Evensong

For yesterday, I dug out something interesting on Meetup, from a new group to me - London Social & Cultural Meetups headed to evensong at the church of St. Bartholomew the Great. Gorgeous church, sounded great - unfortunately, their event was full. But I just said I'd check yesterday afternoon - and lo, they had a couple of spaces! (People do have a habit of dropping out at the last minute.) So I booked, and moseyed along to meet them.

Again, I could walk - was one of the first to arrive, and yay! found them to be a most sociable group of people, most of whom I'd never met before. I think most hadn't been here before, and we spent some time chatting - amongst ourselves, and also with the organiser about the church.

We then went in for a stroll around - caveat, they have regulations about tour groups, particularly on Sundays, and we kind of fell foul of the lady at the door - our organiser had checked in advance, but hadn't been told anything about these restrictions. Never mind, we seemed to reassure her that we were a respectable bunch, and in we went. With an admonition to be quiet - fair enough, the choir was practicing. Now, of course, I've been in here lots, so this was the end of my photo-taking, sorry. But check the other posts tagged with the church's name - the appearance hasn't changed since I took photos for them!

Anyway, it's a fascinating place, and we spent some time mooching around, including a brief trip back outside so our organiser could tell us a bit more about the history. Have to say, I'm really appreciating the handrails they've put in on the steps up to the graveyard. Anyway, we returned inside when it was time, positioning ourselves near the door for a quick getaway - most of us didn't want to stay for the service. Beautiful singing, stunning setting, with the candlelight throwing a warm light on the stonework. And you know, it's amazing how closely the Anglican service resembles the Catholic one, even in the rhythm of the words! (We also heard a bit of that.)

We left after a short while, creeping out as discreetly as we could. Ended up in The Rising Sun for a drink or two - and had a great old natter! I even got a possible lead on white mulled wine, from someone who claimed they sell in it the Southbank Christmas market.. hmm, this merits investigation. Wow, I needed this outing - delighted to have found another friendly group! Hope to have many more outings with them. Now, a couple of guys headed to a vegetarian Indian street market afterwards - naw, I fancied something different. The Lucas Arms was full on the way home, so I headed for O' Neill's - where downstairs was completely full, and I was lucky to get one of the last two tables upstairs! Looked like the NFL was showing.. Anyway, I was well-fed, as ever. It ran too late to blog, of course, given that I wanted to get up for work.

And that was my last non-scary thing this week. Ahh.. today, 'tis Hallowe'en.. yes, of course I have something for that. Do you remember me mentioning I was going to five Darkfield events this month? Eagle-eyed readers will have noticed I've reviewed four.. which leaves one. I'm going to the only one they're running tonight. Séance, appropriately, which, it seems, was their first ever show - I do have to go all the way up to Watford for it, but it should be worth it. I've booked the first showing of the evening, which is at 7.

Deliberately booked early, to try and squeeze something else in. Now, that only lasts 20 minutes - and it seems I can get down to Leicester Square within an hour. Which gives me time to get to Prey for the Devil, showing at Cineworld Leicester Square at 9pm. Another exorcism story, this one unusually seems to have the exorcism performed by a nun! (Very egalitarian.) She gets around the Church's rules about women not doing such a thing by claiming that the same demon that possessed her own mother is now inhabiting a patient at the facility where she works. So this nun is probably a target. Well, it's probably not high art, but it should do the trick..

Ah, but.. that blasted film list never now gets updated until the Friday - with the films due to show on the week starting that Friday! Poor you, if you wanted to go to a film that Friday.. So - just checked it on Friday, and lo, there's a new kid on the block. Barbarian - very obviously released with the Hallowe'en market in mind - looks like a jumpscare film. But it has some good credentials, coming from "an executive producer" of The Ring and The Grudge, both excellent films. In this one, a young woman comes to Detroit for a job interview, books a house through Airbnb. (Ah, we know where this is going..) Well, from what I can glean from the trailer, the house already has someone renting it. But it's late at night, and he seems fine - whereas the neighbourhood really isn't. So she decides to stay the night and move on in the morning. Biig mistake.. ooh, and it seems to have a really big basement.

The teaser trailer spends the whole time showing us audience reactions! This is currently very highly rated - probably won't stay that high, but frankly, it has a long way to fall to get down to where Prey for the Devil is! Showing in the Odeon Tottenham Court Road, at 9.30 - and I can walk home from there! Ah, happy days when it was actually my local cinema..

Tomorrow, the horror continues - I've booked with TAC again for The Drought, a short horror play at Grimfest at the Old Red Lion again.

On Wednesday, back with the Crick Crack Club (CCC) for their annual Day of the Dead event - this one is at Rich Mix. Stars Daniel Morden, Clare Murphy, Lucy Lill, and TUUP - and all but Clare Murphy, I haven't seen in an age! In fact, I've never heard of Lucy Lill before..

On Thursday,  I was to be back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) - for Noor, at Southwark Playhouse. The true story of a WWII spy - and bought, as usual, on my PAYG subscription - which gives you cheap tickets to five shows, and never expires. Suggestion of eating beforehand at Mercato Metropolitano. But wouldn't you know it, that night's performance was cancelled.. Instead, I'm off to a talk at Watkin's Bookshop (which also has a Meetup presence!). Theme is The First Ghosts, by Irving Finkel - ghost stories have been around for a long time..! He's written a book about the first evidence of tales of the supernatural.. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

Next Monday, with nothing on Meetup, I thought about heading to see the Carnaby Street Christmas lights, which will be up by then. But I had another look at what's on, and have now booked for Piano Passions at Cadogan Hall - Beethoven and Chopin, gorgeous!

On the 8th, headed to see John Gabriel Borkman, by Ibsen, at the Bridge Theatre.

On the 9th - originally, nothing better coming up than Soho Comedy Factory, upstairs at The Blue Posts. Now, instead, I've changed my booking for Noor to this night. Sadly, not with the group, who rearranged for a night I can't go.

On the 10th, back - at last! - with London Classical Music and Theatre Group (LCMTG), for Alcina at the Royal Opera House. More Handel..

On the 11th, I was heading to The Horror Show at Somerset House - a horror-based art exhibition - with The Horror Book Club. But then Civilised London popped up with another meal - so I booked that, and we were headed to Champor Champor, a Thai / Malay restaurant. Meeting beforehand at The Rose, nearby. Until he decided, just on Thursday, to cancel it! I supposed he hadn't wanted to do it with only two of us, since I was - unusually - the only one to sign up. But to my further surprise - he kicked me out of the group later that night! No warning, no explanation - not very "civilised". Jeez, I suppose he's had enough of me. Killer is, he was such a good reference for good eateries - and the group is private, so without being a member, I won't be able to see where he's going. Ah well, TBH, I was beginning to feel out of place with the people who were attending the meals.. which was pretty much all I was doing with the group, lately. Meantime, I'm back at The Horror Show - at least the ticket won't go to waste!

On the 12th, planning another meal with the people that are harder to herd than cats! As of now, of the four people I've invited, one is a pretty certain "no" and two more are iffy, as they might have to be abroad. Jeez.. If it's just the same person that was the only one to make it last time, I think we'll head somewhere different. For variety. On the other hand, Imad's Syrian Kitchen is right off Carnaby Street.. and the lights are probably going to be cool.. Of course, there is the small issue of the irregularity of the wine measures!

On the 13th, back with the CCC at the British Museum, where Daniel Morden and Hugh Lupton are performing The Iliad.

On the 14th, not having been with LCMTG for ages, I'm with them for the second time in a week! Heading to Wigmore Hall this time, for the Takács Quartet, who are playing Beethoven. Now sold out - and I'm not surprised, given that when I booked, I got one of the last three (top price) seats! Ah well, it wasn't astronomical - and I do love Beethoven.

On the 15th, back at the QT Bar - for the RB and Soul Revue. Now, they put on a great show - but, given my experience last time, I'll know to buy my drink at the upstairs bar and take it down with me - better choice! And at least this time, I'll know where I'm going..

On the 16th, Im back at Conway Hall, for a concert called Sing Like a Vagabond - Shouts and Cries of Victorian London. Tickets are free, but you do have to book.

On the 17th, I'm back with UITCS at the Coliseum, for a performance of Yeomen of the Guard, by Gilbert & Sullivan. And knowing the steepness of the steps in the Balcony - and the irregularity - and what with my stairs phobia - I've done my best to get a seat at the side, so I can use the handrail to get down. Oh, and an aisle seat, what with the restricted legroom..

Then I'm back to Ireland again. And for once, not going to the cinema that weekend - instead, UL is hosting a PhD reunion, with a tour of the campus and, crucially, free lunch. And I'll be using the occasion to catch up with an old friend and, hopefully, find out what finally prompted him to quit lecturing at last, more than 10 years after I did, considering he was bullied even worse than I was!

English Song

Tonight, back at the City Churches Music Festival - with CT, this time, for a concert of English Song at the lovely church of St. Bartholomew the Great. It'd been too long..

So, I walked - happily, the rain had passed over. And it took longer than Google Maps predicted, but I was in no hurry. The place was only half full anyway - probably due to the ongoing rail strike - and I do believe they started late. Which suited me just fine! It's a gorgeous church, and I was happy to mosey around and take photos, while deciding where the most scenic place was to sit - I had plenty of choice!

Just a single pianist and a singer this evening - and straight through without an interval. Pieces by Vaughan Williams again, along with some by his contemporaries and friends. Now, this is a highly operatic style of singing - which, frankly, I hate. But I have to give her credit - that's an incredible voice, which she doesn't look as though she could make. And the pieces won me over - pretty much. Anyway, they specifically thanked people for coming out during the strike, and I was glad to help. Not sufficiently so to buy their cd, but never mind.. Still, this festival ends tomorrow, and I can't recommend it highly enough. Well, the lack of interval meant that I got back in time to sit out on my balcony for a while, finally! Where I saw we have some guests..

The fox family has three members altogether that I saw, but I couldn't manage to get them all in one shot!

Tomorrow, back to Ireland for the weekend again. There are a few films on that I'd like to see.. now, when I first looked, Elvis was as yet unrated on IMDB. Directed and co-written by Baz Luhrmann and with Tom Hanks as Col. Tom Parker and Austin Butler in the title role, it subsequently debuted with a high rating of 8.1. But in the meantime, I'd become enthused at the next highest rated film - The Black Phone, currently at 7.4, a very high rating for a horror film, is the story of a 13-year-old boy who is kidnapped by a serial kidnapper and killer of small children (Ethan Hawke). Trapped in a soundproof basement, when the disconnected phone on the wall begins to ring, he answers it - and finds himself talking to the killer's previous victims. So, you know, I think I might go see that - Elvis has fallen quite a bit in ratings in the meantime anyway. Both showing in Ennis, and at roughly the same time - watch this space!

On Monday, I've booked with TAC to hear an interview with Chris Patten, the last UK governor of Hong Kong before it was handed back to China. Happening at Conway Hall.

On Tuesday, back again with Free Stuff and Free Events, for their Free Tuesday Sing-a-Long for Health and Pleasure. Online, and one where you're muted, so you don't even have anyone hear you sing! Great for the shy.

On Wednesday, I'm finally succumbing to Anything Goes, at the Barbican. Now, I got my ticket for this from Time Out, which is the first place I saw the offer - but it turns out that any number of outlets have £25 tickets! If they're all for the same seats as Time Out, then I'd have to feel sorry for people that bought tickets for £38, which is cheaper than the original price of £45 for the seats on offer! Assuming anyone did. Anyway, with no bad seats here, you'd have to be crazy to pay more.

Next Thursday, back with Bucket List London (BLL) - who obligingly is doing something midweek! I'll have to skip off work early - this is for vespers in Westminster Cathedral, and starts at 4.30. He is actually in Westminster all day, attending Ministerial Question Time earlier - but not only do I have a job to go to, but jeez, I do believe this would just infuriate me! So that, I'm not attending..

On the 1st, back with Civilised London (CL) for dinner at Caravel. Terrific reviews..

That weekend, I'm back with the man with the famous name - Dr. Stephen King (not the writer) is guiding a couple of walks for London Guided Walks (courtesy of Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts). Sadly, not as yet advertised on TAC, so I booked them through the official site (discount of £3 with the code MEETUP3, as usual). Both topics / areas I've covered many times before, but gee, he's such a great guide! So I hope I make these - early. On the 2nd, it's his Southwark Walk.

On the 3rd, it's his Royal Coronation Walk. I just bet he comes up with something I didn't already know..

On the 4th, I'm headed to A Doll's House Part 2, at Donmar Warehouse - sequel to the famous original, where the wife leaves an unhappy marriage; this sequel examines what happens when she returns.

On the 5th - well, I finally saw Up In The Cheap Seats (UITCS)' ad for Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch, at the Underbelly Festival! A parody musical, right up my street - I hate how Meetup so often doesn't show me the events I really would enjoy! Just as well I saw this in time, before I booked anything else. So it'll be a hectic evening, with an interview scheduled for 5.30! I'd better quit work early I think, and head home for that - I can't guarantee quiet in the office.

On the 6th, back with CT for a concert by the Royal College of Music Brass Ensemble, at the college on Shelton Street.

On the 7th, back with Guided Walking Tours in Brighton and Sussex, for The London Necropolis Virtual Tour. I pointed out to him that the registration link had the wrong date, and he said it was outdated, and he'd replace it and send me the new link - well, he's removed it, but no new link yet. And then - you guessed it, I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again!

On the 11th, I'm going to Favour, at the Bush Theatre - after much effort, as their website wasn't working for days! In fact, it seems to go down sporadically. I chose an unreserved seat, will be allocated one on the day. Anyway, I see TAC has now started selling tickets for this - gee, might be not only the cheapest, but the easiest way to book! Wow, was only there once before, 3.5 years ago..

On the 12th, I'm going to The Southbury Child, at the Bridge Theatre. And now CT is selling cheap tickets for that too, bah. I also noticed that UITCS is going, later in the week - ah well.

On the 13th, back with CL for dinner - this time at The Crown itself, where we usually meet for drinks before heading somewhere else for dinner. Excellent choice. Which marks the beginning of a whole spate of Meetups in a row! When's the last time that happened..?

On the 14th, back with The Garden Talks - this online talk is How Do Languages Evolve?

On the 15th, back with the Classical Music and Theatre Group for the opera Otello, at the Royal Opera House.

On the 16th, which is a Saturday, I had booked with Discover London for a trip to see a cart making ceremony - and then Eleanor, organiser of TunedIn London, advertised a concert through the World Music Meetup, for that evening, at City Hope Church. So now I'm going to both.

On Sunday the 17th, back with BLL - this time, it's a trip to Sandown Antiques Market. Well, I've never been to Sandown, so this could be interesting.

On the 18th, back with North London Friends! for the first time since before lockdown. This is for an Edinburgh Comedy Festival preview, at the King's Head in Crouch End, featuring Lucy Porter and Rachel Fairburn.

On the 19th.. I'm taking a punt that I won't actually be employed that day, and have 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 can't actually make it - although, even if I have started work by then (which would be surprising), perhaps I could take a day off.

On the 20th, I finish my Meetup run with a trip with UITCS to Leicester Square Theatre to see Frankie Boyle, who has a work in progress show.

On the 21st, I'm thinking of heading - at last - to Summer by the River at More London. This is for a free evening of music, curated by Soho Radio. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

On the 25th of next month, I'm 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 has an offer of £10 tickets for the cheapest seats for this - a saving of more than 50%!

On the 26th of next month - 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.

And 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!

Play: Richard II

So, I'd planned to go to the Science Museum late last night. And then I took Tuesday night off and stayed home, and was looking at what was coming up - and I discovered this production of Richard II, at the church of St. Bartholomew the Great. Ah yes, that kinda trumped the Science Museum.. I wasn't that pushed about it anyway. So I booked! Needed to, it was selling fast.

Now, I'd never been to this church before, but had heard it was near Barbican. O great. A trek right across town. Google Maps suggested I walk from Blackfriars - but when I checked out the walk, although it wasn't too long, it was that bit complicated. See, I love the City, with its complicated, winding, narrow streets and buildings crowded in together - but it can be hard to navigate, if you don't know the way. So I said nuts - closest station is Barbican, I'll head there.

The walking directions given on the church website were horrendously obscure. "The only step-free access from Cloth Fair is through the Elizabethan gateway from West Smithfield." "Access from Cloth Fair through the churchyard is via a steep set of steps without a handrail." "Sometimes, the North door on Cloth Fair is open and this gives access to a steep set of steps, with a handrail." Ay-ay.. could I determine what they meant from Streetview? Not a bit of it. I printed a map in case I got lost on my way from Barbican, and decided the only thing for it was to go and look for myself.

What with Barbican being right on the other side of the Tube network from me, there are several options for getting there. My preferred way is the District Line straight to Edgware Road, then change to either of the other two lines running east to Barbican. Handily enough, a train pulled into Edgware Road just as I got to the platform, and I was in Barbican without too much delay. Talk about pollution in the City though - every time the train doors opened, east of Edgware Road, the stench of diesel nearly choked me. From Barbican, it was an easy walk to the church - turn right out of the station, take the next right, then the next left. Then the second right, onto Middle Street. You can't miss the church after that.

Middle Street soon becomes the aforementioned Cloth Fair, a streetname doubtless stemming from there having been a cloth market here - this was always a thriving merchant community. I walked down Cloth Fair, figuring that since it had been mentioned so prominently in the directions, the entrance must be along here somewhere. I passed what was probably the North door, then came to the churchyard, and an open gate in the fence. Ok.. I passed through, and walked to the other side. When I got there, I could see what looked like an entrance door, at a lower level - they'd explained that this is a mediaeval church, and the ground level was lower in those days. Cunningly placed benches along the edge of the upper-level churchyard prevented people from falling over the edge, as well as giving them somewhere to sit. I figured there must be steps, and sure enough, there were - the aforementioned steep steps without handrail were at the far end.

So I made my way down. And since, for once, I was early - they'd only just opened the doors - I had a bit of a wander. I figured I'd found two of the three mentioned entrances -  where was this gateway? I wandered to the right, into West Smithfield, under an arch, and saw the gateway properly; I'd never have recognised it as such from Streetview:

And then I went in. She ticked me off a list, and I made my way to the Cloisters café:

A pair of rather frazzled, but very nice, ladies were dealing with a large crowd - it was pretty sold out. After a bit of a queue, I checked that I could pay with card. I could. The poor girl was doing her best, pouring wine for two of us simultaneously, and it was just funny to watch. So when I had to move to the side to pay, because the card reader was attached to a cable that didn't stretch far enough - I just laughed.

There wasn't really anywhere to sit, it being so crowded - so I plonked my things on the piano at the entrance, and while I drank my wine I read the history panels on the wall. Well, it's absolutely fascinating! Built as a priory in 1123, it's the oldest surviving parish church in London. It only just survived the Great Fire of London, which stopped just down the road from it. And of course, it's in the area of Smithfield, which saw so much throughout the ages..

I didn't have long to drink my wine, and gulped down most of it - the house was open, and I wanted to get a good seat. So I moved through to the main part of the building. Oh, it's gorgeous, all that exposed stone..

I was so glad my phone camera lasted - the battery was nearly out, and it just had enough power to snap these shots and upload them. Anyway, I took a seat in the front of the three rows of seats that had been laid out on either side of the nave. There were piles of blankets at the entrance, in case you felt chilly - but I was ok. Mind you, if I went again, I'd take one as a cushion - the seats aren't upholstered.

And we were off! It's great, I hadn't even seen Richard II before, and here I was in one of the best settings for it. How atmospheric, the actors in mediaeval costumes moving through the stone church, sumptuous costumes inches away from us, sweeping along the side aisles behind the stone pillars. This church has apparently been used in several film and tv productions - justifiably. It was enchanting. And I have to give equal credit to the theatre company - they played up the mediaeval atmosphere, starting and ending the performance with Miri It Is - it's years since I heard that. Moody, mediaeval-appropriate music played before, and at the interval. And at start and end, again, the actors performed a few steps of a minuet.

Not to mention the excellent casting - Richard II is as weedy and incompetent as you'd expect, Henry Bolingbroke heftier and brooding. I do have one bone to pick - but it's with Shakespeare's interpretation, which takes liberties with the truth in one respect: the Queen was only 10 years old when Richard was deposed (6 years old when he married her) - so any suggestion of a sexual relationship between them is a bit creepy. But that's just for those of us who pay attention to these things..

This is a terrific production, very highly recommended for anyone with a love of Shakespeare. Or of history. Running as part of a Death of Kings series, alternating with performances of Edward II. Only two performances left of Richard II - this Saturday, and the following Friday. Go see..

Leaving drinks tonight for someone from the office, and tomorrow I'm back to Ireland for the weekend. Heading to a concert in St. Mary's Cathedral in Limerick on Saturday, part of the Limerick Sings choral festival.