Play: Sweat

Today, I was thinking of a film. However, I wasn't mad about what was coming out on top - and since Meetup had an alternative, I did that instead. Headed with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) (again) to the matinée of Sweat, at the Gielgud Theatre. It's the very last day - and lots of sites had half price offers on decent seats. I chose the one suggested on Meetup - lastminute - and since they'd widened their half price offer, I scored myself an excellent price for a seat in the rear stalls. Nice how they specify the seats now! I remember when you booked in a price band, and had to take pot luck after that.

I wasn't too late to bed, so was up and out in decent time, and took the #8 to the West End. It's funny how Google Maps never seems to recognise that there's a stop nearer to me than where they send me - ah well, at least I do, and waited there. Traffic was appalling, so I was a bit later to arrive than intended, and on what seemed an unusually busy day - even for a sunny Saturday! For one thing, Frith Street was blocked off for a street concert, in honour of Ronnie Scott's 60th anniversary!

Swerving around people the whole way, I threaded my way through backstreets to the theatre - and just as I approached the door, where they were checking bags, I realised I had wine gums in my bag! Just in time, I slipped them into my pocket - which, of course, wasn't searched. Got my ticket from the kiosk in the lobby, and joined the others, positioned in a decently out-of-the-way place in the middle.

A nice seat - good legroom, if space to the side was a bit snug. It was also nice that practically the whole row in front of us was free - this was the back row of the next price band up, you see! And while the overhang obscured the very top of the stage, we didn't miss anything relevant:

Sweat takes you right into the heart of small town America - starts at the very beginning of 2000, but I don't think much has changed since. The town's main industry is a steel mill, but almost all the action takes place in the local bar, where gossip is spread, fights are started, and people let their hair down. Tickertape and news broadcasts keep us apprised of what's happening on a national scale - what president is elected, and how there's trouble with the economy. We can all tell what's coming next.

It's no surprise at all when the workers are replaced with those who will do the job cheaper - what the play concerns itself with are the consequences for the different characters, and the differences in their reactions. And what a terrific bunch of characters they are - the play spends most of its time making sure we get to know them, and recognise them as just like us - or like people we know. They're real, they're fleshed out - there's the young and feckless one, the young one with ambition, just like his mother, his dad a strung-out loser. There's the one who regrets the lost ambition of her youth, and now drinks her life away - and there's the mouthy one, who always blames her misfortunes on someone else. Let's not forget the Colombian guy who works in the bar, and is practically ignored by all the customers! Finally, the bartender keeps the peace, a benign figure who tends to stay out of arguments.

The first half is mainly exposition - but I did love the easygoing script. At the interval, I was peckish, so had a box of Maltesers with my - rather watery, but well-priced - pinot grigio. And at the start of the second act, I was glad of those wine gums, when my cough flared up briefly. And gee, what a second act.. by now, the workers are out of a job, disillusioned - and things rapidly go from bad to worse, ending in an abrupt climax that shows just how bad the consequences can be when people let their prejudices get the better of them. A depressing reflection on today's reality.. and an interesting reflection of the people behind the headlines. I'd advise you to go see it, but the last performance is running as I write - keep an eye out for it though. Highly relevant theatre.

Afterwards, a pub had been mooted - but we had no plan of where to go. One member's suggestion might have been good, but was noisier than expected - at which point, everyone turned tail for home. We could have headed for Waxy O' Connor's, but by now there was no point, the group had scattered. Me, I was hungry, and the stage set had inspired me to go American - so I headed for Garfunkel's. Which was busy, but they found me a table - and to be fair, service was prompt. The food definitely wasn't up to their usual standards though - the main course was ok, but the garlic bread and chocolate fudge cake were absolutely tasteless! I could have saved myself some money by not ordering them, and I think I won't, if I go there again. I do see that you can now pay via the website, if you want a quick getaway.

Tomorrow, I really was going to go to a film - until my cheap ticket club advertised their weekend offerings, just yesterday. Thinking I saw some interesting options, I looked closer - and was immediately captured by a classical Spanish guitar concert in King's Place! Part of the IGF Guitar Summit. So yeah, I booked that without hesitation! Terrific price, too.

On Monday, more music - I'm back with Civilised London for more jazz - Dai and the Ramblers - at Wilton's. A great atmosphere is guaranteed!

On Tuesday.. well, my cheap ticket club came to the rescue again! I'm off to St. Martin in the Fields - for the first time in a while - for a performance of the Goldberg Variations. (Cheap!) Three - very different - musical evenings in a row. (And wouldn't you know it, ShowFilmFirst just advertised the same tickets even cheaper. Grr..)

On Wednesday, back with London Literary Walks for The Richmond Walk. Third West London walk in a row with him - but I'm not complaining, they're lovely settings.

On Thursday, back with the London European Club - it'll be my first time in St. Mary's Church Rotherhithe, where the Little Symphonic Duet is performing. They aim to reproduce famous classical pieces, with only a guitar and an instrument called a charango, a kind of miniature ukulele. It'll also be my first time in an age with Tuned In London - delighted to be with them again! Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

On the 29th, back with UITCS - we're off to see Present Laughter, by Noel Coward, with the wonderful Andrew Scott, at the Old Vic. It'll be interesting for us all to see how he is in a comedy. Rear stalls again, yay!

And on the 30th, I'm back with Anthony's Cultural Events and Walking Activities Group, who are off to a free Motown concert in Canary Wharf. First come, first served for spots on the grass. Unless it's promised to rain, in which case I'll probably cry off..

Play: Ink

Tonight, I finally got to see the show so many people have asked me whether I was seeing. Ink is showing at the Duke of York's Theatre. And I got my ticket through LastMinute.com. Even though it was hardly last minute, as such - I booked over two months ago!

Now, the forecast said it wouldn't rain.. so I didn't bring a hood.. and so spent the whole day rather dubiously looking at an enormous black cloud hanging over the city. Still, the rain held off, and I set off in good time. Hard not to really - it's under 10 minutes' walk from the office! Lordy, I'll miss that when we move - we have to quit the building by the end of the year, the landlord is having it demolished. Probably turning it into flats, hey-ho. Shoreditch will be rather less handy for the West End - ah well, it was too good to last.

So, into the pretty heart of the West End I went - an easy enough trip, from Seven Dials I had to take Monmouth Street, then just straight ahead, until it appeared on my right.

Chaotic outside, 15 minutes before start time - I followed the folks in front of me, who also had to pick up their tickets. For the cheapest band of tickets, I was in the Upper Circle - Row C, so quite far forward, but to the side:

Comfy enough seat, legroom just slightly cramped - I do believe the gallery isn't used for seating any more, it seemed to be full of rigging: so this is the highest level. Not bad at all.. and they have coin-operated binoculars. Also that "ordertorium" service I came across in the Savoy, where you can order at the interval and have stuff brought to your seat. Mind you, with all the people I had to stand to let past me, I don't think they were aware of it - still, stretching one's legs is popular anyway. The people behind me were Irish - I swear, we're everywhere! Forgot to mention, but as I was leaving the Vasa Museum in Stockholm on Saturday, walking out into the grey drizzle, I overheard an Irish girl remark what a very Irish day it was..

Well, this play is based on Rupert Murdoch's takeover of The Sun, which he turned into a  tabloid. It's a real tale of once-upon-a-time.. when there were typewriters, and print rooms, and computers were a rarity. When people actually paid - in large numbers - for newspapers. And I have to say - whatever you think of the trash that The Sun and its ilk have become, as this play portrays it, Murdoch and his newspaper, led by Larry Lamb as editor, were real trend-setters.

Apparently it was their idea to put in horoscopes - and the weather on Page 2 - and, of course, those enormous headlines. And you know, I seem to remember The Sun being a fun, reasonably respectable - if downmarket - paper when I was a kid. The infamous Page 3 girls came a few years later, and the play closes with that, and with the management of the paper showing a whiff of distaste for how things were going. Still, readership skyrocketed - and has remained high ever since.

This is actually fascinating. And the play really puts forward the idea that The Sun was breaking new ground, challenging the stuffy establishment - there's a remark about the liberal lefties trying to subvert the democratic will of the people that made me chuckle, thinking of the political fracas of last year! As one review remarked - as sharp as a paper cut; it's quick and it's clever, like Murdoch himself, and a show to see. Runs until the 6th January - shop around for tickets.

Tomorrow, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Ballet Boyz at Sadler's Wells.

On Wednesday, back with Funzing (London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night) for a talk on Revolution in Iran: Girl with a Gun. This will be an interview with a female Kurdish revolutionary.. on the Battersea Barge, which I believe can get choppy. Never mind. This is one I got for free, for completing a loyalty card with three talks. Or work have a Latino night, some corporate VIP being in town on a visit. I'll see how I feel on the night.

On Thursday, Let's Do This are back to St. Martin-in-the-Fields, where London Concertante is performing Bach Violin Concertos. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

And next Monday, back at Southwark Playhouse with Up in the Cheap Seats - this time, it's for A Day By the Sea.

Play: Hand to God

Another day, another play.. London Dramatic Arts Meetup was off last night to Hand to God, at the Vaudeville Theatre. So off I went too.. cheapest tickets available on lastminute.com, and the LDAM organiser kindly RSVPed me "Yes".

I figured I could get a direct bus (cheaper than adding a train fare as well), and when I asked it nicely to restrict itself to buses, Google Maps kindly informed me that the 87 would take me all the way. It'd take nearly an hour in rush hour traffic, but I was working from home and could leave on time. Plus, although a pre-show meeting had been mooted, it was changed to post-show because others had to rush from work. Which gave me more time.

So I made my way down the road, arriving at Clapham Junction Stop D just in time to miss an 87. Never mind, another was promised within 10 minutes (by the handy LCD board), and when it arrived, I joined a huge crowd in boarding, meaning I sat upstairs. Running along the river as it does, I should've got some nice views, but the rain and condensation on the windows put paid to that..  Anyway, I was now a bit after rush hour, and arrived at the theatre at about 7:10, for a 7:30 start. About a 40-minute journey, then.

I collected my ticket - now, with lastminute, you don't get your seat number in advance: just the price and band. The venue decides, on the night, what seat to give you - with the proviso that it'll be at least as good as you'd expect from the price. I've always been happy with lastminute though, and was very pleased to see that, instead of the Grand Circle seat I'd been expecting (the cheapest price band, for which they charged me £16.50), I was in the Stalls! I made my way in, meeting the other group members on the way, and - after some confusion about where row "AY" was - discovered that, moreover, I was in the very front row! Well now.. and for half (or less) what I'd have paid to book that seat specifically, from the venue. Great legroom, it goes without saying.

The stage set is a school - patently Christian, with posters and stickers all over the walls about how Jesus loves us, and of children laughing and singing together. Lots of crosses, and a confessional-style booth, which of course is used as a puppet show booth. Because, ladies and gentlemen, the star of this show is.. a demonically possessed hand puppet.

Catchy Christian rock plays as the audience take their seats, then the lights go down and we're introduced to said puppet. Who treats us to a monologue about the development of society (and religion, along the way), and is obviously not a fan - pointing out how the Devil is used as a scapegoat for awkward behaviour, or things we don't understand. The story proper then begins, of a Christian class - three pupils - who are being encouraged by their harassed teacher to stage a puppet show with Christian themes. One of them is her son, whose act she thinks the most promising.. and you might recognise his puppet, from the opening monologue. Yes, there's more to this puppet than meets the eye..

So, they've described this as "The Book of Mormon" meets "Avenue Q".. or "Sesame Street" meets "The Exorcist". The connections are obvious - The Book of Mormon for the bad language and religion-bashing, Avenue Q and Sesame Street for the puppets, The Exorcist for the - well, the Devil. Let me say from the outset, I found it hilarious - I thought the possessed puppet was a laugh-riot, and I had a ball. I thought the guy with said puppet on his hand, who constantly switched voices and characters throughout, was brilliant.

The acting in general was terrific, although the actors supposed to be portraying youngsters maybe didn't quite look as young as they were supposed to be. I loved the set design, walls frequently revolving so that we could enter different rooms in seconds. Being so close, it was also fascinating to check out the details - the books in the bookcase of the pastor's office, for instance, which gave a hint as to where exactly this was set - somewhere in the States, judging by the accents, but I did notice a book on Texas.

The touted "controversial" aspect of the play, however, didn't work for our audience - was the general opinion of our group. Britain is too secular a society, we're used to Christanity-bashing, we've heard pretty much all of this before. Possibly it'd have more of an impact in the Bible Belt. Still, it was laugh-out-loud funny to see the puppet have a go at it, and anyway, as the puppet said, the Devil is only a scapegoat - something else is going on, and cleverly portrayed. Yes, I recommend this - it is great fun. Currently booking up to June - I anticipate a long run.

Afterwards, after waiting a bit to collect our sundry members, we trotted up the road to Brown's. Good job I'd mapped it on Streetview - I seemed to be the clearest about where we were going! A calm and pleasant place, not at all crowded, the decor all dark colours and table lamps, with mirrors to prevent it feeling cramped. It is a large space - we could've gone through to the restaurant, but not many were very hungry, so we stayed in the bar. They have a food menu - also an extensive drinks and bar snacks menu, with plenty of unusual nibbles, a decent wine list, and a unique cocktail list. And there we stayed, imbibing tasty nibbles and tempting drinks (three of our group ordered Champagne, which came with glasses that had pieces of strawberry in them! - a nice touch). So we stayed, and we chatted, and we stayed some more and chatted some more, and by the time we finally left, they'd stopped serving and started putting chairs up on the tables around us.

Back the way we'd come, and for once, I made the bus stop seconds before my bus arrived! It was already way past my bedtime, given that I'm in Guildford today, so too late to blog.  Tonight, I'm joining the London European Club for Light, an interesting play at Battersea Arts Centre - what a relief, as it's close enough for me to walk, so no complicated routes to figure out. I see the show is completely sold out now.. Tomorrow, I'm supposed to be joining them again, for a talk entitled The Global Refugee Crisis: a Challenge to Our Common Humanity. Frankly though, it's unlikely, as I'll be in Guildford again. Watch this space for more details.

Eschewing all the Valentiney things I could be doing in London, I'm back to Ireland for the weekend. Next week starts with not one, but two, outings with the Man with the Hat - on Monday, London for Less Than a Tenner is going to a show called Free Admission (confusion always a risk with that name..) at Soho Theatre. And on Tuesday, he's off to another classical concert at St. Martin-in-the-Fields. And I'm schlepping along to both.

On the 17th & 18th, I'm back with LDAM - the 17th for The End of Longing, starring - and written by - Matthew Perry, at the Playhouse Theatre. His playwriting debut. I got my ticket through London Box Office. On the 18th, we're headed to The Patriotic Traitor, at Park Theatre. Tom Conti stars as Philippe Pétain, the title character, a good friend of De Gaulle, who nonetheless has him tried for treason as a Nazi collaborator.

On the 19th, I've got another cheap ticket to the Circus Show at The Aeronaut - it'll be interesting to see how much the lineup changes! On the 20th, I'm back with the London European Club, for Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras, at Sadler's Wells. Part of their Flamenco Festival. Olé! And on the 21st, I'm finally heading to one of those famous free gigs at the Finsbury - there are actually two Meetup groups heading there, I've signed up with both! - specifically, the World Music Meetup and London Gigs and Alternative Events.. 6 currently going to each, I see, but not the same 6, by the look of it..

Play: Ghost Stories

I've had Ghost Stories booked for months - I had time over Christmas to think about such things, you see! Found a terrific deal with lastminute.com - one of their meal + show deals. Cheapest tickets - at the time, anyway, although I think I've seen some deals since - were about £35. This deal, however, for £37.50, guaranteed you a top-price (£39) ticket to the show, plus a two-course meal at Ruby Blue, just down the road! Yes please..

I was a bit worried when the tube strikes were announced, but they weren't as severe as feared, and in the event, tonight's was called off anyway. I left in plenty of time to catch a Tube to Leicester Square, the nearest for both restaurant and theatre. I knew, from Google Maps Streetview, where Ruby Blue was - basically, turn right at the Haagen-Dazs place. Same street as the Prince Charles cinema, actually. I was early (what a luxury!), so mooched around for a while, reading the Standard I picked up upon exiting the Tube station.

I headed over at about 10 to 6 - my booking was for 6. The nice chap at the door, with the headphones, simply asked whether I wanted the bar or restaurant. You go upstairs for both - turn left for the bar, straight ahead for the restaurant. It's not hard to tell them apart - even at that hour, the bar was pulsing with psychedelic multi-coloured light beams.

This place is entirely too cool for what it is. Well, I suppose there are those who like that. Not to my taste, really. Now, it's fine, I just think it goes a bit overboard. Anyway, the waiter was really friendly, chatty, personable. I don't know how many times over the next hour and a half he called me "darling". I even got a "doll-face" at the end! Well now, I don't mind that at all.

The restaurant was nearly empty when I arrived - I took a table at the far end of the long room, so I could get a look at the place. Décor was nice, lighting subdued. I was sat beside a white baby grand piano, which, mercifully, didn't have anyone playing it at the time. As he checked for my name on the way in, I saw a whole load of lastminute.com bookings - he mentioned there were some toptable ones as well. I think they constituted the whole of the early evening's takings. Anyway, the lastminute.com menu is a reduced one, from which I chose garlic bread as a starter. The mains were restricted to four - vegetarian curry, burger, ribs, or chicken fajitas. I had the burger. Good wine list, and he informed me that it was Happy Hour! so 40% off wines. Except champagne.

The wine was nice. Of the garlic bread, I got two pieces, one of which lacked any garlic, by the taste (non-existent). The other was quite nice. The burger was ho-hum - with way too much onion - but the chips were perfect. It still wasn't even 7, and the show didn't even start until 8, so I thought I'd have a dessert, and ordered a brownie. Now, the lastminute.com deal only covers two courses, so I had to pay for this - but fair enough. (Wine isn't covered either.) I got to choose off the full menu this time, which has much more choice. I thought it was taking a long time - sure enough, he had to come back and take my order again, whatever he did with the first.. It arrived shortly after - two pieces of piping hot brownie, quite delicious, with a (small) scoop of what tasted like Haagen-Dazs. I swear, I thought I'd never get through it! Give them that, they don't skimp on portions.

And off I headed, at 7.20, for the Arts Theatre. It's a short walk from Leicester Square - just head back towards the Tube, cross the road (past the rickshaw driver honking for attention), straight ahead and first left. And I entered a crammed lobby, the whole place decorated in horror style, all black and red, with police tape. I pushed my way to the box office and collected my ticket from a couple of ladies wearing black t-shirts with "Ghost Stories" logos in red. This show is big on merchandising - there's a list of goods and prices on the way down to the auditorium / toilets. Now, lastminute.com doesn't give out seat numbers in advance, it's up to the venue - but I have always had excellent seats from them, and this was no exception. I was in E10 in the stalls, five rows from the front, which is about right, and right bang slap in the middle.

With time to kill, I decided to go to the toilet. Now, I really have to recommend, if you're seeing this show, that you go to the toilet beforehand. No, it has nothing to do with any frights you might get - but the toilets are right beside the auditorium, and the backing track that's played before the show is piped in there as well. That's something I haven't come across before - going to the loo to a soundtrack of moans, drips, clanking, and that weird bass they play for horror films. It really enlivens the experience. Pity about the non-functioning hand dryers, though..

When the doors opened, I was one of the first in. And then I sat. O Lordy, they need to improve their seating stock! Those springs gave an awful creak as I settled in, and there's no lower back support. Anyway, it was fine.

Now, despite the name, this is not one of London's posher theatres. Tonight, it was even scruffier than I remembered, although that probably had much to do with the production. The show itself takes the form of a lecture, by a professor of parapsychology, on the phenomenon of ghost stories, why we want to believe in them, and alternative explanations. No, don't get bored.. it's very interesting, and peppered with photos of supernatural phenomena. Or are they? (I found the wedding photo really interesting. The whole audience, including me, gasped at something the "professor" pointed out. Go see the show to see what I mean.)

He goes on to describe three ghost stories that were told to him by the people that experienced them. Or rather, the subjects themselves act out the story. These contain a large element of humour, but they're very well done. The special effects are excellent.

And then there's a fourth. And I have to say that this one really sent a shiver down my spine, and developed in me a sense of unease that persisted all the way home. And part of it was trickery, and I can define exactly why they managed to unnerve me (but I won't) - but part of it was just excellently scripted horror, the best I've seen on stage, and better than much I've seen on screen. Terrifically acted, brilliantly directed. And for that fourth story, I say - if you like to be scared, go see this.

As they take their bows, just like in The Mousetrap, an actor comes to the front to ask the audience not to reveal the secret. And I won't. But what was really nice was, this being the first night, the writers were waiting in the lobby as we left, handing out special badges to us all!

Now, you can buy Ghost Stories badges at other performances, but they won't be special Opening Night badges. So there! Oh, I had a terrific night.. one of my best since I moved here. Hey, and on the Tube home, the lady sitting opposite me had exactly the same boots on that I did! Fancy - I've never seen them on anyone else.

So, back to Ireland tomorrow. And power has been restored to my mother's house, so I might have a relaxing weekend after all! Monday, so far, is looking like a film, and more specifically, Her, which is rating very highly on IMDB. Joaquin Phoenix falls in love with his OS, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. Also stars Amy Adams and Rooney Mara. And then I'm in Guildford again on Tuesday..