Tonight, the Crick Crack Club was back at Rich Mix, where Ben Haggerty, one of the co-founders of the club, was retelling the story of Frankenstein. Suitably spooky in this spookiest of months.. and I can think of no better performer to set the scene! Also a while since I've been to the Crick Crack Club, and I did miss it..
I was having a fun time at after-work drinks in the office, actually, helping them to empty their wine stash - and was loath to leave. Dragged myself away after my second glass.. wasted a couple of minutes looking for the phone I'd just put in my bag.. and legged it up the road, only just in time for the bus, which, mercifully, was stopped at the lights as I ran for the stop! With minutes to spare, we passed Rich Mix - I got off just after, and once I was in, made my way straight upstairs, where I knew the event was happening. I should've read the email more carefully, which said to pick up our tickets downstairs.. they have had a desk upstairs in the past. Anyway, I appealed to the lady at the door, who said it was ok on my phone.. then I couldn't find it.. but I found the email giving directions, which confirmed the date, and bless her, she said that was good enough.
I took a seat in the front, as usual - somewhat to the side, as it was by now quite full. The stage was suitably Gothically attired..
Tonight, Ben Haggerty - in his customary black - was accompanied by Sianed Jones on accordion, guitar, and violin. She was dressed to match him, black coat and trousers - and each had a top hat, to fit the period of what he described as the first modern fairytale.
Now, we all know the story of Frankenstein, yes? The mad scientist, concocting weird experiments in his cellar, running bolts of lightning through to bring his horrific creation to life. Appalled at what he's done, he then rejects the creature, which, left to find its own way in the world, seeks companionship and a purpose, but is rejected by everyone else as well, terrified as they are at its horrific appearance. Despairing and bitter, it seeks revenge on its creator, for bringing it into the world and abandoning it.
The genius of Frankenstein, however, isn't in the horror of bolts of lightning, or the appearance of the creature - it became clear, as we listened to Ben Haggerty describe in great detail the family and upbringing of the scientist, and how he went off to study science at university - as we got to know him as a person: and later, as we got into the mind of his creation: that the greatest horror of this classic story is the loneliness. The irresponsibility of bringing life to a creature and then abandoning it to its own devices. Its shattering loneliness as it's shunned by everyone. The terror as it comes relentlessly after its maker, and the desolation of the final scenes, in the far north, and the creature's suicide, following the death of its creator.
Mary Shelley was only 18 when she wrote this, y'know. What an imagination she had.. and indeed, as Ben Haggerty explained to us at the end, we should read the original, which is a fabulous mix of different perspectives. Even includes a piece about the rights of women in Turkey, apparently! (Mary's mother was the feminist, Mary Wollenstonecraft, you know, and even though she died when Mary was very young, her father brought her up with the same liberal principles. So, as they say, it wasn't off the stones she got it!) And what a sensitive and thrilling portrayal we got from Ben Haggerty - I knew I was right to look forward to this!
They're trying to raise money to commission new pieces; I didn't have much cash on me, but gave them a little, dropped into the top hat that was proffered as we left. Go Crick Crack.. Happy 30th birthday!
Was just in time for the bus back, and got a paper on it, which someone had left behind. So, rather a good night all round - I hardly ever pick up the free paper these days, with hardly ever taking the Tube. Tomorrow, Spooky London Pubs is off to a "Pre-Hallowe'en" Psychic Fair at the King and Queen pub, just down the road from me. Free entry - well, I couldn't say no to that! Can always leave if it's not interesting. That's in the afternoon - in the evening, I'm off to Oslo. The play, not the city! (Despite all my Scandic jaunts of late!) Taking place in the Harold Pinter Theatre, it tells the story of the Oslo peace accords. Has rave reviews. Cheapest tickets were with Amazon Tickets.
On Sunday, I'm with Walking in London (a Funzing group) for Southwark's Saucy Secrets.. Hope I can make this one in time! If the day is terrible, I'll go to the cinema instead - I have done the film list.
On Monday, back with the Crick Crack Club - at Soho Theatre this time, with Nell Phoenix telling us all about Tricksterland: a favourite theme of hers!
On Tuesday, the London European Club (first time in ages!) - we're off to the Barbican for a dance production by the Michael Clark Company.
On Wednesday, Walking Victorian London is doing a walk called Alexander Pope's The Dunciad.
On Thursday, Up in the Cheap Seats is off to Albion, at the Almeida. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again - hopefully, by that stage they'll have cleared the roads following Storm Ophelia. And Storm Brian, which is due to hit this weekend..
On the 30th, I finally get to see Apologia, at Trafalgar Studios - London Dramatic Arts was going to this a while ago, but it was far too expensive on that occasion. Well, that's what you get for having Stockard Channing and Laura Carmichael in it! Amazon Tickets again.
And finally, I'm hoping for a nicely scary Hallowe'en.. when I heard that they were doing the first-ever stage production of The Exorcist - and what's more, it's on in the Phoenix Theatre, right behind the office.. well, that was fate, wasn't it?! I jumped to get a ticket for that, as soon as they went on sale - after all, Hallowe'en has to be its most popular night! Jenny Seagrove plays the mother of the demonically possessed teen..
Tonight, Let's Do This was at another classical concert - this time, at Morley College, for a Beethoven piano recital. Passed it yesterday evening on the bus, so I knew where it was. Cool - I love Beethoven, but don't hear him enough.
Ah, as someone said when we were locked out the other night - our building is a real Fawlty Towers! Remember how someone ripped the electronic lock off the door to our corridor, so it couldn't be opened from the outside? (Still waiting for that to be fixed.) Well, someone subsequently decided that, since this was likely to pose further problems for residents wishing to, you know, get to bed, they'd push the emergency release button. Which, sure enough, disables the magnetic lock so the door can be opened. Unfortunately, it also beeps incessantly once activated. Happily, I'm a few doors down from it - I pity those who live closer to the door - and I have great earplugs (the long foam ones, from Boots - recommended). So I slept like a baby! Had to take out the earplugs this morning to confirm that yes, it was still at it.. I see that hasn't prompted management to move any faster..
So I was less tired than usual today. This time, it was a direct bus - a chilly wait, but it came in decent time, and I got off at the Old Vic. A short trek down to the college, and they were waiting outside - I joined them as soon as traffic allowed me to cross; there's no crossing there. Our host had printed out tickets for us - just as well, because when they eventually opened the doors (quite late), they did require them. This concert may have been free, but those without tickets were made to wait.
Not much seating in the lobby, so we stood and queued to get in. I don't think they're terribly used to dealing with large numbers, given how slowly they were processing people at the door. A table to the side bore programmes, and a donation box if you felt like it. Inside, the concert hall had the feel of our old school gym: the same kind of roof, windows up high, a stage at the end, a wide, open floor area.. but this one has thick blue curtains that match the artwork that fills both side walls. Seating was individual chairs - hard plastic on the floor area, or upholstered ones to the back, where steps provided tiered seating. Two of our group decided to be close, and sat on the hard seats, in the front - we who favoured comfort sat up the back, and were glad of the extra padding.
Now, this concert was the first of their Beethoven Piano Concerto season, which comprises five concerts, each of which will feature a Mozart symphony, a modern piece, and a Beethoven piano concerto, in that order. The concertos will run in order from 1 to 5. Each will be conducted by the same chap - my sympathies, he's quite long-winded. I guess he'll be doing the same thing at the start of every concert - namely, interviewing the composer of the modern piece in the middle. And the piano soloists are tutors at the college.
Well, we started - eventually - with Mozart's Symphony #9. Which was pleasant, if a little clunky - remember, these are students. And then we were into the bitter pill of the middle part. Why is it that modern "classical" music is so awful? As I discussed with someone later, I guess there's little left to do with the genre, so in an effort to be different, they end up being.. weird. I've certainly seldom heard a piece so discordant as what came in the middle of tonight's performance.
The evening was redeemed, however, by a wonderful performance from Nikos Stavlas, playing Beethoven's piano concerto #1. This is my favourite composer anyway, so I was an easy sell - but I was absolutely entranced, and not at all surprised to see a crowd around him after the show, with at least one brandishing a notebook and pen, obviously hoping for an autograph. (He performs as well as teaching.) This series is a wonderful idea - free concerts enable you to hear top-class pianists performing some of the most beautiful and passionate classical music. The modern bit in the middle is worth it, frankly - just grit your teeth. It's great publicity for the college - small wonder that the principal, surveying the crowd, looked a teensy bit smug!
Afterwards, back in the drizzle towards Waterloo. We were in search of a pub, but on a Thursday night (or, indeed, most nights), the area is crammed. We ended up in The Wellington, across the road from the station, where we managed to get a table. A rather nice pinot grigio was served to me, along with a perfectly decent bowl of chips - yes, I can recommend the place, although the music was a bit loud, and I can't pretend to have been much interested in the football being broadcast on widescreen tellies wherever you looked. Still, we had a good time, and it ended up being rather a late night. (Yay - you'd miss that with most of the events I go to these days..)
Outside, when we finally called it a night, it was now raining heavier. Still, I had a waterproof on, and might have walked back, being now slightly closer - except for the shoes I was wearing, which chafed like mad. So, with that and the rain - and the lateness of the hour - I finally decided to treat myself to the Tube, and took the Northern Line straight home. Which is where I'm blogging from, for once! And which is why I can testify that that thing is still bloody beeping..
Tomorrow, the Crick Crack Club is back at Rich Mix, where Ben Haggerty, one of the co-founders of the club, is retelling the story of Frankenstein. Suitably spooky in this spookiest of months.. and I can think of no better performer to set the scene!
On Saturday, Spooky London Pubs is off to a "Pre-Hallowe'en" Psychic Fair at the King and Queen pub, just down the road from me. Free entry - well, I couldn't say no to that! Can always leave if it's not interesting. That's in the afternoon - that evening, I'm off to Oslo. The play, not the city! (Despite all my Scandic jaunts of late!) Taking place in the Harold Pinter Theatre, it tells the story of the Oslo peace accords. Has rave reviews. Cheapest tickets were with Amazon Tickets.
On Sunday, I'm with Walking in London (a Funzing group) for Southwark's Saucy Secrets.. Hope I can make this one in time! If the day is terrible, I'll go to the cinema instead - I have done the film list.
On Monday, back with the Crick Crack Club - at Soho Theatre this time, with Nell Phoenix telling us all about Tricksterland: a favourite theme of hers!
On Tuesday, the London European Club (first time in ages!) - we're off to the Barbican for a dance production by the Michael Clark Company.
On Wednesday, Walking Victorian London is doing a walk called Alexander Pope's The Dunciad.
Next Thursday, Up in the Cheap Seats is off to Albion, at the Almeida. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again - hopefully, by that stage they'll have cleared the roads following Storm Ophelia. And Storm Brian, which is due to hit this weekend..
On the 30th, I finally get to see Apologia, at Trafalgar Studios - London Dramatic Arts was going to this a while ago, but it was far too expensive on that occasion. Well, that's what you get for having Stockard Channing and Laura Carmichael in it! Amazon Tickets again.
And finally, I'm hoping for a nicely scary Hallowe'en.. when I heard that they were doing the first-ever stage production of The Exorcist - and what's more, it's on in the Phoenix Theatre, right behind the office.. well, that was fate, wasn't it?! I jumped to get a ticket for that, as soon as they went on sale - after all, Hallowe'en has to be its most popular night! Jenny Seagrove plays the mother of the demonically possessed teen..
Tonight, I was with TunedIn London at Sands Films again, with Jean Paul Samputu, a Rwandan singer songwriter. Advertised via the World Music Meetup. Always a venue I try to get to, and although I hadn't heard of him, I liked what I heard on YouTube.
Heh. Y'know how I was looking forward to a nice, long sleep last night..? Sometimes I feel as though I'll never sleep again. I was fast asleep at 5am when that blasted fire alarm went off.. again. Dressed groggily, and out I went into the cold - at least it wasn't raining. Three fire engines this time - and they let us back in at about 5.25. Except.. some idiot had ripped the electronic lock off the door to my corridor. So we couldn't get in. Engineers were called - doesn't mean they arrived, of course. Finally, after about half an hour of waiting around, someone did a reccie, and coming back, asked whether anyone there had a room that overlooked the overhang. Two had. Were their windows open? Yes, a little. Right! he said. He'd found an open window on this side of the door - so what they had to do was climb out, make their way along the overhang, and climb in their own windows, letting us in the door from the other side.
And that, at nearly 6am, is what they did! I did sleep after that, but fitfully - plays havoc with your nerves, this sort of thing, you know! So I spent the day yawning. Happily, the second of our back-to-back meetings finished early, and I headed off a bit earlier than the last time I had to make my way to Rotherhithe. And both my buses arrived at the stops as I did - although I damn near fell asleep on the first one, only waking when it lurched around a corner.
Wouldn't you know it, on the evening I got away early, the second bus flew through to Rotherhithe! Traffic had been so bad last time I'd had to get out and walk - no, on this occasion, I was in plenty of time. Was quickly introduced to someone whom, it turned out, I'd met in Film Nite! Lordy, that was a while ago.. Was helpfully given a flier for Tuned In London's season by the organiser's little daughter - she seems to be developing quite a flair for the theatre! I can just see her on stage before many more years..
Jean Paul started by speaking to us, in what the organiser remarked was a rather soft voice. Yes, as he said, it gets louder when he's singing.. and to prove the point, he gave us a couple of hours of delightful, multilingual music - just one man and his guitar. I tell you though, he really got into his stride in the second half, where nothing would do him but to get us up and dancing! Had there been more space, he might have succeeded. His success might have been limited, but undaunted, he started to dance himself. With a rather wicked sense of humour, he promised to bring a cow next time - this bargain being made with an old friend of his. Yes, he said, and he'd bring dancers, and a percussionist, and a guitarist so he could spend his time dancing! And what a fantastic atmosphere it was, people dancing, and him cavorting with a guitar and a smile..
Singing, dancing, music and making jokes - that's not all he's about, and we were greatly moved by his sad tale of losing his family in the Rwandan genocide. Determined not to be defined by revenge, he has participated in a forgiveness ceremony, and now makes this his campaign. And you know, he's impossible to argue with! With that big smile, that sunny disposition - perhaps the only thing he couldn't persuade us to do - was dance. ;-) As someone explained to me at the interval, we were lucky to catch him in the country - he's much in demand by the UN, and jets to places all around the world to perform.
We also learned that the evening's photographer, who has a home in Morocco, has made it her mission to help the sterilisation of cats there, to prevent strays. We got links, as follows..
Bus home again, but this time, the Banqueting House wasn't lit as I passed, unlike Monday. Bummer.
Tomorrow, Let's Do This is at another classical concert - this time, at Morley College, for a Beethoven piano recital. Passed it this evening on the bus, so I now know where it is. Cool - I love Beethoven, but don't hear him enough.
On Friday, the Crick Crack Club is back at Rich Mix, where Ben Haggerty, one of the co-founders of the club, is retelling the story of Frankenstein. Suitably spooky in this spookiest of months.. and I can think of no better performer to set the scene!
On Saturday, Spooky London Pubs is off to a "Pre-Hallowe'en" Psychic Fair at the King and Queen pub, just down the road from me. Free entry - well, I couldn't say no to that! Can always leave if it's not interesting. That's in the afternoon - that evening, I'm off to Oslo. The play, not the city! (Despite all my Scandic jaunts of late!) Taking place in the Harold Pinter Theatre, it tells the story of the Oslo peace accords. Has rave reviews. Cheapest tickets were with Amazon Tickets.
On Sunday, I'm with Walking in London (a Funzing group) for Southwark's Saucy Secrets.. Hope I can make this one in time!
On Monday, back with the Crick Crack Club - at Soho Theatre this time, with Nell Phoenix telling us all about Tricksterland: a favourite theme of hers!
On Tuesday, the London European Club (first time in ages!) - we're off to the Barbican for a dance production by the Michael Clark Company.
Next Wednesday, Walking Victorian London is doing a walk called Alexander Pope's The Dunciad.
On the 26th, Up in the Cheap Seats is off to Albion, at the Almeida. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again - hopefully, by that stage they'll have cleared the roads following Storm Ophelia.
On the 30th, I finally get to see Apologia, at Trafalgar Studios - London Dramatic Arts was going to this a while ago, but it was far too expensive on that occasion. Well, that's what you get for having Stockard Channing and Laura Carmichael in it! Amazon Tickets again.
And finally, I'm hoping for a nicely scary Hallowe'en.. when I heard that they were doing the first-ever stage production of The Exorcist - and what's more, it's on in the Phoenix Theatre, right behind the office.. well, that was fate, wasn't it?! I jumped to get a ticket for that, as soon as they went on sale - after all, Hallowe'en has to be its most popular night!
Today, Meetup was proving pretty unproductive, so I decided to go to a film. Top of the list, in terms of IMDB ratings, was Loving Vincent - a documentary about Vincent van Gogh, filmed completely as an artwork, oil paintings having replaced the film frames. Word has it you'd do better with this if you don't know much about him: which is perfect, as I knew very little. It's at the Odeon Panton Street, and I'd normally book, for the online discount, but frankly, the ticket price there is so low that the booking fee I'd have to pay with online booking is more than the discount I'd get!
God, I'm tired today. See, not only was I up late last night blogging - be glad of an early night tonight - but just as I was finally getting ready for bed (at nearly 2am), I got a crazy Meetup message from someone I would have considered a friend, accusing me of things I was completely innocent of, and calling me every name under the sun! Now, I wasn't letting that go - so I defended myself, posted proof of my side of things online, and promptly blocked her both on Meetup and as a contact on my phone. Someone said today that I should have given her a chance to apologise - but frankly, some things that are said can't be unsaid, and the way she's acted is just unstable. I can do without that stress in my life - goodness, I'd always be watching for her to do something like it again! Better off without her. Unfortunately, she's booked to go to a couple of Crick Crack Club things I'm going to, before the end of the year.. well, at least other friends of mine are going too, so I'll have some moral support!
Anyway, not only was I late to bed, but slept badly, and yawned my way through much of today. Including our late meeting, which ran even later than scheduled. Still, it's under 10 minutes' walk to the cinema, so I made it more or less in time. From Shaftesbury Avenue, just head south on Wardour Street until you see the Odeon sign. Now, I bought my ticket from a machine in the foyer - but used my loyalty card to pay, knowing I had enough points. Jeez though, it was a complicated operation! User Interface design obviously isn't the strong point of these machine manufacturers. Managed it in the end, got my ticket for free, and made my way into a fairly full screen, just in time for the trailers - which was nice, as I saw trailers for a few films I've heard the names of but nothing else about.
So the film stars Douglas Booth as the son of Chris O' Dowd, sporting an impressive beard, who plays the postman who ferried letters between Vincent and his beloved brother. The story takes place a year after Vincent's death, when the postman entrusts his son with finding the brother, to give him one last letter from Vincent, never delivered. Turns out the brother died not long after - they were very close, and it was thought he just couldn't bear to live without him - so the postman's son travels to Auvers-sur-Oise, where Vincent spent his last years, in the hopes of finding people who knew Vincent, and might know where to find Vincent's sister-in-law. Along the way, he meets a chest of characters who knew Vincent; Aidan Turner is the local boatman, Saoirse Ronan is the daughter of the homeopathic doctor who befriended Vincent, and whom Vincent was rumoured to be in love with, Helen McCrory plays his housekeeper. Also stars John Sessions and James Greene.
And you get to see them all as oil paintings! Now, not the entire film is depicted this way - the flashbacks are in charcoal. But my God, it all looks fantastic! The story moves along pleasantly enough - but it's such a delight to look at. With 100 artists working on it, it is so obviously a labour of love - to see the detail as they move from frame to frame, catching all the subtle character movements; the movement is so fluid and true-to-life that you nearly forget you're watching an animation. And the work that must have gone into depicting so many individual frames, just to achieve that reality.. and all in the style of van Gogh!
It's an absolute joy - and it's well worth staying for the first part of the end credits, where they explain how pretty much every character, every extra, their look, their costume - were based on paintings by van Gogh, showing the paintings side-by-side with photos of the actors. That, for instance, is why Chris O' Dowd has that big, impressive beard! This film is an absolute marvel, and I'm so glad I saw it.
Tomorrow, I'm with TunedIn London at Sands Films again, with Jean Paul Samputu, a Rwandan singer songwriter. Advertised via the World Music Meetup.
On Thursday, Let's Do This is at another classical concert - this time, at Morley College, for a Beethoven piano recital. Cool - I love Beethoven, but don't hear him enough.
On Friday, the Crick Crack Club is back at Rich Mix, where Ben Haggerty, one of the co-founders of the club, is retelling the story of Frankenstein. Suitably spooky in this spookiest of months.. and I can think of no better performer to set the scene!
On Saturday, Spooky London Pubs is off to a "Pre-Hallowe'en" Psychic Fair at the King and Queen pub, just down the road from me. Free entry - well, I couldn't say no to that! Can always leave if it's not interesting. That's in the afternoon - that evening, I'm off to Oslo. The play, not the city! (Despite all my Scandic jaunts of late!) Taking place in the Harold Pinter Theatre, it tells the story of the Oslo peace accords. Has rave reviews. Cheapest tickets were with Amazon Tickets.
On Sunday, I'm with Walking in London (a Funzing group) for Southwark's Saucy Secrets.. Hope I can make this one in time!
On Monday, back with the Crick Crack Club - at Soho Theatre this time, with Nell Phoenix telling us all about Tricksterland: a favourite theme of hers! Don't worry - the crazy lady isn't coming to either of these, far as I know.
Next Tuesday, the London European Club (first time in ages!) - we're off to the Barbican for a dance production by the Michael Clark Company.
On the 25th, Walking Victorian London is doing a walk called Alexander Pope's The Dunciad.
On the 26th, Up in the Cheap Seats is off to Albion, at the Almeida. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again - hopefully, by that stage they'll have cleared the roads following Storm Ophelia.
On the 30th, I finally get to see Apologia, at Trafalgar Studios - London Dramatic Arts was going to this a while ago, but it was far too expensive on that occasion. Well, that's what you get for having Stockard Channing and Laura Carmichael in it! Amazon Tickets again.
And finally, I'm hoping for a nicely scary Hallowe'en.. when I heard that they were doing the first-ever stage production of The Exorcist - and what's more, it's on in the Phoenix Theatre, right behind the office.. well, that was fate, wasn't it?! I jumped to get a ticket for that, as soon as they went on sale - after all, Hallowe'en has to be its most popular night!
Today, I had lunch with Helen at Cafe Milano - might be one of the last times, before our office moves to Shoreditch. Cheap, and the food is good - I'll miss it! Anyway, we skipped starters, to leave room for dessert - she had a pizza, which came on a wooden platter with handle, and I had spaghetti carbonara: my usual here, and which I know I'll enjoy. And it all got eaten.. dessert for her was a couple of scoops of ice cream, which came in a tall glass, sundae-style - mine was the chocolate fudge cake, natch. Which I asked for cold - warming it just lets the fudge run around the plate, which entirely defeats the purpose. And my entire bill - including wine - was about the price of the main course I had for lunch, my last day in Stockholm..
Tonight, back at Southwark Playhouse with Up in the Cheap Seats - this time, it was for A Day By the Sea, and reunited me with some familiar faces. Took the bus out there - and boy, was I cold while waiting! We might have escaped the worst of storm Ophelia - and I was lucky to escape just before it hit - but it's pretty damn windy here tonight. Earlier, we got some interesting effects from the Saharan sand it blew over us:
By the time I left though, it was twilight, and soon dark. Got off the bus just up from the theatre - and had a very blustery walk down! Glad to get in, I collected my ticket, and found the others conveniently positioned just inside the door. Where we stayed until deciding we'd finally better make a move - it was allocated seating, and for once there was no queue. Nice, comfy, padded seats - just as well, for a nearly-three-hour production, including interval.
The stage takes the form of a series of misaligned picture frames, framing the set in the middle, which I guess is meant to represent a nostalgic look back. Because this takes place in the 50s. Music was blaring as we went in, and various cast members came and went as we were taking our seats - an old man dozed in a chair, a little girl played on a swing, a little boy came dashing in and just as quickly dashed out again. An old lady tended the garden.
The writer, N. C. Hunter, is apparently described as "The English Chekhov" - and the similarities to Chekhov are easy to spot. A family estate in the country.. an old generation giving way to the new, afraid that they'll change everything.. a collection of family characters, including servants and one acquaintance who fancies himself as an intellectual, but never made much of his talents and now lives off the family's generosity. The family matriarch, who overspends and lives in something of a fantasy world. Unrequited love from a number of sides. Why, we could be in The Cherry Orchard..
But no, we're in England of the 1950s. And it's a long time since I saw such clipped accents and stiff upper lips in a production. Makes a change - and an interesting one. I have to say - apart from the perfectly behaved kids, whom I found annoying - the characters were quite fascinating. The perfectly turned-out young widow, the diplomat in his stiff pinstripe suit, the anxious mother, fretting about everything and reminding me of my own. The boozy doctor (David Acton), the Scottish nanny. Hugh Sachs plays the senior at the foreign office, who just has one scene.
After a lot of exposition in the first half, the drama heats up in the second. The story has gotten quite predictable by that point - so I wouldn't go to this expecting to see action.. or plot twists.. or passion.. Instead, what we were given was a play of genteel manners - which did mask deeper feelings. I don't think it's going to take off as a type of theatre, but it did make for pleasant viewing, and did make a change from the norm. Runs till the 28th.
Afterwards, as usual, there was no general move to the bar, so we made our way home. In continuingly blustery conditions. Now, tomorrow, Meetup is proving pretty unproductive, so I think I'll go to a film. Top of the list, in terms of IMDB ratings, is Loving Vincent - a documentary about Vincent van Gogh, filmed completely as an artwork, oil paintings having replaced the film frames. Word has it you'll do better with this if you don't know much about him: which is perfect, as I know very little. Will probably give it a shot - it's at the Odeon Panton Street, and I'd normally book, for the online discount, but frankly, the ticket price there is so low that the booking fee I'd have to pay with online booking is more than the discount I'd get!
On Wednesday, I'm with TunedIn London at Sands Films again, with Jean Paul Samputu, a Rwandan singer songwriter. Advertised via the World Music Meetup.
On Thursday, Let's Do This is at another classical concert - this time, at Morley College, for a Beethoven piano recital. Cool - I love Beethoven, but don't hear him enough.
On Friday, the Crick Crack Club is back at Rich Mix, where Ben Haggerty, one of the co-founders of the club, is retelling the story of Frankenstein. Suitably spooky in this spookiest of months.. and I can think of no better performer to set the scene!
On Saturday, Spooky London Pubs is off to a "Pre-Hallowe'en" Psychic Fair at the King and Queen pub, just down the road from me. Free entry - well, I couldn't say no to that! Can always leave if it's not interesting. That's in the afternoon - that evening, I'm off to Oslo. The play, not the city! (Despite all my Scandic jaunts of late!) Taking place in the Harold Pinter Theatre, it tells the story of the Oslo peace accords. Has rave reviews. Cheapest tickets were with Amazon Tickets.
On Sunday, I'm with Walking in London (a Funzing group) for Southwark's Saucy Secrets.. Hope I can make this one in time!
Next Monday, back with the Crick Crack Club - at Soho Theatre this time, with Nell Phoenix telling us all about Tricksterland: a favourite theme of hers!
On the 24th, the London European Club (first time in ages!) - we're off to the Barbican for a dance production by the Michael Clark Company.
On the 25th, Walking Victorian London is doing a walk called Alexander Pope's The Dunciad.
On the 26th, Up in the Cheap Seats is off to Albion, at the Almeida. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On the 30th, I finally get to see Apologia, at Trafalgar Studios - London Dramatic Arts was going to this a while ago, but it was far too expensive on that occasion. Well, that's what you get for having Stockard Channing and Laura Carmichael in it! Amazon Tickets again.
And finally, I'm hoping for a nicely scary Hallowe'en.. when I heard that they were doing the first-ever stage production of The Exorcist - and what's more, it's on in the Phoenix Theatre, right behind the office.. well, that was fate, wasn't it?! I jumped to get a ticket for that, as soon as they went on sale - after all, Hallowe'en has to be the most popular night!
Tonight, Let's Do This were back to St. Martin-in-the-Fields, where London Concertante was performing Bach Violin Concertos. An easy stroll from the office (in its current location), and I stayed in the office till about 6:50 - the organiser said he'd be outside, with our tickets and free programmes, from 7. Indeed, I nearly made that - we met on the porch, got our tickets and programmes, chatted a bit - and when everyone had arrived, we went inside. It was pretty damn nippy!
We who had side seats were seated in boxes - which meant a side view for me, and my neck stayed twisted uncomfortably for most of the night. And I could've done without the fat lady in the box beside me, who needed so much space for her elbow that I couldn't sit back. Never mind.. I had the best view of the stage (well, altar!) that I've had for years! I mean, I could actually see the harpsichord..
Ah, Concertante. The same old jokes - but they're good ones. We'd miss them, to be honest! And for all the times I've come here, I keep forgetting what a lovely venue it is, with its ornate gilt chandeliers and plastered ceilings, like a wedding cake - and how perfectly it suits the music, which was sublime. Mozart was followed by Albinoni was followed by Bach - and Oblivion, by Piazzolla, as usual, to take us into the interval. For afterwards, more Mozart and Bach. I was truly transported - it's not that often I get to classical concerts, of all the things I go to, and this venue is a treat.
Afterwards, just a couple of us repaired to The Chandos - much busier than the last time we were here, and tables and chairs were prized properties! Our organiser kept a keen eye out, and we were sat before long. A most pleasant chat ensued, putting a fine end to what was a delightful evening. So glad I came..
Tomorrow, I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again. And on Monday, back at Southwark Playhouse with Up in the Cheap Seats - this time, it's for A Day By the Sea.
Tonight, I was back with Funzing (London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night) for a talk on Revolution in Iran: Girl with a Gun. This was an interview with a female Kurdish revolutionary.. on the Battersea Barge, which can get choppy. Never mind. This is one I got for free, for completing a loyalty card with three talks. Work had a Latino night, some corporate VIP being in town on a visit. As it turned out, their "dinner" was takeaway pizza in the office, and they didn't head out for ages - so I did my own thing.
I'm having a rather ill-fated week - spent too long in the office, doing next week's film list, and ended up rushing and taking the Tube to Vauxhall. Where I promptly got lost. Then I discovered I couldn't even go down the side of the road I needed to, what with roadworks.. Then it started to rain on me, which it wasn't supposed to.. Then, when I arrived at the barge, I stopped for a minute to look at it. And yes, it was moving considerably with the swell. Sod it, I said, I don't fancy that, and it was free anyway - and so headed back (by a kindly bus that waited for me), getting soaked in a cloudburst when I got off. Charming. Ah well, at least I got my night back..
Tomorrow, 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 on Monday, back at Southwark Playhouse with Up in the Cheap Seats - this time, it's for A Day By the Sea.
