask for the bar, and I'm not sure there was even a sign for the Dress Circle, where I was sitting - later, there was no signposting at all for the toilets! which turned out to be on the other side of the Dress Circle, conveniently for me. The Stalls Bar, where we met, is a poky little place too, although service is friendly and the drinks are cheaper than usual. And we chatted until it was time to go in.

So, as Seatplan indicated, the view isn't too restricted - and legroom is ok, with a large pillar just to my side, which I could lean against, as well as pop my stuff on the floor in front of.

The opening scene, as you can probably tell, takes place on the deck of a cruise ship, where we meet the English couple and their new BFF. Soon, however, the backdrop parts, and the rest of the play takes place in their home - a twin-level set, with a small kitchen and larger living room downstairs, and stairs leading up to a second level, which they enter under the roof of the painted front of the house:

Yes, it's very good! The interplay between the casual friendliness of the American, and the stilted awkwardness of the English family, is beautifully done. I also loved the "passive-agressive" neighbour who keeps dropping by to complain about things, and the gradual unravelling of the English couple is a delight to behold. Yep, a most enjoyable play - runs till the 16th.

As we made our way out, I could hear cheering - of course, I'd forgotten we were right on Piccadilly Circus! where, at that point, there was some line dancing..

Terrific atmosphere, as ever - and what a lovely, mild evening! It was great to stay and chat to people for a while.. despite everything else I have to do. And on the way home, I got to look out the window, from the safety of the bus, at a Deliveroo cyclist, speeding up the pavement in Aldwych..

Tomorrow, 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.. Now up to 323 pages through a nearly 700-page story.. Thank goodness for the unconventional publishing style, where some pages have hardly anything on them!

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 next Tuesday, 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 - as the boss says, let's see what we get done this week.. 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..

I definitely have to be back for the 15th though, when I'm booked on another walk with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners! This one is A City built by a Genius - Wren's London. And as of now, he's scheduling walks I haven't done for days I can make them! Very cool.. because I do love his walks. And lunches.

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 finally asked him. He 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..

On the 20th, I'm with TAC for a talk on Arab & Islamic Roots of Europe's Architecture, at St. Mary Magdalene Church.

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!

Wonderville Magic and Illusion

Tonight, I booked with a new Meetup group - Soho Comedy Factory Shows and Socials, which organises free events on Wednesdays at the aforementioned Soho Comedy Factory. But on Monday, I got an offer from CT for seat-filling for Wonderville! magic & cabaret, so I went to that instead. I've had bad experiences with free comedy!

Decided there must be somewhere decent around there to eat - and decided to try Angus Steakhouse. Now, it is an age since I was there - in fact, I don't think I've been there since I started this blog! and the last time was notable for its terrible service. Well, I said I'd risk it. Got buses out there - hot, stuffy buses - I'd booked the restaurant, but didn't need to, it seemed. Still, better safe than sorry. They have seating over three floors - I was led to the deliciously cool basement.

Far from the neglectful service I was used to here, tonight they couldn't do enough for me! Constantly asking whether everything was ok, or whether I needed anything, always someone passing to ask for anything I did need - it was lovely. Food is moreish - I might have had calamari to start, but having had them yesterday, I opted for the southern fried chicken goujons with garlic mayo dip instead - might have had the garlic bread, but it's fougasse, and my experience of that is it's just too much. And they were gorgeous..

For main - well, I figured it was just too hot for steak. Instead, I had the tagliatelle chicken alfredo - and it was lovely, a nice-sized portion, and chicken on the whole nice and tender. A couple of glasses of wine, and a lovely big portion of ice cream with chocolate sauce saw me right - and the tip was completely optional, and entered on a separate device! Good value too, for what I had - yes, can finally say I would recommend this place again! Dunno how they are when they're busy - but then, a large, Spanish-speaking party did come in while I was there, and my service was just as good..

A short trot down to Wonderville, then - on the site of the former Planet Hollywood, it seems! Head down Haymarket, you can't miss it on the right:

We queued to have our names checked - those with CT tickets had them in envelopes with our names on them, ooh! ;-) All the better to let them know if we didn't come, perhaps - it's automatic expulsion if you book for last-minute seat filling and then don't show. Anyway, we were then "shown" to our seats - I don't know why he bothered, he was so vague! He waved me in the general direction - checking my ticket, I found a table and seat number. The tables have numbers, but not the seats - I had to kind of guess.

Next issue - there is WiFi, but it doesn't work. This is a particular problem when you want to order a drink, which has to be ordered via the app and delivered to the table. I found I literally had to go back out to the bar, which is near the entrance, to place my order (by phone), then return to the table to wait for it to be delivered, as they don't take physical orders at the bar. O for the love of.. Also, while I knew I was ordering white wine - and what size - I had no idea what it actually was! It would have been nice to have sauvignon blanc - I ended up with chardonnay. Ah well, it was palatable.

Free tapas is provided - you don't get to choose what. And as someone remarked, it might have been better to have all the seating at small, round tables - in the interests of sightlines. There were plenty of long tables, like ours - and it was kind of difficult to see what was going on, on stage, unless you were in one of the very front seats..

With all of that, the acts were actually very good. We had an elderly, but sprightly, acrobat / singer:

 a fantastic dancer / juggler:

a rather good magician:

and a trapeze artist - the only act that didn't come on twice - and who performed in the middle of the audience (some people had to be cleared from their seats). Worked really well - what a shame not all the acts could have been so accessible.

And each (maybe with the exception of the trapeze artist) had a good dollop of comedy in the act, and all held together by the jovial MC. So, really good show - it's just a shame about the venue. I believe this is only their second night - they really have some things to iron out. Still, recommended - if you can get a cheap ticket. Not worth it at full price - not at this venue. Runs until the 30th of October.

My route home was plagued by diversions - first, it turned out Aldwych was half closed, so I had a trek to catch the bus home. Now, he told us we were also on diversion, and the next stop would be King's Cross - fine by me, that was where I had to get off! Except he didn't stop at King's Cross. Neither was there a notification that we were approaching King's Cross. I don't know where we turned, but next I looked, we were in flippin' Camden! I pressed the bell as soon as I realised - but it was minutes more before he deigned to let us off. I was now so far from King's Cross, I had to get another bus back there. Last thing I needed at that hour..

Tomorrow, I've booked a free ticket with an improv group called Kid Smokers Improv! at Barons Court Theatre. (It's Pay What You Can, actually.) They're actually stepping in while Avocado Presents takes a summer holiday - they seem to have a residency here, now. Anyway, I've seen Avocado Presents before, and they're excellent - so I figure I'll give these people a shot! Avocado Presents, interestingly, have a Meetup group now - Watch Improv & Chat Comedy! which I've also just joined.

On Friday, I booked for the Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street Tour with Poppy's Events for 40s 50s and 60s, another new group to me. But Laurence and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners have a walk that day as well - the Strange Tales of Old (and New) London Tour. And with one company I applied to having rejected me, and the other saying they won't let me know before that day - it looks as though I'll be free. So now I'm going on this instead - don't fancy doing both, although I could. And, of course, we're headed to the pub after.

On Saturday, I'm off to see The Ehrlich Brothers, a magic show at the Wembley Arena. This is with Friendly Frolickers 50+ Meetup Group - so I've joined them as well. I was - as often happens - rather frazzled when I booked though, and completely forgot that they have their own, discounted tickets! Blast - they do this specifically so that they can sit together. Well, I've booked my own - more expensively - and explained. Can't be helped. Oh, and again, CT now has tickets for that very day..

And on Sunday, I booked with the 45+s again - but not with Laurence this time! They do have walks guided by other people, and this one is of Brick Lane. Except.. today I noticed it's also on TAC. So I've now cancelled my original booking, and booked through them instead (cheaper). Oh, how mercenary of me.. but the guide was the one who decided to advertise it there as well!