Opera: No for an Answer

Tonight, was with Up in the Cheap Seats for an opera at the Arcola, as part of Grimeborn - this was No for an Answer. Hardly ever performed, it seems - I hoped there wasn't a good reason for that..

I had to catch a bus near King's Cross, so decided to eat in Nando's. With perfect timing, the rain that was to last all night started just as I was thinking of leaving. At Nando's, unusually, I was sat straight away - first time I haven't had to wait at that one. I tried to order on the app - at least I had it pre-installed this time; last time, it took me 15 minutes to align my account with my card. This time, mind you, it hung on one dialog and wouldn't let me progress - I had to restart. Well, it is supposed to be a beta version.

I ordered my usual - and sure enough, just like last time, the food came before the wine. I said it to the waiter, who seemed completely unconcerned: and sure enough, no wine came before the lady came to ask, as is protocol, whether everything was all right with my meal. When I was halfway through. I said it to her - but it was another five minutes before a surly-looking woman dropped down my wine. With a grunt. Huh - frankly, that kind of service makes me glad I'm moving out of the area. Ain't it funny, though, that Nando's didn't send me their usual survey request today..? Never mind, I can submit my own online reviews.. and have..

And so to the theatre. The direct bus wasn't scheduled to arrive first, but decided to surprise us, which is always handy in the rain. I arrived in the theatre - to be utterly surprised at the queue for the bar! Well, the others weren't there yet - and there was nowhere to sit, really - so I decided I might as well! The organiser joined me just as I came to the bar at last, and we gatecrashed someone else's table, where we eventually found our third person. When it came time to go in, I was peeved to discover I had to take the exterior door, in the rain - until I saw the queue for the other one!

It's set in a diner, where a social club comprising unemployed people gathers. It's hardly ever been performed, as I mentioned - and yes, I'm afraid there is a good reason. I'm sure they're personable characters and all - and certainly, the performers give it all they've got - but dear lord, it's, um, not great. Personally, I found it very tuneless - also a bit dull. Much, I suppose, like the elderly gent across the way, who fell fast asleep at some point early on. As someone said, even the song that references the title - the main song of the piece, therefore - wasn't worth it! Anyway, the interval happened along, and two of the three of us bailed. Hey-ho, it's always a risk with something unknown.. Runs till Saturday, if you're interested. Good to see people anyway!

And so we sploshed home in the rain, and Google Maps seemed completely oblivious to the fact the the #476 bus also goes to King's Cross - which was handy, as that was the next along. Mind you, it does stop a bit further away..

On Thursday, it's also looking like film - what was coming up was a documentary, again in the Curzon Bloomsbury, called Iraq's Invisible Beauty. Squaring the Circle, which is higher rated, doesn't seem to be on that day. Well, until just now, Barbie came higher-rated than what I'd planned to see! Again, the trailer looks excellent - stars Margot Robbie, with Ryan Gosling as Ken. Lots and lots of pink. Showing in - you guessed it - Curzon Bloomsbury - at lots of times, which should work well with my removal to my new flat that day. I'm making an executive decision to see that one. If it has to wait until evening - well, it's also on in the Barbican, which is closer to my new place.

Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again. Film is looking like Talk to Me - now, this is curious, because the trailer looks really familiar, but when I watch it, I don't remember watching the film - fair enough, but does that mean it's a re-release? The release date is last year, so it'd have to be recent. Anyway, it involves a group of friends conjuring spirits by means of an embalmed hand. Produced by A24, the SFX were apparently done by a couple of brothers famous on YouTube! Showing at a decent time in Limerick Omniplex, which is handier for shopping. And ironically, The Hideout / London Movie Club are seeing the same film in London that day! Pity I can't join them.

On Monday, as I won't have started a job by then, I've signed up for A Summer's Day in Hyde Park, with Paul and Tim's Greater London Talks and Walks. Hope the weather is kind..

On Tuesday, back with TAC for a play called The Grain Store, set in Stalinist Russia, and showing in the Mack@Mountview - yay, for once, something closer to my new place!

Next Wednesday, back at last with The Horror Book Club. It's been a while since they were doing anything I was interested in - but I can hardly miss this, a meeting about The Fog by James Herbert. He remains my favourite horror writer overall, and the best descriptive writer I've ever read - to the extent that he literally changed the way I look at the world. And would you believe it, the club has, apparently, never done anything by him! This is, actually, the book that got me back into horror after an absence of years, during which I was traumatised by my reading of another of his, The Rats.. So, well, I can't miss this, can I? And I've just come across a reading of The Fog by Christopher Lee.. listened to the first part already. As someone in the group pointed out, mind you, this version is censored..

And on the 3rd, I've booked with CT to see Skin, a play showing at Brockley Jack Studio Theatre - specifically chosen because it was the closest cheap show to my new place.

I'm then back to Ireland again - yes, two weekends in a row - because I need to reschedule my weekends for what's coming up.. watch this space.