Concert: Magic of the Movies & Ballet: Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet

Last night, back with Anthony's Cultural Events and Walking Activities Group - they were at a free outdoor concert in Canada Square Park, called the Magic of the Movies. Again, I was watching the weather - promised rain was no longer promised, but it could have been cold.

In the event, it was a beautifully sunny day - the last for a while, apparently. So I took myself off to enjoy it - by DLR, which I hardly ever do. Descending into the portal of Hell that is Bank was worth it, for a light and airy journey, mostly above ground (great views of Docklands), with more space than the Tube and most welcome air conditioning. Not to mention that Bank is the terminus, so the train was empty as we boarded! Luxury indeed.

I arrived slightly later than the appointed time, and promptly got myself lost - as usual. I keep mixing Canada Square Park up with Jubilee Park.. Never mind, the organiser helpfully messaged where he was, and I made my way to roughly there - I spotted him, but couldn't get close, so just took the nearest spot on the grass. I ended up beside a lovely lady who was there on holiday, and just stumbled across this! Lucky find. Anyway, she pointed me in the direction of the guy with the free plastic sheets, so I went to find him - attracting, along the way, the attentions of a very friendly dog. And in due course, the organiser decided to go and try to find his flock, making his way in our direction - so I got to meet him, briefly.

Have to say, I'd had a tough day at work, and this was the perfect antidote! I might have been stiff from sitting on the ground, but it cheered me up no end. Starting, appropriately, with 9 to 5, the four singers, two backing singers, and accompanying band took us through a couple of hours or so of mostly 80s films, a lot of well-known songs, a lot of power ballads. My personal favourites - Take My Breath Away and Super Trouper. But it was Footloose that got half the crowd up dancing - including a star turn from one guy in our group! A large screen to the side showed us close-ups - and sometimes crowd shots. Not of us, though - we were too far over. Funnily enough, of all the films referenced, there was only one I hadn't seen - the one they chose to end both halves with songs from: The Greatest Showman. Ah well.

By the time it was over, the sun had gone down - I couldn't see the others from the group, and since we hadn't stayed on the last time we did this, I made my way out. As it turned out, although he hadn't mentioned as much on the Meetup page, the organiser was scouting out a nearby pub, where they convened - gee, by the time I got that message, I was already home. He could've said something in advance, you think? But then, he never was one for the little details. Meantime, I was busy catching the right bus, going in the wrong direction - yes, they do stop there going both ways! Never mind, I got home eventually - no blogging last night though, I was busy with the film list. Of which more anon.

Now, Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) was at Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet the same night, at Sadler's Wells - and I was gutted not to get a ticket. But guess what - I got one for tonight! Last seat in the house, in fact.. love Matthew Bourne. This is now sold out completely for the run, apparently. So I fairly skipped out the door this evening - it's close enough to the office to walk (just), but since it was raining.. and I preferred not to arrive exhausted, given all the stairs I'd have to climb.. and it'd be tight.. I took the bus. Arrived with about 10 minutes to spare, and since - for once - I had nobody to socialise with, I made my way straight to my seat.

A little far back, but a terrific seat - one of the seats to the side, which are constrained by a slanted wall; there's a bank of three, then two - mine was in glorious isolation behind them. Which meant there was no-one beside me to the right, no-one to the left because of the aisle, no-one behind me, and - as you can see - no-one in front, because of the angle! So I could lean forward or to the side, put my legs wherever I wanted - ideal. The little handrail beside my seat was also very handy for leaning on - and surprisingly comfortable!

Wow, was I thrilled as the show started - and considering everything of Matthew Bourne's that I've seen, I had a right to be. The one traditional element of this that he's retained is the wonderful Prokofiev score - well, mainly the Montagues and Capulets section. Which I'm not complaining about - it's fantastically theatrical. I was glad I'd read the Evening Standard review though - while it is fantastic, it's good to know a bit in advance about what's actually going on. Like the fact that Juliet is the redhead, or that the guard represents Tybalt. The action is set in what looks like a mental hospital, where Romeo is incarcerated when he becomes an irritation to his parents.

The whole production, from the beginning, has the energy and enthusiasm - and the snippets of wit - that we've come to expect from Matthew Bourne. I was enthralled from the beginning, not knowing where to focus my attention in the group scenes. The story runs as follows - Juliet is already incarcerated, subject to the unwelcome attentions of the abusive guard. When Romeo arrives, there's an instant attraction.. but the guard is bound to get in the way. If you get to see this, just wait till you see the clever twist in the ending - perfect for the change in setting, but true in spirit to the original. I adored it.. joined in the standing ovation at the end. And left feeling just as thrilled as at the start - Matthew Bourne is always a treat, and I always leave feeling like I've eaten the tastiest chocolate in the box. Caveat if you see it - there are flashing lights, and there's an offstage gunshot. Oh, and the choice of music to play as we left? Bad Romance, by Lady Gaga. Perfect.

Tomorrow, back with The Embers Collective, who are performing Full Moon Stories at Cafe Cairo.

On Friday, I booked with the Best Authentic Walking Tours in London (aka Funzing) - for the Sex, Drugs, Sausage Rolls Tour. Unusual for me to find a new walk! But given the rainy forecast, I cancelled - early enough to get a refund - and am now instead headed to something with my cheap ticket club. Crystal Clear is a play at the Old Red Lion - I picked it for its proximity.

On Saturday, going to see The Doctor, with Juliet Stevenson, at the Almeida. Now, I'd originally booked for this for tomorrow, forgetting that The Embers Collective were meeting that day. Can happen when I'm booking lots of stuff. When I realised my mistake, I thought I just wouldn't bother with this - then saw that London Dramatic Arts are going on Saturday! So I switched my ticket to that night, and let them know I was coming too. Now, the organiser is selling tickets for this, and doesn't appreciate competition - or anyone advertising another way to get tickets. Which might be why she deleted the comment I left to explain that I'd be there that night too! I haven't had a message from her either - so I suppose she'll be ignoring me, then. Wouldn't be the first time.

On Sunday, going with Civilised London to the Cartoon Museum - with optional dim sum afterwards. Yes please! I seem to be the only taker - never mind, it's happened before!

On Monday, I'm finally going to see Evita, at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Never have seen it.

On Tuesday, with the London European Club at the Globe - we're going to risk The Comedy of Errors.

Next Wednesday, I'm seeing Showtune - an evening of Jerry Herman music - at the Union Theatre.

The 22nd? Film, of course.. it took a while to complete the film list, and when I did, I started to eliminate a few films from the top - either I wasn't interested, or they were on too late or too far away. Which brought me down to.. Once Upon a Time... in Hollwood! Tarantino's first film in ages, set in Hollywood in 1969, and featuring the Manson Family and the murder of Sharon Tate - played here by Margot Robbie. She's just one of a veritable who's who of contemporary Hollywood - we've got Leonardo DiCaprio as a tv star, Brad Pitt as his stunt double, Dakota Fanning as one of the Manson Family - "Squeaky Fromme", Bruce Dern as the owner of the ranch where the Manson Family lived, Luke Perry - who died this year, it seems!, Damian Lewis as Steve McQueen, and, for goodness' sake, Al Pacino! I also anticipate a great soundtrack. It's on at the Barbican, but too early, so I'm headed to the Curzon Aldgate. I've booked - booking is so heavy for tomorrow, I thought I'd better!

I'm back in Ireland for the bank holiday weekend - Ryanair strike permitting! Depends on what nationality our pilot is - and whether they voted to strike..

On the 27th, The Embers Collective is back - at Dalston Eastern Curve Garden this time. There'll be storytelling, there'll be music - and hopefully food. And we're making that the occasion of this month's social from my last company! Be great to see everyone again.

On the 28th, London Science Events is off to a Science Museum Late.

And on the 29th and 30th, finally back with UITCS - on the 29th, it's HMS Pinafore at Wilton's.

And on the 30th, we're at Treemonisha, by Scott Joplin, at the Arcola. Part of the Grimeborn Opera Festival!

Concert: London Philharmonic

Scorchio! Hottest day of the year, yesterday, apparently. So when I noticed that Ken's Events (and one of his subsidiary groups, London Art, Comedy & Culture Lovers) were off to a free concert by London Philharmonic in Canada Square Park.. well, that sounded just perfect. Mind you, Ken was charging £2 extra for the privilege of going with him.

Hmm. You know, there are groups that would be worth the extra; regular readers will guess which groups I mean. Ken's groups just aren't worth it - well, not to me, at least. Of course, to a great extent it depends on whom you'd meet. So anyway, I decided to go - independently of Ken. Which would be easy enough - for the couple of times I've met him, I doubt he'd remember me. I also doubt I know anyone who would be signing up with him. And it was great when someone (whom I met through one of the groups that would be worth paying to go to..), upon hearing what I was up to, said she'd go too..

I was working from home, and had to nip out in the late afternoon to shop for food. Well, it was a good taster of the journey ahead of me - it was actually uncomfortably hot to breathe: so I did my shop in the closest place possible, making sure to include a cold drink for the journey. So, when I eventually set out, it was with a cold drink, and a hat for the sun.

Knowing my companion was going to get there before me (and also not wanting to spend more time on public transport than I had to, in this heat), the fastest option was required. So, train to Waterloo, Jubilee Line to Canary Wharf. Now, trains from Clapham Junction to Waterloo are generally very frequent on weekdays - one per minute, at least. So imagine my surprise to find that there wasn't one due for 10 minutes! From Platform 7, unusually - well, I dragged myself to that unfamiliar platform, only to have the display change after a few minutes, to show the next Waterloo train departing from Platform 10. Down the stairs again, up the stairs - not appreciated in the heat - and got there just in time for a Waterloo train. Thankfully - I don't know what the problem was, but there definitely was one, and I was glad to get out of there.

Also glad to get a seat, given the overheard remark of a disembarking passenger earlier that it was 40 degrees on the train. And so to Waterloo, and the Jubilee Line - where I didn't get a seat - and into baking heat at Canary Wharf. Must be all that concrete and glass - temperatures are always more extreme out here, either too hot or too cold. And, as usual, I was completely lost - despite having printed a map of the short walk to Canada Square Place. See, skyscrapers all look pretty much the same, if you're not on first name terms with them, and there are almost no other landmarks. One map I found actually pointed me in the wrong direction! No, the only way to find your way, out here, is with GPS. Get your phone out, open a maps app.

Wandering around confused on hot concrete isn't a great way to spend your time, and while I was - and just before I found my way - I got a text from my companion to say she was utterly lost, too. Mind you, that had been some minutes before, when I was underground and couldn't receive it - and by the time I arrived, relieved, at the stage, she'd plonked herself on the verge of the grassy bit, near the front to the left of the stage. Good location-spotting: we were also just in front of the large screen, to the side of the stage:

(Isn't it nice I have a working camera again?) Anyway, she'd also obligingly brought nibbles! Well, Ken had advised his attendees to bring a picnic - I just hadn't really had the opportunity to shop for it. Good one - I must return the favour. As for the official rules about not bringing glass - rubbish, there were tons of bottles of prosecco around (and no officials in sight anyway). In fact, there was a marquee bar a short distance behind us, selling bottles of prosecco doubtless.. and as for the furniture ban, it only applies on the grass.. put your garden furniture on any spare patch of concrete you can find.

When I arrived, the orchestra were actually playing - despite it not being anywhere near time. Turns out they were rehearsing - in their summer clothes. Sure enough, when it came to time (well, slightly after), out they came again in evening dress. As my companion remarked, the ladies had it easier - they could wear strappy dresses. Although the gents did forego their jackets - with the exception of the conductor, who valiantly wore a tailcoat throughout.

The repertoire for the evening was the Barber of Seville Overture, followed by Mozart's Symphony #40 in G Minor, and, after the interval, Beethoven's 5th Symphony. All widely known and popular pieces, and it was lovely to see the City workers coming out to enjoy them.

And while some bored teenagers present had obviously been dragged along, it was a joy to see those with a real love for the music, absolutely enthralled. And it's a lovely thing, to bring the Arts to this expanse of concrete and glass..

Afterwards, we made our (mostly separate) ways home, noting what a short and easy walk it is in the other direction, from Canada Square Park to Canary Wharf Station! It helps that you can see the Underground roundel almost immediately..

From Waterloo, I took the bus home, since the concert had finished so early (by 9), and since it was now cool enough to risk it - and all along the way, could see folks in their lightest summer clothes, and still looking sweaty and uncomfortable. Still didn't get home early enough to blog, given that I'm in Guildford today, and I've now made it a general principle, I think, to come earlier and leave earlier - the traffic is unbelievably lighter!


Tonight, the Man with the Hat is off to Top Secret again: and so am I. For tomorrow, I got a cheap ticket to a magic show; Champions of Magic is showing in Logan Hall. Mind you, I'd just booked the thing when I got an email from ShowFilmFirst, offering free tickets..! And on Friday, Helen and I are off - again with cheap tickets - to the Best of Bare Essentials, a set of short plays by new writers, showing in the Seven Dials Comedy Club.