Plays: Duet for One & The Shroud of Charon

Last night, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) at the Orange Tree - first time in an age - for Duet for One, starring Tara Fitzgerald. There was talk of meeting for food beforehand - but it was going to take me almost an hour to get there, and with a pointless, late work meeting, I was unlikely to make it in time for dinner. We would see.

As it happened, nobody had anything to say in that meeting! It was hardly started when it finished - whereupon I legged it, leaving my computer on, with something playing to stop it sleeping, in case anybody checked. And off I went. This far out, it had to be Tube - I went with the Victoria Line first, where I got on at the end and got a seat, and then the District Line, where I got a seat after one stop. En route, I was in contact with the lady that suggested dinner (the Tube goes overground for part of the way, so I got signal) - she thought Diba, a Persian restaurant, would be good, so I headed there, arriving a bit before she did.

I got a table with no trouble, just inside the window, and when she arrived she joined me. Service was friendly. We both had white wine (pinot grigio), but I had trouble choosing from a lot of similar-sounding dishes! Finally picked one - the salad wasn't to my liking, but the meat and rice were good. Might have gone for a dessert, but we were tight for time - in fact, we just made it back to the theatre in time for a quick hello to the group before we had to go in.

My first time upstairs, here! and I can recommend it. In fact, if you end up doing the same, do what I did and take a seat in one of the corners - there are only three seats in each of these, so you'll probably not have to stand to let anyone in. There's plenty of space - and the view is excellent!

So, Tara Fitzgerald plays a world-class concert violinist, who has just developed MS. A terrible, progressive neurological illness, it strikes quite randomly, rendering her unable to use various muscles, for a greater or lesser extent of time. And as time wears on, the prognosis is worse and worse. Worst for her, of course, is that she can no longer depend on her ability to play the violin, so has to give up her career. Her husband, a successful composer, urges her to seek psychiatric help - they can afford a private psychiatrist, and the sessions form the basis of this play.

The stage revolves slowly during each scene - an excellent idea, as it's almost the only movement in a play that mostly consists of two women, sat in chairs across from each other, talking to each other. So, it gives us something to look at, as well as allowing everyone to get a view, during each session, of each woman's face. I must also compliment Tara Fitzgerald's falling ability - a few times, she demonstrates the effects of her MS by falling to the ground as, apparently, her knee gives way. Excellently performed. Oh, and I liked her outfits - she changes for each session, unlike the psychiatrist. I guess that's meant to convey that the psychiatrist is too busy to be worried about such things - or that she's constant and unwavering, unlike her volatile patient, whose clothes can give an indication of her mood..

Hmm. You can tell, if I'm focusing on the outfits, that there's probably something lacking in the play. Indeed - I think we all had problems with the psychiatrist, who, for one thing, seemed to lead her patient all the time: for example, chucking accusations at her along the lines of that she secretly wanted children. Indeed, at one point, where her patient is being particularly frustrating, she yells at her. Protractedly. Now, I used to teach, and I can tell you, you'd be fired for that - I presume psychiatrists would be, too. But anyway.

At the interval, we all wondered how this was going to pan out - to be fair, it was ok. I won't give the ending away, but it wasn't terrible. Still, it didn't do much to make me a fan of psychiatry - or, in particular, of antidepressants, although I do know people who have benefitted from both. I guess the moral of the story is, don't live in denial - see your psychiatrist..

Anyway, it is a decent play - runs till the 18th of next month, if you're interested. And my, it was lovely to be with a friendly group again - when Meetup runs right, it's a wonderful thing! Now, it ran too late last night to blog - and indeed I didn't have time today.. I've booked lots more, finally. Details further down.

Tonight, my first event with The Hideout: Horror Sci-Fi Club London, who were at The Drayton Arms for a play, The Shroud of Charon - part of the pub's Lovecraft Festival! So, similar travel route to last night - just didn't take as long. Tube again - this time, Piccadilly Line straight to Gloucester Road. Walked the rest of the way - and I swear, every time I wanted to cross a road, there was a car on it, ready to run me over. What, were they stalking me?

At the pub, there was some fun - there didn't seem to be a booking under the name as quoted on the event page. They mused whether it could be under this, similar, name, with a booking for the same time - I ordered a glass of wine, and went over to enquire of the blokes sitting there whether they were, indeed, the ones I was looking for. Lo, they were! and a convivial hour or so of chatting followed. Indeed, someone showed up that I knew from The Horror Book Club.. well, it's a small city. :-)

When it came time, we went up - I was in the front row, and armed with a (medicinal) glass of wine and some Strepsils - I have a niggling cough, and the front row in a small theatre space is not the place to display it. The play only lasted an hour or so - three characters: the main character, Arthur, a student of dark matters: his friend, Henry, who had procured for him a mysterious ancient Egyptian box: and a mysterious young woman, who made her appearance later on.

Now, this seems to be an original play, based on Lovecraftian ideas - fair play to them, they've done the theme justice, and the ending - where our intrepid student unfortunately finds what he's after - was a decently horrific experience, as he began to realise that maybe he shouldn't have followed this line of discovery.. Very nicely done, lovely acting, and an excellent premise. Unfortunately, if you were planning on seeing it, it finished tonight. But it's great to see this kind of inventiveness!

Right, now. Tomorrow, I planned on seeing a film - hence the delay, I was waiting for those ever-delayed listings. Delighted to report that tomorrow's film is turning out (finally!) to be Tár,  in which Cate Blanchett is Oscar-nominated for her part as a driven, genius classical conductor. Looks nice and tense - no longer showing in Ireland, and is mostly showing in the daytime in London! Finsbury Park Picturehouse is the closest venue to me that's showing it in the evening. It'll be a relief to tick it off at last.

The weekend is all about London Herstory Guided Walks, the walks from a female perspective, as guided by Mandy Morrow. On Saturday, it's Women of Mayfair from Monarchs to Mistresses & More.

On Sunday, a new walk for her - Bloody Brilliant Bermondsey Women. Oh, and if you sign up to her newsletter, you get the next walk half price! I saw that offer in time for this walk.

On Monday, thinking film again - and what's coming up looks really interesting. Continuing on a women's theme, Women Talking is, apparently, based on real-life events in a Mennonite community, where women were being drugged, and sexually assaulted as they slept. Some ended up injured, some pregnant, some with STDs. The film is based on a book, imagining the women's response - in a community that doesn't even teach its women to read and write, the women mobilise to form a response to a group of uncaring elders, whose dictat is that they must forgive their attackers, or forfeit their place in heaven. Stars Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Ben Whishaw, and Frances McDormand - against type, as has been mentioned - as an older woman who does not support the younger women's rebellion against staying quiet. Closest showing to me is in the Everyman King's Cross.

On Tuesday, back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group, for an English Concert of Bach, at Wigmore Hall. Lovely, it's ages since I heard Bach..

On Wednesday, it's film again - this one is a BFI presentation of Joyland, an Indian film about a young man who joins a burlesque show, and becomes infatuated with the trans lady who runs it. I'm normally suspicious about Indian film, having had some bad experiences - but this trailer looks excellent, so I'll risk it. Showing in the Vue Islington - which I've booked, for once, as they now have theatre-style seat pricing, different seats in different locations at different prices!

Next Thursday, back with TAC for Feel More X Lately, showing at the Lion and Unicorn. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

There follows a mostly UITCS week. On the 27th, back with them for Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, at the Harold Pinter Theatre. This is a rom-com about a couple living in a dystopian state, which limits the number of characters they can speak. Lots of body language then, I guess! Frankly, I was delighted to see that, by the time I booked, the Balcony was sold out - the legroom there is woeful, and good luck to those who've booked up there. The cheapest price bracket left when I booked included some in the Dress Circle - and thanks to Seatplan, I seem to have identified a decent seat among them. Watch this space.. cheapest tickets from the official site, but I booked with From the Box Office, which had tickets at the same price, but without the booking fee.

On the 28th, my one non-UITCS day that week - back with Over 40 Living the Life, for a dinner at Greenwich Yacht Club. Ooh la la..

On the 1st, back with UITCS at the Arcola for Afghanistan is Not Funny, the true story of a British comedian and photographer in war-torn Afghanistan.

On the 2nd, with them again at the Peacock (think I can walk to that!) for Bat Out of Hell, a musical based on the music of Meat Loaf. Awesome - just a pity it isn't one of the singalong nights..

On the 3rd, ending a run of UITCS with Lucrezia Borgia, by the English Touring Opera Company, at the Hackney Empire.

On the 4th, back cat-herding - Ivan has suggested that whole day (and I must confirm with him, as with everyone) for, well, a lot of drinking. And food - he wants to go back to O' Neill's. The trick, as usual, is going to be pinning everyone down in time to book - they don't take bookings within two days of the required date.

On the 5th, back with Discover London at last - she does excellent walks, but sometimes they clash, and sometimes they sell out before I get to them! This one is Discover Historic Chelsea: From Quaint to Quant - 1660s to 1960s.

On the 6th, back with - you guessed it - UITCS, for Romeo and Julie, at the Dorfman.

On the 7th - not so much appeals on Meetup. Free Stuff and Free Events does have Free Community Singing with Ros Hone and the Global Fusion Sound Singers, which you can attend on Zoom, or in person at Fossdene School Community Hall. Which sounds just fine - except that this is the sort of thing I keep cancelling! So I'm not confirming until nearer the time.

On the 8th - back with the Crick Crack Club, woohoo! for Goddesses in the Garden, at the Chelsea Physic Garden. Features my favourite, Clare Murphy, along with Sarah Liisa Wilkinson, Laura Sampson, and Xanthe Gresham.

On the 9th, my final booking - for now - with UITCS, for Brilliant Jerks at Southwark Playhouse. And wouldn't you know it, I still had credit on my Pay as you Go subscription, so got it for free! And then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.

Play: Arms and the Man

This evening (unusually, it's usually Thursday), I was supposed to be back with Watkin's Bookshop for a book launch. This was Fifty Forgotten Books by R. B. Russell. Occult theme, as usual. But this afternoon, sadly, I got an email to say it was cancelled. Well, I still had to watch Arms and the Man, showing at the Orange Tree - they have been streaming performances all this week, and I booked a ticket. I had to get it watched by midnight tonight, so it wasn't really feasible to go to anything else.. the book launch would have been early, you see!

Dinner first in The Lucas Arms - it looked pretty full, but I spied a table in the corner, and grabbed it before anyone else could, leaving my coat there as collateral. Unfortunately, I hit the bar at exactly the wrong time - right behind a group of ladies with what must have been a complicated order, he took so long to fill it! In fact, there was a long queue in front of me - must have been a quarter of an hour before I got my order in and returned to my table, glass in hand. Well, I was exceedingly well fed - and could practice my Spanish by eavesdropping on the couple beside me, who were trying to translate the menu. I would have recommended the pie - but he went for the fish n chips. Traditionally British, I guess - or traditionally Christian perhaps, no meat on Fridays..

Bought a bottle of wine, and so back home and settled down to the play - which is on-demand, all live performances having ended by now. And I am so glad I watched it! Also glad, of course, that I didn't have to traipse all the way to the theatre.

Nice and snug, this venue - one where you need to watch where you put your feet. And I was intrigued, in one scene, to see one of the actors backing up - carefully, as he was inches away from sitting in people's laps!

So, this is George Bernard Shaw being satirical about war. In a delightfully overacted comedy, we see the snooty upper classes completely bamboozled by the pragmatic working classes - a favourite theme of Shaw's. The ridiculous and impossibly earnest young major is entranced by the cunning serving girl, while his fiancée (her mistress) has her entire world view turned upside-down by a jobbing Swiss soldier, who - appropriately - carries chocolate instead of ammunition, and can tell you to the minute what time he'll return on Monday. They're all charming characters, and it's an utterly charming piece! (And has made me nostalgic for Switzerland.) Do check it out, if you get a chance.

Tomorrow, back at King's Place - this time it's the Crick Crack Club, with Stories in the Dark. Told in darkness, by the sound of it - sounds divine! Got a warning email yesterday - they'll be giving each of us an LED candle on the way in, which we turn on if we need to leave for any reason (no readmittance, of course). An usher will show us in, and out if we need to leave early. And yes, as they say - turn off your phone before you go in..

On Sunday, back with Cultureseekers for the Hieroglyphs: Unlocking Ancient Egypt exhibition at the British Museum. Assuming it's not curtailed due to transport strikes - there is a warning on the museum website that galleries might have to close early!

On Monday, I've finally booked for Best of Enemies at the Noel Coward Theatre. This play concerns a series of debates on US television between liberal writer Gore Vidal and conservative William F. Buckley in 1968 - the interesting twist here, given the time and place we're talking about, is to cast William Buckley as black! Had my own seat review on Seatplan to guide me in picking a seat - this is one of those restricted view/legroom theatres. And despite all the theatre offers flooding my inbox, I found the cheapest tickets for this on the official website! Mind you, what with See Tickets doing the selling, I found myself with a second, unexplained, booking fee..

For the next week or so, it's all Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS)! On Tuesday, for some reason, I hadn't seen their advertised event to see Orlando, based on the book by Virginia Woolf, and showing at the Garrick. For this, however, I found the cheapest tickets from Official London Theatre (OLT).

On Wednesday, we're off to see John Bishop at the Leicester Square Theatre. Love him, so I booked as soon as I saw this advertised - one of the few things for this month that I booked last month! Not that it seems to be selling out..

On Thursday, we're off to The Vaults Festival - specifically, The Welsh Lxdies, a bilingual show about the women of Wales. Then back to Ireland for the weekend again.

On the 30th, we're heading to Noises Off, starring Felicity Kendal, at the Phoenix. Again, cheapest tickets from OLT.

On the 31st, with a group I haven't joined in a Very Long Time - I'm back with London Dramatic Art, from whom I've got a front-row ticket for Sylvia, at The Old Vic; this is the story of Sylvia Pankhurst, and stars the excellent Beverley Knight. Completely sold out - this was my only way to get a ticket!

On the 1st, back with the Horror Book Club - Lordy, that means I need to read a book! :-) I'm using my flights for that. This time, it's The Ballad of Black Tom, based on the Lovecraft story, The Horror at Red Hook, but told from the perspective of a black man. Which means I should really read that, too.. Nice, I'd like to get back to some Lovecraft! I've read the summary of that, and am a decent way through the book club's book. Again, it's in the Prince of Wales, Covent Garden. Question is, will the kitchen be open..?

On the 2nd, I'm on my own for My Son's a Queer (but what can you do?), a musical at the Ambassadors Theatre.

On the 3rd, my first meeting of the year with London Classical Music and Theatre Group! We're off to Wigmore Hall, to listen to the Hagen Quartet play Mozart. They're Austrian, so that's appropriate.. I just need to remember not to drink the ultra-expensive sauvignon blanc!

On the 4th, well, Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners are back to Greenwich again. Now, I have been there with him before.. not sure how "new" this one will be, but hey, it was a great day last time!

On the 5th, nothing on Meetup appeals massively at the moment - I might go for a walk along the Ken's Events route, if I feel like it! (on my own). Or Over 40 Living the Life has advertised a walk along the New River.. I'll have to see, as I have to pay to sign up (refunds given to those who then come). And I might well change my mind..

On the 6th, my first actual event with that group. We're off to How Not to Drown at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East - the first event of theirs for which I couldn't get a cheaper ticket! So I decided, if I couldn't beat them, I might as well join them. True story of an unaccompanied, 11-year-old asylum seeker.

On the 7th, excited to be headed to see Derren Brown in Showman, at the Apollo Shaftesbury Avenue. Cheapest tickets with OLT again.

On the 8th, off to The Lehman Trilogy, at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. Based on the true story of the bank that collapsed. Got the last £39.50 ticket!

On the 9th, back with UITCS for Winner's Curse, at the Park Theatre - an interactive show about a peace negotiation. Turns out North London Friends are headed to it the same night - what, are they now copying this group, as another group did some time ago? (since closed down). And then I'm back to Ireland again.

And on the 13th, I'm headed to Allegiance, starring George Takei in a musical based on the true story of his time in an American internment camp during the Second World War. Showing at the Charing Cross Theatre.

Play: The Misfortune of the English

Today, I had another flat viewing scheduled - with no word about the last one, I thought I'd better attend. It is slightly closer to the office, you never know, it might have suited better. But, before going to bed last night, I had a closer look at the ad - well heavens, if I hadn't been looking at the wrong room! It turns out that there were two rooms with balcony to rent, only one of which was still available. And that one is far too small. So, the search continues - at least I saved myself the trip all the way out there!

For the evening, I was without anything in particular to do for a while - unusually for a Wednesday! Of course, Meetup annoyingly doesn't always show everything running on a particular day - not even for your own groups. So it was only last week that it reminded me that Up in the Cheap Seats had an event on! They were going to see The Misfortune of the English, at the Orange Tree, and I got the last cheap ticket in the front row. It's based on the true story of a group of English schoolboys who arrived in Nazi Germany in 1936 to go on a walking tour in the Black Forest - just as a blizzard kicked in. And it'd be lovely to see some folks I hadn't seen in ages! My only social event of the week, too. Delighted I caught this.

Oh, what a long way it is to Richmond though.. shan't be as long if I'm ever successful in getting a place near the office! The only way of getting there in under an hour involved train, so I decided, of the multitude of ways I could get there, to get the next bus to Waterloo and get the train from there. And that is what I did. Mind you, when I got to Waterloo, I was distressed that there wasn't a train to Richmond for 15 minutes or so - but as I schlepped all the way practically to the last platform, I was to appreciate that delay. And I got to Richmond with nearly half an hour to spare. Not enough for a proper meal, but then I saw a KFC and said, well, under the circumstances..

They were busy, but mostly with takeaways - so there was plenty of seating, handily. I ordered at one of the machines - was supposed to get a receipt, but didn't; good job I remembered my order number. Not that they asked for a receipt, or the order number. I had to queue for it for quite a while though - particularly slow, this KFC. But they are better than the one on Bishopsgate! (wouldn't be hard). That one was tasteless and stodgy, the last time I was there - at least the chicken tasted nice here. Although, what has happened to the "special recipe", I don't know - I haven't tasted it in a long time. I suppose they've given up on it. No longer finger-lickin' good.. but I was fed. And the beans were lovely, as always.

And so to the theatre, where my ticket was scanned at the door. Handily, they sent me a link to it today! Love it when that happens. I ordered a drink at the bar - funnily enough, yesterday we all got confusing emails from them, saying first that we had to pre-order drinks online, then that it was an option! Our organiser had clarified with them that the instruction to pre-order was an old one, from during the pandemic, and that we could certainly order in person! There was a choice of house wine or canned - I chose house, and joined the others at the table at the end, where we had a great time swapping stories about plays we'd seen, or were planning to.

The warning sign in the middle is, appropriately, in German. And I never noticed throughout, but it is placed there for a reason - the same reason that people actually don't walk across the middle of the stage during the play, which is probably why the stagehand is there in this photo, to stop people crossing the centre. It's actually a trapdoor! for use at the latter stages of the play, which runs for 90 minutes without interval.

Opinion was mixed in our group afterwards, but I liked it. I thought the three actors depicted schoolboys quite well, one in short trousers because he hadn't yet turned 14. They made great eye contact with us all, scattered around the theatre as we were. And it's quite a poignant story, apart from anything else, about how an idiotic teacher led the group off the beaten track to climb a mountain en route, without adequate clothing or even a decent map! and ignoring the locals' warnings about wintry weather blowing in. (He was later exonerated, the German authorities wanting to maintain, at that point, good relations with the British.)

However, most of the play isn't really about that - it deals a lot with the boys' attitude, and I suppose is meant to depict the British attitude of the time. They're old enough to be aware of current affairs, and some politics creep in. Mainly though, it seems to focus on their gung-ho attitude to what is happening to them - until it's too late. As for the particulars of the story, the gradual decline in their situation is very well depicted, with fog and snow blasting in from the side, and the boys looking sick and miserable. Most evocative. But the sad ending is told in a strange, dreamlike sequence, where a lady comes on, dressed like the MC in a cabaret, with a model of the mountain, which is raised through the trapdoor. (I was just sad I wasn't on the side with the village on it!) She it is who tells us what happened, then and after. And then, um, it kind of stops dead. Most abrupt ending.

I think perhaps the playwright was trying to do something quite profound, but didn't quite pull it off. But it is interesting. Runs until the 28th of next month. Anyway, it was great to see everyone! And I got the Tube most of the way home, with the luxury of a bus for one stop, just because that was the only way I'd get back in under an hour.

Tomorrow, back to Riverside Studios, for a rescheduled concert. Liza Pulman - The Heart of It was supposed to happen over lockdown. She'll be singing popular show songs. And at least, after yesterday, I know where I'm going, now! Well, as far as the main door anyway! Shall still probably have to ask directions to the concert venue..

Then back to Ireland for the weekend. Yes, almost every weekend this month - it just worked out that way. I'd normally have been in London last weekend you see, except for staying in Ireland to see my friend. And this trip for the upcoming weekend was already booked when that was organised. Now, it's a long weekend, so I have an extra day there - can see two films! The Arc Cinema now being the cheapest around, I'm concentrating on that - there isn't anything special showing in Limerick anyway. Higher rated is The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, a comedy where the versatile Nicholas Cage plays a version of himself, apparently sending up his iconic characters. I'll have to see how many I recognise - I'm not the most dedicated follower of his work! So, thinking of that for Saturday.

And for Sunday, it's looking like Downton Abbey: A New Era. Like the tv series, the films focus on an aristocratic English family: Dame Maggie Smith as the dowager Countess, Hugh Bonneville as the Earl, Brendan Coyle as his valet, Laura Carmichael as one of his daughters, Jim Carter as the butler, Penelope Wilton as a cousin, and friend of the dowager Countess, whose son is heir to the earldom, as the Earl and Countess have no sons. I was never a fan of the tv series, and didn't see the first film, but hey, it should be watchable. Apparently, in this one, a film crew arrives at the stately home - the real-life Highclere Castle.

Back then on Monday, and on Tuesday, a revamped version of Oklahoma at the Young Vic!

Next Wednesday (Star Wars Day - May the fourth be with you), I'm at last back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners! Ah, it's been too long.. someone suggested that I skip off work for a couple of hours during the day to go on the walks, but seriously, every time I checked when his walks were, I had a meeting that clashed! So, not an option. Anyway, this is the Cool Camden Pub Walk! It was actually rescheduled - was originally supposed to happen tonight, which was why I was left for a while with nothing to do tonight. Unfortunately, next Wednesday, it clashes with a couple of other things - a Civilised London (CL) meal I was actually booked on (happily, he gave me a refund of my deposit), and leaving drinks for my favourite ex-boss from my last company. Tarnation. Well, can't be helped - this is a pub tour I really want to go on. I was originally booked for an online talk that night - Fight Them on the Beaches is a talk about the greatest speeches in parliament. Courtesy of Guided Walking Tours in Brighton and Sussex. But they record the talks, so I can catch it afterwards. True, isn't it - everything happens on Wednesdays!

On the 5th, I'm off to Scandaltown, at the Lyric. Yet another play by the prolific Mike Bartlett, this is a revamped Restoration comedy, set in modern-day, debauched London. As always, love his stuff and am really looking forward to this. But wouldn't you know it, now CT has tickets.. ah well..

Just as well I had the 6th free when another ex-boss, Ivan, asked when we could do drinks again! He also suggested we try to find somewhere quieter than the last place - not an easy ask, for a central venue on a Friday night. Ah, but I have contacts.. the organiser of CL once recommended to me a pub just off Charing Cross Road, which he knows as quieter than the usual - I couldn't remember the name, but he reminded me it's the Round Table. I'd have booked, but they seem not to take bookings on Friday evenings. Our ex-colleague is coming, and for the first time, my aforementioned ex-boss from my last company! Should be cool.

On the 7th, back with Laurence and the 45+s - this time, it's a walk called Red Lights, Rabble Rousers & RocknRollers, around Soho. And Helen is coming up for it! So, a highly sociable week!

And on the 8th, back with the Crick Crack Club. This is The Origins of Life and Death, with Jan Blake, at the British Museum, which I missed in January. Limited availability at time of writing, as they have socially distanced seating.

Christmas Lights Tour & Play: Candida

Yesterday, Ken's Walks and Social Events (and its sister group, London Art, Comedy & Walks) were 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. Ivan decided to come to this one.

With our office move, we were supposed to leave work by 4 - but that was because our receptionist wanted to give us our new passes, and wanted everyone to get them before she left for the day. Except they never arrived - so, change of plan: we show up to the new building with our old passes as ID on Monday! Doh. Anyway, for yesterday, this meant there wasn't such pressure to be out of the office - but when the packers arrived and started to size up the goods around me, I decided it was time to leave. Just as well - I had to take my laptop home and get cash en route, then schlep off to Covent Garden. Even without eating, I barely got there in time!

We sure got great directions - opposite the Tube station, at the junction of Long Acre & Neal Street, where there are three trees. Mind you, the best indicator of all was the top hat our guide wore, which was festooned with lit fairy lights. As was the thick, tinsel necklace he wore. (We'd also been sent a picture of these things.) And as the crowd grew and grew around us (Fridays are busy, of course), he ticked off names in his notebook. Unfortunately, Ivan got sidetracked with work, and though I said he could join at any point (it being pay-what-you-want), he said he'd just meet me for drinks at the end. With these numbers, it didn't matter - lots of +1s cancelled, we still had plenty.

Our guide - an out-of-work Irish actor, as he explained - was hilarious throughout, with a touch of Jim Carrey about him. First stop was back to Covent Garden, which I'd passed through on the way - I'd never known there was a miniature ice rink there, sponsored by Tiffany's! But we were headed for our first stop - a stall where you could buy mulled wine or cider. With the huge queue that formed, no wonder she gave him a hug and kiss! and let him steal a gingerbread man and a brownie as he went on his way, having regaled us with tales about the origins of Christmas, as illustrated on the tablet he carried with him. (Very nice mulled wine, too.)

Our passage of the piazza - where he tried to make a stop, to chat about the enormous tree - was foiled by a nearby busker (and a laugh-inducing reaction from our guide), so he took us somewhere quieter before leaving Covent Garden for nearby streets.

Some of these streets I've seen on previous tours, but Carnaby Street always does something different. And he had plenty of interesting stories for us - for instance, he made an intriguing claim that George IV's portraits were doctored, giving him larger shoulders than he had, to balance his enormous girth. Pity that made his head look so small..

Our second stop was in the Bavarian Market, which I was delighted about - he gave us nearly 15 minutes to wander around, which gave me a welcome opportunity to grab something to eat. Same organisers as Winter Wonderland, but on a much smaller scale. Caveat: if you buy alcohol on the premises, you can't take it out of the market - you must drink it there. There are bag checks.

At several points on the walk, he ran across people he knew, who greeted him with a friendly high-five - a nice touch. A useful part of the trip was a shortcut through Kingly Court - gee, I never knew this centre for restaurants was here! And naturally enough, we finished up with the spectacular decorations of Mayfair - they mightn't change, but they are gorgeous.

He passed the hat around at the end, and I was delighted to give him £20, more than I ordinarily pay for a guided walk. But then, he had an impressive number of stories I hadn't heard before, and was consistently entertaining. Mind you, the "suggested amount" in the email, where it's mentioned that others charge £35 a head, is having a laugh - nobody charges anything like that: and with the number of walks I've been on, I should know!

It started to rain just as the walk was coming to an end - Ivan had taken the precaution of standing under a canopy outside the Hard Rock Cafe. He explained to me that a couple of his friends were having drinks, and had invited him - or we could stay local, just the two of us. Well, I said, why not join them? Everywhere around there would be jammed anyway. So we ended up getting the Tube to Arsenal, and schlepping through the rain to the Bank of Friendship. Unusual name - and unusually late opening! Still, not late enough for us - we ended up round at their place, with Ivan and his musical mate jamming until the sun came up. Lovely, hospitable people - would be delighted to see them again.

Got the bus home - mercifully, it was a gentler journey than the last time I took a bus after drinking too much! So, I got to bed at about 10am today.. Slept till 5: so much for my grand plan of getting anything done today! This evening, I was headed with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) to the Orange Tree, for Candida, by Shaw.

Now, the last couple of times I've been out here, I've had to take the train - which is much more expensive than Tube. So, Tube was what I determined to use today. Unfortunately, it'd have taken too long to take it all the way from Liverpool Street, which is closest to me - instead, I walked to Monument to take it from there. And wouldn't you know it - the tunnel allowing access from the street was closed! probably because of flooding. I had to walk to Bank at street level, enter the station there, and walk all the way back underground! By now, I had a sinking feeling I was going to be late - should've taken the train.

It took so long for any District Line train to come that when one did, I took it - even though it had the wrong destination. Changed at Earls Court - and contrary to what the boards originally said, the information soon changed to show a Richmond train! Hallelujah - so, if I'd just let another couple of trains pass at Monument, I'd have got the right train next. And a seat - it was jammed. But I did get a seat after a couple of stops.

Finally arriving at the theatre, I found it locked. Boo. But as I descended the stairs again, someone came to the door to ask whether he could help. I explained that I'd bought a ticket, but was late - he showed me to the upstairs room, where I could watch the first half hour on a tv screen. There are West End venues that don't do that - the Old Vic, for instance! He pulled up a chair for me and everything. And after half an hour, as promised, he came to show me to an inconspicuous upstairs seat - I could take my own at the interval. Exceptional customer service!

So, this is a comedy about a young man, down on his luck, who comes to stay with an idealistic pastor and his wife - and falls for the wife, in a big way. As he and the husband clash over who would provide a better life for her, she takes them both by surprise with her decision as to which she'll choose - mainly because of her reasoning!

I have to say, it makes a nice change to see a period piece, played in the period in which it's set, and more particularly in period costume! Nothing wrong with a modern conversion - Cyrano de Bergerac is a case in point - but it is refreshing to see something traditional, for a change. And while I didn't really feel that the humour had passed the test of time, it is an interesting study, well-played, of Shaw's interpretation of the nature of marriage at the time, and what each spouse represented to the other. Oh, and that young man is annoyingly earnest.. I couldn't have lasted very long in his company myself. Runs till the 18th of next month.

The Tube back afterwards was much simpler - and quicker to go all the way to Liverpool Street, at this late hour. But would you believe it, now I couldn't walk underground from Monument to Bank (!) and had to head over at street level. Which was now possible, if not convenient - there was a deluge as I did so. And the Central Line was packed, as usual - happily, I was only going one stop.

Tomorrow, 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 North London Friends for a carol concert at St. James' Muswell Hill, followed by drinks at the John Baird. Sounds lovely - but I wouldn't realistically make both, and I've cancelled. With such a huge group going, I doubt I'll be missed. So that makes tonight my last Meetup of the year - I fly back to Ireland for Christmas on Monday.

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, I will start as I mean to go on, with UITCS at the Almeida for the Duchess of Malfi.

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

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

Plays: The Mikvah Project & Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography

Tonight, I was at an Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) double bill at the Orange Tree! The Mikvah Project and Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography! (ahem..) Amusement ensued in the office, when I named the second play, but mixed up Megabyte and Gigabyte! Ah well..

Happily, my Tube came just as I arrived. The unfortunate thing about heading out earlier is that the Tube is so much more packed. It was Stamford Brook where I finally got a seat.. of course, we had the customary delay pulling into the terminus. So in the end, I was a little late joining the others. Never mind, they managed to score a table in the bar again, excellent! Not easy to do, as there are only two..

Well now, this was an evening of excellent plays, and much, eh, nudity. I wasn't expecting it in The Mikvah Project, really, but then it is set in a mikvah, which turns out to be a Jewish bathhouse. At the beginning, they lift panels from the floor to reveal a pool of water - but for quite a while, they don't go near it, and we did begin to wonder whether they would. It seems that traditional use of the mikvah does require nudity.. and sure enough, after a bit, off they go. In and out, clothes on and off, throughout the play. People wondered how one of them got his hair dry so quickly!

The story concerns a teenage boy, who unexpectedly falls for a grown man at the mikvah. Not what you'd call kosher. It's beautifully acted by the two participants, as we watch the uncertain teen batter away at the older man's defences - he's happily(?) married, trying for a baby.. unsure of his reaction to this presumptuous teen. He's played by Robert Neumark Jones, whom I'm sure I've seen in things before.

I thought it was an excellent play, and we all enjoyed it - it's funny, it's real, the characters are believable. Not to mention the odd flash of nudity! Finishes on Saturday, highly recommended. Sold out tonight, booking necessary. Oh, and the aforementioned Robert Neumark Jones hung out in the bar between shows, and was sat in the front row for the next one - his face much more animated than when he was performing!

After a nice break in the bar in between, we headed in again for the show with the more intriguing title of Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography, noting the mirrors positioned around the room, which hadn't been there before. Again a two-person show, this one features a man and a woman, and asks us to consider the perils of online dating. Of course, the main problem with it is that you don't usually get anything resembling reality - but the fantasy world of online dating isn't the only one explored, with nods to online porn (and unrealistic standards of physical attractiveness), as well as the travel channel, and cookery programs (tempting us to dreams we can never fulfil).

Both characters are fantasists, him obsessed with porn - and Italian cooking, her with shopping - and living on a Greek island. Getting them together is a recipe for disaster, and makes for a grim conclusion, as reality strikes, right at the end. A very downbeat play, still it's very well written and beautifully acted. And alternately hilarious and poignant.. also finishes on Saturday, also highly recommended. (Caveat: contains flashing lights.) Although, for my money, The Mikvah Project was more entertaining.

The long-promised rain finally materialised as we left the theatre - on the one day it wasn't predicted! Tomorrow, I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

On Monday, I booked for This is Black, Double Bill 1. But gee, Civilised London (CL) then advertised another night at Wilton's - featuring, on this occasion, the Lucky Dog Jazz Trio. Now, that'll be a blast! So I'm going to that, instead. And given Tuesday night's offering from This is Black, I'm so glad about that..! Not only that, but the organisers got in touch yesterday to explain that one of the plays for that program.. isn't actually audience-ready yet! (Amateur hour, I knew it.) Instead, they're organising a series of public readings, to gauge audience reactions. They invited people to get in touch if they wanted to change their bookings. Well now.. so I got in touch, and am getting a refund! Nice..

On Tuesday, back with Anthony's Cultural Events and Walking Activities Group - they're at a free outdoor concert in Canada Square Park, called the Magic of the Movies. Again, I'll be watching the weather.

Now, UITCS is 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 the next night! Last seat in the house, in fact.. love Matthew Bourne. This is now sold out completely for the run, apparently.

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

On the 16th, I'm back 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!

On the 17th, going to see The Doctor, with Juliet Stevenson, at the Almeida. Now, I'd originally booked for this for the 15th, 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 the 17th! 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 the 18th, going with CL to the Cartoon Museum - with optional dim sum afterwards. Yes please!

On the 19th, I'm finally going to see Evita, at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Never have seen it.

On the 20th, with the London European Club at the Globe - we're going to risk The Comedy of Errors.

And on the 21st, I'm seeing Showtune - an evening of Jerry Herman music - at the Union Theatre.

Play: Pilgrims

Tonight, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Pilgrims, at the Orange Tree Theatre. And for once, I left in time! Well, the late start time made that easier. Tube, of course, this far out - and interestingly, the next scheduled train was listed on the display as "see front of train" for destination.. what's interesting was that the next train had a blank display on the front! :-) It turned out not to be going to Richmond - but the one after was.

Happily, I didn't have a repeat of my last journey there, and the train did make it all the way. A short walk to the theatre, and I met the others in the bar - they'd managed to score a table in the corner! After a seemingly interminable queue to get a drink, I joined them for a pre-show chat. Now, this wasn't pre-show for all of them - a couple had been to the first show this evening, which they raved about; this is all part of a directors' festival, you see. All short plays. And it did sound interesting..

Anyway, in due course we all trooped in for ours. Staging for this is minimal - some blocks, a couple of wooden frames that look homemade. A lot of the play is spent rearranging these to represent different scenes. There are also a couple of rucksacks - one for each of our two lads, keen on mountaineering. They've been best pals for forever. But when this girl comes on the scene, trouble ensues..

So far, so predictable, eh? Yes, the writer of this play thinks so too. Prepare for a plot twist, as the writer decides to rewrite the classic love triangle trope, as well as the idea of the little woman that stays at home while the man goes off adventuring. The first scene does actually give you a lot of the plot, and as someone said, the play takes a long time to wind its way around to the conclusion - but I enjoyed the journey: and as they say, sometimes the purpose of the journey is not the destination. The characters are believable and likeable, the conversations quite natural, and I really enjoyed it. Some lovely singing, too. Runs for just over an hour - highly recommended. Selected times until the festival end, on Sunday.

It was lovely to see folks again, and have a chat. Tomorrow, I'm off to the Bunker..  they have a program of plays by black writers, called This is Black, and that day, I'm seeing Double Bill 2 (they run on alternate days).

On Wednesday, London Literary Walks has a walk called Moby Dick (ahoy!). It's around Greenland Dock.

On Thursday, I'm at a UITCS double bill at the Orange Tree! The Mikvah Project and Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography! (ahem..) Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

Next Monday, I booked for This is Black, Double Bill 1. But gee, Civilised London (CL) just advertised another night at Wilton's - featuring, on this occasion, the Lucky Dog Jazz Trio. Now, that'll be a blast! So I'm going to that, instead.

On the 13th, back with Anthony's Cultural Events and Walking Activities Group - they're at a free outdoor concert in Canada Square Park, called the Magic of the Movies. Again, I'll be watching the weather.

Now, UITCS is 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 the next night! Last seat in the house, in fact.. love Matthew Bourne.

On the 15th, back with The Embers Collective, who are performing Full Moon Stories at Cafe Cairo.

On the 16th, I'm back 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!

On the 17th, going to see The Doctor, with Juliet Stevenson, at the Almeida. Now, I'd originally booked for this for the 15th, 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 the 17th! 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 the 18th, going with CL to the Cartoon Museum - with optional dim sum afterwards. Yes please!

On the 19th, I'm finally going to see Evita, at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Never have seen it.

On the 20th, with the London European Club at the Globe - we're going to risk The Comedy of Errors.

And on the 21st, I'm seeing Showtune - an evening of Jerry Herman music - at the Union Theatre.