Plays: Bleak Expectations & The Shape of Things, & Album Launch: The Devil's on the Mast

On Wednesday, I was back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Bleak Expectations, a Dickens-based comedy, with a different star every week, showing at the Criterion. We got Julian Clary.. I ended up going up a price band here, the cheap tickets all seemed so restricted!

Oh, what a horrendous couple of weeks it's been at work - hence the delay in the blog, I literally have been that busy. On that note, I did not have time to eat on Wednesday evening - dinner was a box of Maltesers and a glass of reasonably-priced sauvignon blanc at the theatre. We all met in the attractive Dress Circle Bar:

and chatted away until it was time to take our seats. I was fourth row from the front - someone else from the group was in my eyeline, but obligingly ducked to the side for me to take a shot of the stage!

It's a quirky stage, for a quirky play - as the blurb says, much as Dickens would have written, had he been at the gin. Julian Clary played - well, himself, except, as he pointed out, heterosexual, and a Victorian gentleman, whose own story he was supposedly narrating. It is, as you might suppose, a mishmash of various Dickens stories, with sundry Dickens quotes; a trio of siblings find themselves in trouble when their father dies, their mother goes insane, and a wicked guardian takes over, packing young Pip (the narrator's younger self) off to a suitably Dickensian boarding school, while conspiring to marry his elder sister and claim the family fortune for himself. Now, where have we heard that one before..?

It's utterly bonkers. It was exactly what I needed, but wasn't everyone's cup of tea, and one left at the interval. Be warned, it is a farce, it is exceedingly silly - but if you're cool with that, do go along, because it's a lot of fun. I, at least, had a great time! and the acting is excellent. Runs till the 3rd of September - recommended, for those who like their comedy OTT.

No time to blog afterwards - no time for a full night's sleep all week! When I came home, I was working - slept a few hours, and was back at it again..

Yesterday, back with North London Friends, for the first time in, oh, ages.. we were off to The Park, to see The Shape of Things. Different people from last time, these were some I knew before. But it's been years! Anyway, happily, this time I took time out to eat.. The Lucas Arms beckoned, and it was nice to feel human again! Caught a bus from just around the corner, and met the others, sat outside the theatre on what was an unusually nice evening, not as cold as recently. In fact, it was so nice, just sitting there, a gentle breeze blowing, that I couldn't even be bothered getting a drink beforehand..

There was a slight delay getting into the auditorium - when the usher got to scanning my ticket, her scanner - which had been playing up for ages - broke completely, and she finally gave up and let me in. I was right around the side - no photography, thank you: probably because two of the cast were already onstage.

The story is one of college students falling in love. They're interesting characters, but so far, so samey - I was wondering what made this so special.

I was to find out in the second half. Don't be fooled - this is seriously one of the best twists I've come across in a play, one of those classics that has you all talking afterwards and re-examining everything you thought you knew. I really can't say any more - except that, when they start to show things on the screen, don't worry if you're to the side, as I was - it's also shown on a small TV screen, directly opposite the main one. To reiterate - one of the best-written plots I've come across. Very highly recommended - runs till the 1st.

Afterwards - speaking of post-show discussions - we repaired to Oak, around the corner - which I haven't been to since I was last here with this group! I generally prefer New World wines, but last night found myself reverting to the sauvignon, even though it was Old World. What can I say, it is my favourite.. and an excellent chat was had, until it came time to go home. Where, of course, I was working again - not blogging, frankly, I couldn't face that on top. Anyway, lovely to see these people again! May the next time not be as long in coming.

Last night was as soon as I was able to consider what to do this evening - and I'd completely forgotten that Eleanor - of TunedIn.London and the World Music Meetup - had advertised an album launch - The Devil's on the Mast, by Cider with Kirsty (Ciderhouse Rebellion with Kirsty Merryn). At the Finnish Church. Folksy kind of music - I liked what I heard, and booked. Again, didn't really have time to eat, on what was the last working day for me, before the work deadline - I made for Pret, in the station. Sadly, not only was their main seating area closed off, but they didn't have the salmon sandwiches I love! so I went to the takeaway one, outside the door, instead, and ate my sandwich at a convenient bollard. Ah, food.. great start to the weekend.

A bit tight for time, I took the Underground, followed by the Overground, changing at Whitechapel - where, paradoxically, I had to climb down to get from the Underground to the Overground! Anyway, the sun streamed in the windows on the whole section above ground - it was a gorgeous evening to be travelling. I arrived quite early - said hi to Eleanor, took a seat near the front. Where, again, the sun streamed in the door to the garden - which was left open, allowing a lovely, cool breeze to waft over us. 

They make a lovely sound, complete with historical context - it's just a pity that the music was quite soothing, and I was fit to drop - I spent the entire concert fighting to stay awake! Absolutely no reflection on them - it's just that I could happily sleep for a week. Honestly, I was delighted that it finished a bit early - apart from giving me a bit of leeway with my evening, it meant that I could shop! which I was in dire need of. But anyway, lovely to get to another of these concerts. Even if it's a bit of a slog to get there.

And now I need to get to bed.. I have to be up in the morning.. uhh.. Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners are headed on a new walk, Rockin' in the West End! Must dig out some U2 gear.. it certainly seems as though it's gonna be t-shirt weather! Tomorrow evening, I was supposed to be having my monthly get-together with my ex-work colleagues, too - at The Lucas Arms - but two can't make it, and the other two of us have decided to wait for next month, and do it properly.

On Sunday, back with the Crick Crack Club, for Dauntless - Grace O' Malley, Pirate Queen, at the British Museum. AKA Granuaile, she was a real person.. the pirate queen of the West of Ireland, who did one better than Mary, Queen of Scots, and actually did get to meet Elizabeth I! This one isn't told by Clare Murphy, though - it's Debs Newbold. 

On Monday, taking myself off to see The Accidental Death of an Anarchist, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. I've heard only good things..

On Tuesday, giving up on Meetup, I'm with TAC, for Mixed Omens - an improvised horror show, at the Drayton Arms.

On Wednesday, thinking film - and what's coming up is a documentary called The Pearl Button, set in Chile. Scenery looks spectacular.. this is showing in the ICA only. Wow, it's years since I was last there, too!

On Thursday, back with UITCS, for All of It, at the Royal Court. And then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

Edinburgh Comedy Festival Preview: Lucy Porter & Rachel Fairburn

Tonight, back with North London Friends! for the first time since before lockdown. This was for an Edinburgh Comedy Festival preview, at the King's Head in Crouch End, featuring Lucy Porter and Rachel Fairburn. Available from WeGotTickets, which I wish I'd remembered when I was looking for the ticket this evening!

I hid in front of the fan all day - I'd be lost without it, in this heat. Ventured out in the evening, figuring I'd eat at the pub. Boy, what a long, sweaty bus journey it was, though! I had a short - downhill - trot to the pub when I got off, and wow! Walking into the pub was like jumping into an ice bath. I was actually shivering. Probably due to the layer of sweat I'd accumulated. Soon acclimatised though, and it was lovely.

I ordered food at the bar and took a corner table. Now.. the sauvignon blanc is lovely, and I had plenty of it. The chips were lovely. The rest.. I had calamari and chicken schnitzel, both in breadcrumbs, which is how I come to say, don't have the breadcumbs! They were both tough - the chicken so much so that I couldn't finish it. But at least I was fed. It was far too hot for any dessert that comprised food that wasn't cold, so I didn't have any. At least they, too, have the app where you can order from the table - just be aware of what you're ordering!

Meantime, I'd posted a message as to where I was - and when the organiser arrived, he spotted me and I joined him. The others duly happened along. Yeeah. I remembered exactly one person from before, and he didn't remember me. But that's OK. Apart from a friendly and interesting mother and daughter though, this was - without exception - the dullest group I've been with in years. Crikey, how things have changed with this group. I mean, they are as they are - it's just a group I'll be wary of joining again.

Anyway, we headed downstairs to the comedy club at the appointed time - and both acts were decent, if imperfect. After all, this is a WIP show. Sold out, interestingly. I chuckled away - but in short, it wasn't a terrific evening. Couldn't honestly say it was worth the bus journey.

The bus times afterwards - on the display at the stop, as well as online - bore no relation to the actual behaviour of the buses! They happened along much earlier than predicted - I missed the first, but managed to grab the second, and was whisked home in no time.

Tomorrow.. I took a punt that I wouldn't actually be employed that day, and signed up again - at last - for a walk with Laurence and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners. This is The Magic of Midtown - and as I said to him, it finishes very near my new home! I also promised to let him know if I couldn't actually make it. Another day predicted to be scorching.. shade recommended! And wouldn't you know it - he postponed it, as a result. (I'm rather glad, that heat is most unpleasant.)  So now, instead, I'm headed with London Baroque Music Lovers to a late-night gig at the Albert Hall - Prom 7 is Dido and Aeneas. Can, and will, hide indoors until evening.

On Wednesday, I finish my Meetup run with a trip with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) to Leicester Square Theatre to see Frankie Boyle, who has a work in progress show.

On Thursday, I'm heading - at last - to Summer by the River at More London. This is for a free evening of music, curated by Soho Radio. Meeting someone for this, we are getting food beforehand at Wawa - she's keen on ramen. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend. Unlikely to get to a film at the weekend, as I need to get my car serviced for its NCT - sooner the better, and I couldn't last time I was back.

Next Monday, I was headed to see The Throne, a comedy about to open at Charing Cross Theatre, in which the Queen gets locked in a portaloo with a staunch republican. Time Out had an offer of £10 tickets for the cheapest seats for this - a saving of more than 50%! Sadly, this evening I got word that remaining performances of this production have been cancelled, due to covid. Still with nothing on Meetup that appeals, I'm back with TAC for a classical concert - Mario Brunello is playing Bach on on the violoncello piccolo, at Wigmore Hall. He's playing in the evening as well, but cheap tickets are available for the matinee.

On the 26th - tan-ta-ra! I finally managed to get a decently priced ticket to Jerusalem, at the Apollo. I have heard so much about this, and it's always at the top of the Time Out listings - nearly as hard as Hamilton to get a reasonably priced ticket for, so I'm delighted to get one, if only not to have to look any more.

On the 27th, back to Summer by the River again.. for Bumper Blyton: Improvised Adventures for Grown-Ups! Improvised comedy in the style of Enid Blyton books.. sounds jolly good!

On the 28th - another UITCS event that Meetup finally decided to flag to me. So I've booked to go with them to see Briefs Factory's show, Bite Club! at Queen Elizabeth Hall. Drag, burlesque.. should be fun!

On the 29th, I was thinking about the National Theatre's River Stage 2022. This will be the first night of the Hackney Empire's Young Producers Weekend, and there'll be some dance and some music. But now, Civilised London has organised an Ecuadorian meal at El Inca Plebeyo - so I'm going to that instead. His choices are always good. Meeting beforehand at The Canonbury Tavern.

On the 30th, back in Greenwich with Bucket List London - we're starting with the Old Royal Naval College and National Maritime Museum. Was originally supposed to be the Queen's House to finish, but turns out they're booked out all day for a wedding, despite not having clarified that on the website! Then in the afternoon, we're headed to Eltham Palace and Gardens. Quite the packed day..

On the 31st, back with TAC for the opening night of I'm Not Myself Today: A Villainous Cabaret at the Bread and Roses in Clapham. An hour in which someone discusses with us why we all love the villain!

On the 1st, I'm going to the Kiln Theatre for The Darkest Part of the Night. Another troublesome website - I tried for days to get it to work..!

And on the 2nd, thinking vaguely about the Camden Fringe, which runs all next month - there's, for example, an interesting audio event called A Little Drape of Heaven, where you hold a precious item of clothing to your heart, then press play to access a YouTube link that you've paid for. Hmm.. Meantime, Laurence has postponed that walk to this day. Which I can go on as well, assuming I'm not gainfully employed yet..!

Concert: Some Kinda Wonderful

Today, I was thinking of film - got the film list done on Wednesday, then wasn't too pushed about what was coming out on top. Not that it was easy to get the listings, mind - my film site has a new look, still apparently gets the new listings on Tuesday evenings, but now doesn't seem to list the times for the following week along with the new films! So I can see what's on, just not where or when. I managed to Google a couple, which had their own websites, and from those I determined that they're not showing on days that'd suit. Others, I wasn't so lucky with, and just had to guess on the basis of the cinemas in which they were showing currently, whose websites I then had to check.

Anyway, the upshot was that I thought Meetup had better suggestions. So tonight I joined North London Friends for a concert called Some Kinda Wonderful - a tribute to Stevie Wonder. Run by the Chickenshed. Unfortunately, it was all the way out in Cockfosters - ah well. I was determined not to spend all day up there!

And I didn't - although I did head to The Upper Crust for brunch again - which I had hot, for once (because I could), and which was lovely. Then back home, where I got stuff done (and my phone charged) - before heading out again, in time to grab a bite to eat up there. Because I figured a baguette wouldn't do me for the whole day.. and on the map, I spotted a Prezzo, just up from the venue. A long, long journey it was - over an hour in total, even by Tube, and the frequent stoppages didn't help. All the way out to Zone 5 - I dozed a little on the way. But the sun was out by the time I got there.

A difficult road to cross - I should have crossed via the subway from the station. I nipped across eventually, and entered the Prezzo, where I was quickly seated by a maitre-d' with a most morose expression. Service wasn't exactly nippy - I had to catch his eye to get my order taken. But the food was well worth waiting for! What an improvement on yesterday. Everything was gorgeous - the garlic bread, the spaghetti carbonara, the carafe of chenin blanc. I really shouldn't have had dessert - I was due to meet the group at 7, and it'd take 10 minutes or so to walk there - but with everything else so great, I had to.. and yes, the smashed honeycomb cheesecake was well worth the delay. I doubt I'll be up this way again in a hurry, but if I am, I am DEFINITELY eating here.

And so to the Chickenshed. I collected my ticket at the box office, then scoured the lobby for the group - eventually caught sight of them, but there weren't enough chairs for everyone, so we stood. I might have had a drink, but I was too stuffed from dinner! It was soon time for us to go in - I was the only one from the group with a gallery seat, and as I made for the stairs, the lady in the box office hailed me. Seems I was the only one to book a ticket on that side of the gallery - so they decided to upgrade me! Lovely - I was in the rear stalls.

It seems that this venue has a regular jazz programme - and tonight's performers were top-notch. I'm not a huge Stevie Wonder fan - was familiar with most, but certainly not all, of the numbers. But wow, they gave it socks. And as the night wore on, the crowd got more and more lively, until the dancefloor in front of the stage was filled with people enthusiastically jiving, with the band's encouragement. With performers this good - particular mention must go to the singer, Noel McCalla - it's no surprise that most of the audience were on their feet by the end. Terrific show, delighted I made the trek.

I'm not with this group very often, and to be honest, there wasn't much to chat about with them - I decided to spend the interval in my own company. But I did appreciate the lift back to the station, close though it was. Hey, it was offered..

Tomorrow, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for City of Angels at the Garrick. Funny thing is, I was recently looking ahead for shows to book, and this came up - was on the point of booking for it, busily looking for deals, when I suddenly realised I'd already booked! The perils of booking early.. I booked this the day after Christmas. It'll be nice to be back among people I'm friendlier with.

On Tuesday, whoop-de-doo! Finally got a decently priced, decently located ticket to the show of the moment, Hamilton! Showing at the Victoria Palace, booking through Ticketmaster exclusively. Booked the same day as City of Angels - I often block book. So I get to see whether it lives up to the hype - I'm just delighted to be able to stop searching for tickets for it! Must just remember to bring the ticket to the office with me - they insisted on posting it.

On Wednesday, back at Soho Theatre (hopefully - at least the show is later than Tuesday's, which I missed!). This time, it's Sara Barron's show, Enemies Closer.

On Thursday, back with This & That (not for ages, then twice in one week!). This time, it's a pre-Paddy's Day concert with the Band of the Irish Guards, at the Guards' Chapel. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

On the 16th, back at Soho Theatre again - this time, for the opening night of Tom Rosenthal's show, Manhood.

The 17th is, of course, Paddy's Day itself - and like last year, I'm off to the Irish Centre in Camden. And again, they have a St. Patrick's Night Special - I've already booked my ticket. Dunno whether anyone will join me, but hey.

On the 18th, back with UITCS for Be More Chill, at The Other Palace. My only Meetup that week!

The 19th is going to be hugely busy for me. So, first I'm at Soho Theatre for Jena Friedman's show, Miscarriage of Justice. And then, wouldn't you know it, The Embers Collective scheduled a series of shows at the Vault Festival. And blast it if I wasn't already booked for the whole week! But hey, with the comedy show finishing at 8.30.. and the storytelling not starting till 10.. this one was doable! Their show that night is Queerstory - LGBTQ+ - themed. And I'm going.

On the 20th, finally getting to see Dear Evan Hanson, at the Noel Coward Theatre. It got the royal seal of approval during the week, of course! And it's about time I saw it - UITCS went last year.

On the 21st, a proper social at last from my last company, woo-hoo! We now have 5 (possibly 6) confirmations for a dinner at my current favourite Italian - Amarcord Museum. The place with the chocolate mousse cake to die for.. I've booked, on the assumption that I won't get any more takers. And that laying a space for 6 is much the same as laying a space for 5. And I've asked specially for the chocolate cake..

On the 22nd, heading to the last night of a classical spectacular at the Albert Hall. Popular classical tunes, complete with lightshow - sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

On the 23rd, back with UITCS for Far Away, at Donmar Warehouse. Unfortunately, I'm now hearing really bad reviews of this - ah well. Not surprised, given that it's by Caryl Churchill, who also wrote A Number. Which I didn't rate highly.

On the 24th, seeing The Dumb Waiter, by Harold Pinter, at Hampstead Theatre.

On the 25th, back with UITCS for Clybourne Park, at the Park Theatre.

On the 26th, back with them again - for the opening night of a Ballet Black Mixed Bill, at the Barbican, for once! Much handier for me. Interestingly, no fewer than three Meetup groups are going to the same thing - but UITCS advertised it first, and I've booked with them and will not be repeating the chaos of multiple bookings that I tried previously. One in particular, Love London Theatre Arts Music & Stuff (LLTAMS) - which has a habit of booking the same thing on the same night as UITCS - has introduced a new rule that you can't book with them if you've booked with someone else as well. Well gee, no problem - wasn't going to anyway. Not really the way to increase your group's attendance, if you ask me. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

On the 30th, ironically, I'm with LLTAMS for something that they're the only ones to advertise! It's a classical concert of religious music at Queen Elizabeth Hall, and should be lovely.

On the 31st, back at the Barbican for It's True, It's True, It's True. Dramatisation of a 17th-Century rape trial.

On the 1st, I find myself with London Science & Geek Chic Socials! We're off to a talk at the Star & Garter (Greenwich), entitled Greenwich Skeptics: A Magician Among the Spirits, which describes the confrontational relationship between magicians and psychics - the name is taken from a book by Houdini.

On the 2nd, back with UITCS at the Barbican - this time, it's the opening night of Orlando.

And on the 3rd, back with them again for Last Easter, at the Orange Tree.

Play: Three Sisters

Last night, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Three Sisters, at the National. Also signed up with Love London Arts, Theatre, Music & Stuff for this - the last time I tried to integrate the two, it didn't really work! It'd be interesting to see how it went this time. I decided to try to gravitate more towards the latter this time, as I missed them completely the last time.

Off I set, on foot, early enough for the earlier meet time suggested by the groups. As it happened, I was first there - of all the people I could potentially meet, I could see no-one! So I mooched around, deftly avoiding the random bag checks. The trick, I think, is to look as though you're not in a hurry.. Mind you, there was a heavy police presence in the lobby this evening, and I have to wonder why.

One of the Love Theatre, Arts, Music & Stuff group kept messaging that she was here and there, didn't know what we looked like, and couldn't find us. But sadly, that situation persisted, and we never did meet her. Instead, I did ultimately see a friendly face - crikey, North London Friends (NLF) were there as well! I'd never even seen that advertised. So we chatted for a bit, they went on their way, and lo, there was the organiser of Love London Theatre Arts, Music & Stuff. We took a table when one came available, and made some efforts to meet our stray member - to no avail. The Meetup app was no help, as usual, hiding more information than it revealed. We just headed in when it was time - and for once, I availed of the free cloakroom, and it was a delight not to have to manoeuvre my heavy coat for the evening!

Overall, I've got to say this is livelier than your average production of Chekov! It's set in Nigeria, during the Biafran conflict, and follows the story of three sisters (and their brother, but he's kind of incidental), who are living in the countryside as their recently deceased father wanted, but long for the bright lights of Lagos, where they lived before. Life isn't easy for them - the oldest sister is stressed at work, the middle one is in an arranged marriage and in love with another man, and the youngest: well, she wants to go back to the city, and avoid this local guy who's keen on her. When the brother marries, and his wife starts to take over the household - gee, things don't improve!

Chekov in general is slow - although the original version of this play does include a fire, cleverly transmuted into a bombing raid for this production. And I do think the story translates very well to this new setting! They do use it to aim a few digs at Britain's involvement in the conflict. The story is a keenly observed study of - well, life's misery. By the end, almost everything that they cherished has been taken from them, and they are left clinging to what they can salvage. Quite long - but I did enjoy it. Runs till the 19th of February - some performances sold out.

At the interval, I met with the organiser of Love London Theatre, Arts, Music & Stuff again, but we never did find our other member. And afterwards, I suggested we meet by the ticket desk - where lo, UITCS were chatting. So I got to see them, and chat to them, as well in the end. Wow, such a sociable night.. and my bus came just as the first drops of rain started to fall. With such a long play, it ran too late to blog last night, though.

Tonight, it's back to Ireland for the weekend, again. I was thinking about film next week - but what was on outside of that appealed more. So, on Monday, I'm off to a London Docklands Christmas concert at The Space, as hosted by London European Club. Only recently advertised - they're lucky I was free!

Tuesday is our office Christmas party - we're at the Montague Ski Lodge, and only have it booked till 5; it'll be interesting to see how motivated they are to continue the evening, as we start at midday. I don't have high hopes. Lo, to tempt people into the office next day, they're serving breakfast! And as part of the Magic Breakfast initiative, for everyone who has breakfast at the office, they're donating a breakfast to a child in need. Aww.

On Wednesday, back with UITCS for Cyrano de Bergerac, at the Playhouse. Stars James McAvoy.

On Thursday and next Friday, Meetup has given me ideas, which I'm using to do things outside of Meetup. On Thursday, London Social Detours is charging £3 to go to a talk about Oscar Wilde's London. I booked myself - for free - on Eventbrite; I don't find her group that friendly, to be honest, but the talk sounds interesting.

Next Friday, Ken's Walks and Social Events (and its sister group, London Art, Comedy & Walks) are on a Christmas lights tour. Now, after past experience with the walks organised by this group, I'll never darken their doors again. However, a Christmas lights walk sounded good - and I didn't get to one at all last year! So I had a browse - and came up with a pay-what-you-want walk by Free Tours by Foot London. Starts in Covent Garden - and the handy thing is, we're to clear our stuff out of our old office that day, and hand in our passes before the receptionist goes home. Which means we have been told to finish at 4! Excellent - that gives me loads of time. Ivan is coming to this one - which means it'll probably be a late night.

On the 14th, headed with UITCS to the Orange Tree, for Candida, by Shaw. Unless I get sidetracked.

On the 15th, my last visit of the year to the Crick Crack Club - Emily Hennessy is telling the Ramayana at the British Museum. Oh, and I'd completely forgotten that was on when I booked with NLF for a carol concert at St. James' Muswell Hill, followed by drinks at the John Baird. Sounds lovely - but I doubt I'll make both. We shall see. Then I fly back to Ireland for Christmas on the 16th.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

..and I'm off again next month, flying back to London on the 5th. On the 6th of next month, I shall start as I mean to go on, with UITCS at the Almeida for the Duchess of Malfi.

On the 7th of next month, I'm off to the Opera House, for the Royal Ballet's production of Coppélia - one I've never seen.

And on the 8th of next month, the RSC's production of Measure for Measure, at the Barbican. Set in decadent 1900s Vienna.

Play: Fairview & Storytelling: Sovereign

Last night, back with North London Friends (NLF) for Fairview, at the Young Vic. And I was lucky to get one of their tickets, which they booked a year ago - people were saying, on Monday, how hard it was to get them! Indeed, for the remainder of the run, availability is limited - and it's sold out on some days.

So, I walked there, arriving at about the time specified. We met in the lobby - it was a bit cold to stand outside. One had arrived early, and availed of the upstairs bar.. the rest arrived a bit late, but everybody got their tickets in good time to take their seats. Which were really excellently positioned, four rows from the stage - and I was dead centre.

Running for about 100 minutes, without interval, the play opens on a well-appointed living room, where a black woman is preparing her mother's birthday dinner. (It's relevant that she's black.) During this first section, we meet her husband, sister, and daughter, and it's very sitcom-ish. Everybody's nice, everybody's ambitious, everybody's well-dressed. Their problems are minor, in the grand scheme of things. Characters who are mentioned, but whom we don't meet in this first section, are the mother, the brother - who's having trouble with his last-minute flight - and the daughter's schoolfriend, of whom her mother disapproves. And all is pretty calm and collected (and a bit dull, but with great furnishings) - until the cake gets burnt, and the lady trying to organise everything faints with the stress. The curtain closes.

..and we open on a well-appointed living room, where a black woman is preparing her mother's birthday dinner. Only now the soundtrack has changed. And I'm not going to be able to tell you any more, because, well, that'd be telling. I will say that this was my favourite bit of the play, which I thought was very cleverly done. I haven't seen anything like this staging before - none of us had. After a bit, mind, it gets truly surreal, and I think it loses the plot a bit - their final act of stagecraft, while striking, we didn't think struck the mark. BTW, I found bits amusing, but hardly hilarious. Won this year's Pulitzer - I'm guessing that was a political decision, really, since it's about race. And while we all thought we got the deeper meaning - well, it was mainly confused. Runs till the 18th of next month - but honestly, I can't recommend it. However, I would love to see some of that staging in a better thought-out play!

Afterwards, some of us repaired to The Ring - a boxing-themed pub, down the road. Where we shared a bottle of wine - typically, I'd forgotten to bring cash, so couldn't contribute! Ah well.. Good to see them! I don't go enough with this group, but then, I have so much else on..

And so, to the bus for me. And wouldn't you know it, the nearest stop was closed (like half the stops in town!), so I traipsed on to the next, where I shivered a bit until my bus arrived. As we crossed London Bridge, it occurred to me that this was my first time on it since the last attack.. the police still have it cordoned off, presumably to preserve evidence.

Anyway, it ran too late to blog last night, since I had to be in for a meeting this morning. Which, as usual, didn't happen - so he rescheduled it to the afternoon. Which didn't happen. He grabbed me for a few minutes after his other meeting finished - it had overrun. And no, I didn't have time to finish the blog before I was out again..

Tonight, back with the Crick Crack Club (CCC) for a night I was really looking forward to - Ben Haggarty and Jan Blake again, combined with my favourite, Clare Murphy, and Jordan Campbell, treated us to a night on the theme Sovereign, at Rich Mix. It's the last in their series called the "alternative tarot", where four storytellers take turns to expand on variations on an archetypal theme, and hold a Q+A after. Unfortunately, Ivan, who would've loved this, is out of town again. But never mind, he's just got a new job, which won't take him out of town as much.

So, I left in decent time to catch the bus. And I see they've finally turned on the lights on the Christmas tree outside our office - lovely! The lower branches are festooned with tags that you can take with you - they have details about the City of London Police's Give a Gift campaign for children in need. And this was a big affair - the mayoress turned them on, apparently, and they had - of all things - angels on stilts. Who, as someone remarked, must have been frozen in what they were wearing..

As I waited to board, it occurred to me that this was where that sea of people boarded on Monday! Thankfully, there were fewer tonight. On the bus, we were held up briefly by a police escort, sirens screaming. We figured it was one of the NATO leaders still in town.. Anyway, we made the venue in good time, and it was such a treat not to be dashing in the door panting, as I usually am. And I got a front-row seat - mind you, by start time, the place was only about half full! It did subsequently fill a bit more.

As seen in the audience - TUUP, Nell Phoenix, Sarah Liisa Wilkinson, and Laura Sampson. A night of friends - indeed, the lady sitting beside me turned out to be well-acquainted with Jordan Campbell. Martin Shaw was handing out paper crowns at the door - I chose royal red, to match my outfit. He wore his over his hat. They had a throne - needed one for Jan, anyway, who's still using a crutch, as the last time I saw her! and came on wearing sunglasses, although she took them off for the performance. Mind you, as was mentioned during the performance, Napoleon remarked that a throne was nothing but a chair with a piece of red velvet thrown over it.

And so to a show of two halves, each storyteller taking the stage in each half. Ben started us off, with an excerpt from Gilgamesh, which I've heard before from him, and which he's reprising next month. A superbly theatrical performance wafted me away, and was followed by Jan, who from her throne managed to get us to join in, at one point - during her second story - making us imitate a creaky door! Clare had a couple of Irish legends for us - and when Jordan took the stage (first time I'd heard him), I suddenly noticed something of Ben's style in the way he tells his stories. Now, has he been attending Ben's storytelling workshops..?

Stories were told, all of which concerned royalty, who rarely came out well from it. Greedy kings, presumptuous kings - a cruel princess, who met a grisly end! Not the Disney version. Clare got the best reaction of the night, when she passed a remark about having to live with the rules made by the people in power.. then threw a glance at the audience and quipped "I bet you know something about that!". The audience roared with laughter. Jordan scored a first for me, with a story about Montezuma. And in the Q+A at the end, fascinating questions were raised about the nature of power - and sovereignty - its definition, its necessity. As one man pointed out, someone has to take the tough decisions. As someone else remarked, what were we doing, telling stories about sovereigns in the week before an election?! Another excellent night from the CCC - and I do hope they continue with this idea of the Alternative Tarot, complete with Q+A. It's a winner.

Nearly froze on the walk home. And it was lucky I was passing a Tesco, because I'd gotten hungry again - unusually. Must be the cold. Tomorrow, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Three Sisters, at the National. Also signed up with Love London Arts, Theatre, Music & Stuff for this - the last time I tried to integrate the two, it didn't really work! It'll be interesting to see how it goes this time. I'll try to gravitate more towards them this time, as I missed them completely the last time. And then it's back to Ireland for the weekend, again.

I was thinking about film next week - but what was on outside of that appealed more. So, on Monday, I'm off to a London Docklands Christmas concert at The Space, as hosted by London European Club. Only recently advertised - they're lucky I was free!

Tuesday is our office Christmas party - we're at the Montague Ski Lodge, and only have it booked till 5; it'll be interesting to see how motivated they are to continue the evening, as we start at midday. I don't have high hopes. Lo, to tempt people into the office next day, they're serving breakfast! And as part of the Magic Breakfast initiative, for everyone who has breakfast at the office, they're donating a breakfast to a child in need. Aww.

Next Wednesday, back with UITCS for Cyrano de Bergerac, at the Playhouse. Stars James McAvoy.

On the 12th and 13th, Meetup has given me ideas, which I'm using to do things outside of Meetup. On the 12th, London Social Detours is charging £3 to go to a talk about Oscar Wilde's London. I booked myself - for free - on Eventbrite; I don't find her group that friendly, to be honest, but the talk sounds interesting.

On the 13th, Ken's Walks and Social Events (and its sister group, London Art, Comedy & Walks) are on a Christmas lights tour. Now, after past experience with the walks organised by this group, I'll never darken their doors again. However, a Christmas lights walk sounded good - and I didn't get to one at all last year! So I had a browse - and came up with a pay-what-you-want walk by Free Tours by Foot London. Starts in Covent Garden - and the handy thing is, we're to clear our stuff out of our old office that day, and hand in our passes before the receptionist goes home. Which means we have been told to finish at 4! Excellent - that gives me loads of time. Ivan is coming to this one - which means it'll probably be a late night.

On the 14th, headed with UITCS to the Orange Tree, for Candida, by Shaw. Unless I get sidetracked.

On the 15th, my last visit of the year to the CCC - Emily Hennessy is telling the Ramayana at the British Museum. Oh, and I'd completely forgotten that was on when I booked with NLF for a carol concert at St. James' Muswell Hill, followed by drinks at the John Baird. Sounds lovely - but I doubt I'll make both. We shall see. Then I fly back to Ireland for Christmas on the 16th.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

..and I'm off again next month, flying back to London on the 5th. On the 6th of next month, I shall start as I mean to go on, with UITCS at the Almeida for the Duchess of Malfi.

On the 7th of next month, I'm off to the Opera House, for the Royal Ballet's production of Coppélia - one I've never seen.

And on the 8th of next month, the RSC's production of Measure for Measure, at the Barbican. Set in decadent 1900s Vienna.

Play: A Day in the Death of Joe Egg

Tonight, the first night in six weeks with North London Friends (NLF)! We were at A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, at Trafalgar Studios. Last Meetup of the month, for me. Actually, this was also my first play in 10 days.. felt weird, being away from it so long!

Well, today was one of those rare days when I got on top of things, and wasn't delayed. I can't say the same for my bus, however - fortunately, I had an alternative, and made it to the theatre at around the time we were due to meet. In the lobby, I collected my ticket, then joined them - beside the desk where the lady was standing, her arm permanently raised and brandishing programmes for purchase. Poor girl's hand must have gone numb..

They'd booked seats together, but I hadn't been in time for that, and ended up in the same row, but on the other side of the stairs. I was at the end of the row - luckily, because the large ladies in my row took up so much space that the one beside me ended up sitting half on my seat, so I was forced half into the aisle! Which was fine, except there's a hard edge to the seat. I'm not sure she even understood the concept of trying not to sit on someone else's seat! Perhaps she's never been able to fit into a regular size seat.. by the end, it was a relief to stand. I was in Row A, but that's second from the front in this production.

The play was written and set in 1960 - and you'll realise that eventually, what with the reference to rationing (when they were younger), the outfits - and the very outspoken script. They hadn't invented Political Correctness yet, you see. Which makes this a refreshingly honest play. In fact, the play opens with the lead actor in full teacher mode, telling his class - aka the audience - to pipe down, in no uncertain terms! They're not allowed to treat students like that any more.. worked well on the audience, though!

The story centres on him and his wife, struggling in their marriage while they try to care as best they can for their "spastic" teenage daughter. And while I don't usually advocate buying programmes, this one might be worth it - one of our group did, and from it we learned that the play is semi-autobiographical, the playwright (who died earlier this year) having had a disabled daughter himself. Apparently, it wasn't performed for a long time, between the 60s and the current century. It's had something of a revival since.

It's a revelation. Everybody knows that it's difficult to care for someone who doesn't have the normal capacity to do things for themselves - and this play doesn't shy away from that at all, with the daughter being played by someone who really is confined to a wheelchair. There's real tragedy here - and remember that, back in the day, there wasn't the same technology, either to treat some conditions, or to deal with the day-to-day practicalities of living with them. The second half contains some truly shocking and sad moments.

..And the play is mostly great fun! Toby Stephens is hilarious as the husband, pushed to breaking point by trying to care for a daughter that can't even communicate. His wife, Claire Skinner, does a perfect job of playing the woman who treats him as - as he puts it - one of the zoo, because she loves everything: animals, their daughter, him - equally. He has to take his turn. He deals with it by cracking jokes - constantly; you can see how he might be accused of being childish and insensitive. Patricia Hodge has one terrific scene as his mother, sparking off her daughter-in-law, who accuses her of spoiling him.

They collect for charity at the end. Runs till Saturday - highly recommended. And I'm delighted they revived it. Catching the bus home after - from the same stop as last night - I noted that, yet again, a Co-Op lorry was parked at the stop. I guess that's a perpetual problem, with a Co-Op right alongside. Another recurring problem, as the bus squeezed down Old Broad Street, half closed with roadworks for weeks now, was the MPV parked to the side - a taxi, of course - which had to move before we could be on our way.

Tomorrow, our ex-company's social group's Christmas meeting. We had a tiff about the venue - the organiser decided on Thai Square, which I think is overpriced and underwhelming. So he started to grumble about the difficulty of getting somewhere before Christmas - which will take a group, and doesn't cost the earth. Still though, he came up with an alternative - we've decided on the Warwick Castle pub in Little Venice. Lovely area, the pub sounds nice - with a Christmassy open fire, and a room we can book - and hey, it's a pub, which won't throw us out as quickly! They have a wine deal.. 10% off if you order at least £150 worth. And gee, he's had us choosing what we want off the menu. I also asked for the wine list - asked for suggestions from the group, but as no-one could be bothered getting back to me, sod it, I couldn't be bothered ordering so much wine for people that don't want to decide whether they want wine at all. A "whine about wine", as someone described it.

On Friday, potentially having Christmas drinks with an old friend who's very hard to pin down! We'll figure it out. Hopefully.

On Saturday, I'm headed to the Tutankhamun exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery. They have half hourly time slots for entry throughout the day, and have been sending repeated emails warning not to arrive before the scheduled time on the ticket, because of overcrowding! I booked a nice late one, at 6pm.

On Sunday, I arranged to have lunch with Helen - she's squeezing in a trip to London before the infamous strikes start, next day! We arranged to eat at Bistro1, and booked a table. Now, when I went to book, they advertised a Groupon voucher for a meal for two - great, except when I phoned, I was told it wasn't valid in December! Never said anything about that on the voucher. So I've got a refund on the voucher, and they said they'd inform the restaurant that it was no longer valid. Meantime, poor Ivan is out of town this week for work and missing all the fun - and so, the other day, on the train back from a stay with the family, he floated the idea of an all-day social, some weekend. Starting Sunday. I explained to him that I was seeing Helen on Sunday - "Bring her!" sez he. Helen was ok with them joining us, so now he and another are joining us for lunch on Sunday. The start of a fun day, methinks.

On Monday, ironically, I'm on another Groupon deal - this one seems to be valid, though. I'm headed to & Juliet, a very non-Shakespearian take on the classic heroine, including a pop soundtrack, with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS). Running at Shaftesbury Theatre.

On Tuesday, back with NLF for Fairview, at the Young Vic.

Next Wednesday, back with the Crick Crack Club for a night I'm really looking forward to - Ben Haggarty and Jan Blake again, combined with my favourite, Clare Murphy, and Jordan Campbell, will treat us to a night on the theme Sovereign, at Rich Mix. It's the last in their series called the "alternative tarot", where four storytellers take turns to expand on variations on an archetypal theme, and hold a Q+A after. And I do hope Ivan can make this, because he's a great fan of Jan's, and I do think this is right up his alley.

On the 5th, back with UITCS for Three Sisters, at the National. Also signed up with Love London Arts, Theatre, Music & Stuff for this - the last time I tried to integrate the two, it didn't really work! It'll be interesting to see how it goes this time. I'll try to gravitate more towards them this time, as I missed them completely the last time. And then it's back to Ireland for the weekend, again.