Play: The Art of Illusion

Well, I made it back to London with far less trouble than I had in leaving! Today turned out to be an interesting day, starting with the arrival of an unexpected package. What should it turn out to be, but a New Year party pack from my new company! Wow.. including a bottle of Moet et Chandon, and a box of Ghirardelli! A little late, but who's counting.. This evening, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for The Art of Illusion, at Hampstead Theatre. Award-winning, it seems..

I had one of those typically last-minute emergencies at work, and got a bit delayed - so decided on the Tube, rather than bus. Which got me there in time to grab a bite to eat - and I'm fond of the grilled chicken at Ye Olde Swiss Cottage. Hadn't had it in a while, so I headed there. Sure enough, they still only have one kind of white wine (chenin blanc, if you're curious), but they did better on food than last time, and I could have my grilled chicken. Which was lovely, and I was well fed - while eavesdropping on the adjoining table, populated with actor types. Part of the discussion centred on The Southbury Child, which I'm happy to say they enjoyed as much as I did..

And so to the theatre, where I managed to get a drink and a seat before anyone else in our group got there! As the others arrived, we had a good chat - then headed in, behind not so large a queue as I've seen here on previous occasions. And plonked ourselves right in the front of the side (well, most of us):

Another case of having to watch your feet, so you don't trip up the actors! Now, to the show..

Do you believe in magic? Do you ponder how they do it? Do you feel that sense of wonder as they bedazzle you? Roll up, my friends, this is that kind of a show.. I remarked afterwards what fun it must have been to take part in it, because they all perform at least one trick! And close as we were, there were still tricks I couldn't explain..

But it isn't a magic show, per se. What it is, is.. oh dear, I can't think of a better word than magical! It hearkens back to the old days of magic, when performers dressed up, shows were intimate, and everybody expected to be overawed. With a bit of playful hopscotch through history, we get the story of Robert Houdin - in whose honour the famous Houdini chose his stage name, apparently! But we don't stop with "conventional" magic - no, we also meet Georges Méliès, who brought us magic through his early movies - and right at the end, watch the kid playing videogames. The message is, I guess - these other pioneers were also discouraged from wasting their time at their passion; let's not discount it, but consider what could come of it..!

Marvellous stuff - highly recommended for those with magic in their souls. Runs till the 28th - go see..

Afterwards, I joined someone who hadn't managed to grab a bite beforehand, on a foray to see what was available - we decided we wouldn't waste much time looking, on what is a bitterly cold night. So, when we came to Mia Lounge, which had a menu outside.. in we went. And then up, because there isn't anything on ground level. On the first floor, we came to a deserted area with a bar and tables, and a guy behind the bar. He said yes, we could get food - or we could try upstairs. I thought he sounded a bit mysterious..

The smell assails you as you climb higher. Basically, you come here for the shisha, and ours was the only table that didn't order it. :-) Indeed, the waiter seemed surprised when I didn't order anything from the special, shisha menu.. I wasn't actually hungry at all, and just had a dessert - they didn't have my first choice, so I ended up with a chocolate milkshake, served in a jam jar, and quite tasty. My companion chose the lamb beyti, which she found unexpectedly spicy.. and we shared a decent bottle of wine. Aircon was weird, alternating between too hot and frigid - but we were basically fortified for the journey home. By bus - quicker at this hour. Would have been quicker still, if the driver hadn't dropped us off somewhere quite different from where we expected to be! I've complained again..

Tomorrow, I'm headed to Chicago Blues Explosion in the January Blues Festival at the 100 Club. Tickets from See Tickets (ST) - just a shame their early bird tickets were sold out. My companion of tonight thought that sounded good, and is now coming too - we've planned to eat beforehand at Bistro1. Lordy, it's years since I was last there!

On Wednesday, with TAC for a classical concert at King's Place (nice and close). This is the Kirckman Society for young artists, presenting Connaught Brass.

On Thursday, Ken's Green Walks for Health (aka Ken's Events, to those of us who know it from before) is off to see the Winter Lights at Canary Wharf. Now, I wouldn't go with them in a fit - but there's nothing to stop me seeing the lights myself for free, eh? I don't see the point in paying Ken £5 to lead a group around.. Mind you, the lady that sold me my ticket for Mandela was in touch afterwards to say that the theatre is offering a free link to a livestream of the full show! and she was asking me what day would suit. This being one of the options, I figured it'd be a good way to avoid the cold of Canary Wharf..

On Friday (unusually, it's usually Thursday), back with Watkin's Bookshop for a book launch. This is Fifty Forgotten Books by R. B. Russell. Occult theme, as usual. Let's see whether I can avoid falling asleep this time!

On Saturday, 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!

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!

Next 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 ST doing the selling, I found myself with a second, unexplained, booking fee..

For the next week or so, it's all UITCS! On the 24th, 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 the 25th, 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 the 26th, 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 suppose I can use 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, 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. Modern magic! 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: Mary

Back to London at last - and another on-time Ryanair flight! Wow, the luxury of travelling midweek.. pity that the plane was filthy, but what can you do? Anyway, yesterday, I booked with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) - for Mary, at Hampstead Theatre. Political machinations in the court of Mary, Queen of Scots. Funny thing - there were two seats in the main seating section at the cheapest price, but the site objected to me just booking one of them. No problem booking an equivalent seat in a higher price bracket, though! So I booked one of the high seats, at the back, instead. At the lower price. Just yesterday, I got a mysterious email from the theatre - they sent it before informing me that I had an upgrade, so I had to guess that's what it was about! Anyway, I was now in a very good seat - lovely.

Up that direction, I know Ye Olde Swiss Cottage is a decent place to eat - so I headed there beforehand. And although the bus was diverted again, it seemed a lot quicker than last time.. Perhaps this is a better route to choose. Anyway, one of the entrances to the pub was closed, confusingly - but I made my way in. Unusually busy - I couldn't get my usual table, but headed for the slightly dim area past the room you enter by. Ordered at the bar. I fancied pie. Nope, I was told, no pie. And the girl from the side - they both sounded American - chimed in, saying I couldn't have the half chicken either. Or the (beef) burger. Ehh.. good job I'd brought the menu with me to check. I don't normally have fish and chips, but I had last night. Oh, and I'd forgotten they don't do sauvignon blanc - I had chenin blanc instead, while one server remarked to the other that they really need a better selection of white wines!

It was lovely, as before. And my food arrived in no time, impressively - I'd asked for it without the mushy peas, and so it came. Accompanied by a slice of lemon, and ramekins of tartare sauce and ketchup. All on a sheet of newspaper, on the plate. And it was delish! The chips weren't spectacular, but that's a minor quibble - I was very well fed. A little boy at the table opposite - who also sounded American - remarked, as they were leaving, that fish n chips seems to be the national dish! Arguably, yes. Mind you, while I was eating, someone went to the bar from another table - they'd apparently been waiting ages for their food, including fish n chips.. I have to wonder whether I got theirs! Kitchen obviously forgot. Anyway, I finished, and had another glass of wine - which is cheaper than at the theatre, although the theatre isn't as expensive as I remember..

And then I moseyed over, spotted the group (quite large, this time) and joined them. A lot of us had upgrades.. and in due course, we made our way in.

By the simple trick of moving that wall back, they allow us to experience action in two apparently separate rooms - the second much larger than the first. And apart from chairs - and a desk, in the larger room - there isn't any other furniture. Well, in those days, furniture was a luxury! which is why, when you visit older palaces, it tends to be in short supply. Plebs in those days tended to stand..

Now, this 90-minute (no interval) play concerns Lord Melville, who was around the court at the time of Mary's downfall. Her husband, Lord Darnley, has just been murdered, and to everyone's shock and horror, she's married the man suspected of the murder, Lord Bothwell! However, we only get three characters - Lord Melville, and a couple violently opposed to the Catholic Mary, being on the Protestant side themselves, and determined to depose her. In the first scene, Lord Melville has the upper hand, defending her against people obviously ready to believe the worst. However, in the second scene, he's the one in trouble - being forced to sign the document calling for her abdication.

It's a fabulously powerful piece, firing facts at us about this most obscure episode in history. It's generally accepted that Darnley was murdered, but whether Mary was complicit, and in love with Bothwell, conspiring to murder her husband and marry him, as her enemies claimed - or whether he took matters into his own hands (he was an adventurer, after all) and murdered Darnley, then abducted and raped Mary, forcing her into marriage - is a matter of speculation. This play goes one further, claiming that she was also abused at the hands of her captors once she was imprisoned. Makes for an uncomfortable experience as an audience member.

The play's structure is terrific though, with three strong characters bandying ideas and switching sides, just as the audience does. As opinions shift, so do the power players - makes you realise how little we really know about what goes on behind the major events of world history. We see the consequences - but so much is kept hidden, today as it always was.

The one thing I could really have done without was the rushing of the stage, right at the end, by the #MeToo movement - gangs of women yelling and gesticulating. Isn't anything to do with history - this plays to modern sensibilities, and given the obvious bias that it indicates towards a certain version of the events, it does call into question whether what's described ever even happened. Just silly, frankly - and how they all got to take a bow with the three actors who actually deserved applause is beyond me. Apart from this, it's a terrific play - runs till the 26th, definitely recommended. Just maybe leave when the crowds of women in black file into the seats on either side of the stage..

It ran too late last night for me to blog - felt I should make an effort to turn on the computer reasonably early for work! I hadn't anything booked for tonight - was thinking film - and then Ticket Text (one of hundreds of ticket organisations I seem to have signed up for) sent me an advertising email. So, it seems tonight the comedy venue, 21Soho, is holding an event of Comedians Telling Spooky Stories. Which sounds the business, for the week that's in it. So I booked. Hallowe'en fancy dress, apparently - well, not too pushed about that. 

Tomorrow, I kept free for an all-night drinking session with Ivan. However, predictably, he cancelled - probably still recovering from his bout of Covid. I've only met him once so far this year - hope I get to see him again before the end of it! What annoys me, though, is how I always have to chase people to let me know when they have to cancel - he's not the only one, but he wouldn't have thought to tell me if I hadn't asked. Honestly, how is a person supposed to plan? Anyway, instead, I booked with TAC for By the Light of the Moon at the Old Red Lion. Part of their Grimfest Festival.

So I should find it easier to get up on Saturday - I'm on another walk with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners! This one is the Edgy London Walking Tour, and is one of his new ones.

And yes, I have something to do that evening! (This month is far too busy.) I'm back with the Crick Crack Club (CCC), for the Game of Candles - their Hallowe'en offering, where they extinguish a candle for every spooky story told. Tim Ralphs and Sarah-Liisa Wilkinson - in King's Place, lovely! I can walk home..

On Sunday, I dug out something interesting on Meetup, from a new group to me - London Social & Cultural Meetups is headed to evensong at the church of St. Bartholomew the Great. Gorgeous church, sounds great - unfortunately, their event is full, but I can head along on my own.

Ahh.. and then, '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. For Hallowe'en - the only one they're running that night. 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..

On Tuesday, 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 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..

Next Thursday,  I was back with 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.

On the 7th, with nothing on Meetup, I'm currently thinking of heading to see the Carnaby Street Christmas lights, which will be up by then.

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're headed to Champor Champor, a Thai / Malay restaurant. Meeting beforehand at The Rose, nearby.

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.

And 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.

Play: Ravenscourt

Today, I was thinking film - but what was coming up wasn't as interesting as what Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) was advertising in Hampstead Theatre. So I booked to go and see Ravenscourt with them - a medical drama, centred on the failings of the mental healthcare system. And yay, for this I finally used my Theatre Token! Well, that's a weight off..

I'd eaten in Ye Olde Swiss Cottage before, so decided to travel up there first and do that again. And I could do that with a combination of buses. Unfortunately, the second bus - the #31 - was on diversion. And what a whopping diversion it turned out to be.. one poor elderly man, on crutches and appearing quite feeble, was promised by the driver that we'd be going near Belsize Park, as per the original route: well, I always follow our route on Google Maps when we're on diversion, and all I can say is, he could have let this guy off a lot closer to where he wanted to be! Happily, I fared better, and got off just up from Ye Olde Swiss Cottage.

Got the same table as last time! This place is going to be very nice, coming towards winter - very cosy interior. Anyway, I fancied the chicken, but was told they had none - so I had a steak and ale pie instead, which was very moreish. Mash could have been tastier, but otherwise I was well pleased.

In the theatre, my wine was a lot pricier - I met the others in the downstairs lobby, and we had a nice chat until it was time to go in. Unallocated seating.

(I would have put a picture in here, but the site is playing up!)

Well, this is quite an intense drama, set in a mental health facility. A young psychiatrist has just started there, having come from private practice, and finds it hard to square her previous experience with the reality of her new job - the limited time, limited number of sessions. Neither does she really gel with her work colleagues, who have something of a different outlook from hers. But when she takes on a difficult patient, we begin to see the cracks in her careful demeanour..

Very well-acted, and an interesting story. Also interesting was the discussion we had afterwards, people raising points such as how nice it was to see a mental health patient who was so articulate. And, indeed, the point was raised that this is NOT how a mental health facility operates! But hey, it is a good play, and worth a look - as in general, here. Runs till the 29th.

Tomorrow, I'm back to Ireland again, because of the dates I have weekend things in London this month, and the date of my mother's birthday, which I want to be back in Ireland for. It all works out - but only if I switch weekends, which I'm doing by coming back to Ireland again this weekend. Film for the weekend? Currently looking like The Lost King, a comedy co-written by, and starring, Steve Coogan as the husband of the woman who found the remains of Richard III. Under a car park.. Only showing in the Omniplex, and a little late. Ah well.

Monday. Well. 👿 Anyone who knows me well, knows that I love horror. And am really excited that Darkfield is doing onsite shows this month. Mwa-ha-haa.. Five of them, in fact. I've booked the first of them for Monday, the first day I was free - the first they're showing, it's Intravene, nearby the BFI (actually, outside the National Theatre, as I confirmed yesterday). These are all held in shipping containers, and the unifying idea for all Darkfield shows is that they're aural - you have headphones, which are your main sensory input. The shows all take place in complete darkness. This one is about drug abuse, and focuses on the drug problem in Vancouver. And wow, seeing the container in person finally, last night, has just stoked my anticipation..

On Tuesday, signed up for another of The Garden Talks' free online talks - this one is Does Dark Matter Really Matter?

On Wednesday.. heehee. Back with Darkfield. (Cue scary music.) They're also doing shows in Canary Wharf this year - three, in fact. This is the first night for those.. and yes, I'm doing all three, that night. In fact, they allow for that when you're booking. So, I'm doing them in the following order: first is Eulogy, an unusual Darkfield concept in that it's somewhat interactive, at various points you have to say "yes" or "no"..

Second up, I chose Coma (they all have multiple showings, so you can decide exactly what you want to go to, and when. They just ask that you leave at least 15 minutes between, which I have.) For this one, we get to lie down, I think - which is nice - and get an option to take a pill. :-)

Final for the night is the one I've heard the best reviews of - Flight is a reconstruction of an aircraft cabin, and the show is based around - well, a plane crash! Booked all of these while waiting for my eternally delayed flight on Sunday - as I say, every cloud has a silver lining..

Next Thursday is the next of my busy days. See, first I booked with Civilised London (CL) for Tango After Dark, at the Peacock. All good, no-brainer. Then I was messaged by an ex-colleague - another ex-colleague is having leaving drinks that same night, in the Pelt Trader! Hellfire.. so, what I'm going to do is skip drinks with CL after the show and leg it over to the Pelt Trader - I've ordered her not to stop drinking till I get there!

On the 14th, something advertised with the Crick Crack Club (CCC) - they're celebrating all things Mexican in Kew Gardens, with Mexico After Hours! With something about the Day of the Dead, no doubt..

The 15th is another of those busy days. So.. first I'm headed on a walk with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners - this one is Paddington - Proud, Perky & Picturesque.

But, for nearly a year now, I've had tickets booked, for me and Helen, for Dara O' Briain in the Hammersmith Apollo that night! Crikey, I'd never even have thought of it if it hadn't been noted in my calendar. So anyway, she can't come to the walk, but we'll meet for dinner beforehand in Bill's of Hammersmith. I can only hope for better service than I got in Bill's of Clink Street..

On the 16th, back with the CCC for Inisfáil, Irish storytelling courtesy of the wonderful Clare Murphy, in the British Museum.

On the 17th, I originally booked a free online talk about Railways of Surrey, from the Surrey History Meetup. But I just recently saw (despite the fact that it was evidently posted months ago) an event from UITCS - Samsara is inspired by the Chinese novel, Journey to the West, and contains partial nudity, we're told. Tickets for this are quite cheap, and we're all in the Stalls, for once - they haven't even opened the Second Circle, where we normally are! So, no stairs, for a change!

On the 18th, I've booked for Iphigenia in Splott, in the Lyric Hammersmith.

On the 19th, supposed to have drinks with Ivan! Might go to O' Neill's, we could do worse.

On the 20th, back with CL for dinner at Le Sacré Coeur. Always good.

On the 21st, back to Ireland again - and the following Monday, it's my mother's birthday, so I'm staying in Ireland for that and flying back on Tuesday 25th. I've already cleared it with work.

And on the 26th, I've booked with UITCS again - for Mary, at Hampstead Theatre again. Political machinations in the court of Mary, Queen of Scots. Funny thing - there were two seats in the main seating section at the cheapest price, but the site objected to me just booking one of them. No problem booking an equivalent seat in a higher price bracket, though! So I booked one of the high seats, at the back, instead. At the lower price.

Play: The Fever Syndrome

Tonight, back with Civilised London (CL) - for a play this time. This was The Fever Syndrome, at Hampstead Theatre. So I decided to head up early, and grab a bite at Ye Olde Swiss Cottage, just across the road. I've eaten there before. Could have taken a bus, but the Tube got me there faster, meaning I didn't have to rush my food.

Happy to say, the staff were a lot friendlier than on my last visit! Anyway, I picked a cosy table by a window, ordered hunter chicken and a large glass of the only white wine they had - which was a nice chenin blanc. The chicken wasn't amazing, but it filled a spot - and the ice cream I had for dessert was lovely (although they only had vanilla). Nice place to hunker down out of the cold, though - we went back afterwards for a drink, and as one remarked, it was a real winter refuge! Comfortingly solid wood everywhere, comfy chairs..

And so to the theatre - and a temperature check! We had to stand in front of a gauge - happy to report that I passed. Joined the others, chatted briefly, and then they went to the Stalls - and I went to my cheapie seat upstairs. Which, I was delighted to learn, takes the same format as the National, with spurs of seats to the sides, culminating in individual seats - and mine was at the front of these! So, an excellent view of the stage - and, as it turned out, of them! I was probably closer to the stage than they were, too.. ;-)

It occurred to me that the stage was kind of like a dolls' house. It also occurred to me, as bits of the play took place in different rooms, that it was like watching a TV drama, different scenes set in different rooms.

The story concerns an elderly, retired IVF specialist, now ill with Parkinson's, who is due a lifetime achievement award, so his family has gathered around. The theatre website describes it as a squabble over inheritance, over the spoils of his career - well yes it is, kind of, except that apart from one character in particular, most of them are rather nice, and most of the arguments kind of fizzle out. So, I found it lacking in dramatic tension. But hey, nicely acted, good set, interesting. Runs until the end of next month.

And afterwards, as I say, back to the pub - just for the one. And for me, buses home - in what had become wintry conditions, ice cold rain dripping on us. Brr, glad to be in!

Tomorrow, back with TAC for One Night With Robbie Williams. This is at The Courtyard.

Well, I finally got a provisional start date from my new job - and it's next week. So on Friday, still being free, I've booked with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners for a daytime walk. This is Tinker, Tailor, Soldier & a Hatful of Spies - and comes highly recommended from previous attendees! In fact, I got the last spot (at the time, anyway). 

That evening, back with the Crick Crack Club (CCC) for - The Grand Annual Lying Contest! at Rich Mix.

On Saturday, I had booked with Walks, Talks & Treasure Hunts for a Regent's Canal Walk. But yay, Laurence and the 45+s then advertised another walk for that day, which is pretty much guaranteed to be superior. So I've booked it. This is Scandals, Scriptwriters & Sumptuous Architecture - and of course, it being a London weekend, I can go!

That evening, an ex-colleague of mine is having a leaving do - he's emigrating. Happening at The Woodman, in Highgate. I said I'd put in an appearance.

On Sunday, the CCC again! Emily Hennessey and Sheema Mukherjee are at the British Museum, with Holy Cow! Tales from the River of Life. Unfortunately, the London Landmarks Half Marathon is also that day, so I'll probably be on the Tube, at least getting to the museum. 

On Monday, I'm back at the Park Theatre for the first time in nearly three years! This is for Clybourne Park, a comedy about a white family moving into a predominantly black neighbourhood.

On Tuesday, I'm headed to But I'm a Cheerleader, a musical comedy at the Turbine Theatre.

Next Wednesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats at Southwark Playhouse, and another free ticket for me! This time, it's for Anyone Can Whistle, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

On the 7th, Tommy Tiernan is playing at the Hammersmith Apollo! Now, I failed to get a ticket for this the first time around. Then it was rescheduled because of Covid.. and I got a ticket for the rescheduled event! Then that was rescheduled.. third time lucky?! Love Tommy Tiernan. The show is called Tomfoolery. And then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.

On the 11th, I've booked for The 47th, at The Old Vic. Written by Mike Bartlett, this imagines the American presidential elections of 2024. I am really looking forward to this play..

On the 12th, I'm finally going to Six, the Musical! Based around the story of the six wives of Henry VIII (very loosely, I'd say), it's playing at the Vaudeville and I hear good things. Cheapest tickets from Leicester Square Box Office.

On the 13th, back with CL, who are off to the opera at the Southbank Centre. The show in question is The Paradis Files. Next day, I'm back to Ireland for Easter - but left it so late to book, I could only get an afternoon flight, and will have to start my new job (whenever) by asking for that day off work!

Well, my friend got back to me - they're away in the middle of Easter week, back on the 21st, so the most sensible thing to do seemed to be to visit on the 22nd, which I've now arranged with her. Whether I take that week as holiday, or take the laptop there and work from Ireland, remains to be seen. Anyway, I'll fly back to London on the 24th. And on the 25th, I'm off to The Corn is Green, at the National.

Play: Jude

Tonight, I was off, with Up in the Cheap Seats, to Jude, at Hampstead Theatre. Fifth day in a row I'd be seeing the organiser, who also came along on Wednesday.

Someone in the group suggested food beforehand - we agreed to meet in Ye Olde Swiss Cottage, just across the road from the theatre. I delayed maybe a bit too long - and was on the Tube again, of necessity this time, because it was such a long journey. And so, for the third time this week, I was on the Central Line, changing to the Jubilee - north to Swiss Cottage, tonight. The exits here are really well signposted - and, unusually, not vandalised - so it was easy to find the exit for the pub.

As I was leaving the station, I was messaged by one of the two who were already there, so I knew to look inside for them; they weren't hard to find, despite the labyrinthine nature of the place. They had secured us a nice, big table, with high-backed benches. They'd just ordered, so I chose what I wanted - gammon, it having been a while since I'd had it - and went up to the bar to order. And there I stayed for what felt like a long time, while the blissfully ignorant bar staff glanced over and past me, serving people on either side of me. I had to shout at one of them to get her even to look my way.. At least the food was decent.

In the theatre, we collected our tickets at the box office, then met the group in the bar. And upon examination, we discovered that we'd been upgraded to the Stalls! Seems they didn't open the Circle, tonight. Lovely - quite apart from getting a slightly more expensive seat, it meant I didn't have stairs to climb! and I am so over lugging this work laptop around. (Ironically, I shouldn't have been, this evening - the receptionist messaged me to say a locker was finally available if I wanted it, but by the time I got the message, she'd left for the day.. I hope to get it next week.)

Those are books, lining the back of the stage, in line with the play's theme - it's modelled on Jude the Obscure. So, we have a lower-class young person - here, a female Syrian refugee who works as a cleaner - who has an absolute passion for the Classics, and an amazing capacity to learn them. She's taught herself Ancient Greek and Latin, and stuns a local teacher with her knowledge. And her abiding goal - despite the odds working against her - is to get herself enrolled at Oxford. However, will her relationships - and her illegitimate child - stand against her?

This is streets ahead of what we saw last night. Despite an amateurish first scene - down to the performance of the woman playing the teacher, I think - the passion of the would-be scholar absolutely bowls us along. The scenes in Oxford are riveting, as her future is decided, and the representation of the central character as a Syrian refugee is very topical, her possible exclusion on account of her background and associations most believable. It's not without its flaws - as I say, the first scene is very clumsy, and most of the group felt at a disadvantage, with the play having too many Classical references. Not to mention a confusing ending, which the author says we can interpret as we wish. Still, highly recommended - runs till tomorrow week (Saturday).

Afterwards, back to the pub for one, in the midst of a group of noisy acting students. And with less traffic at this hour, I took the bus back. Tomorrow, back - for the first time in a ridiculously long time - with London Dramatic Arts! We're at King Hedley II, with Lenny Henry, at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East. As usual, she closed RSVPs too early, but I asked, and she reopened them. Be good to see them again. We're meeting beforehand at Sichuan Grand Chinese restaurant - good stuff, I haven't eaten Chinese for a while!