Musical: La Bamba

Today, headed to La Bamba - a musical at the Peacock. The matinee, since I had the choice - cheaper tickets that way. Just as well I checked though - I'd forgotten it was the matinee! Funnily enough, Mandy went yesterday evening.

On the bus - which arrived promptly, and made good time - the driver was giving another driver a lift. And on one occasion when we were stuck in traffic, the guy who was getting the lift remarked how bad it was! Took him two hours yesterday, he said, to get from one end of the route to the other.. now, even with the rush hour, that's twice what it should take! So it's not just passengers who are inconvenienced by all these delays and detours..

I was in time to have a bite at Pret, across the road from the theatre, so I had brunch there, then moseyed across - with the crowds in the bars, and indeed the prices here, I took my seat straight away. Well, I say "straight away" - I had no idea where Row "ZB" was. Turns out, firstly, that it only exists right in the middle of the auditorium, and that it's the very back row. And secondly, it turns out that the usher sent me in the wrong door - what a surprise.

Now, Row Z is followed by Rows ZA and ZB - but unlike the rest of the rows in the auditorium, they're not raked. So they're not great for a view - almost everyone around me changed to a better seat; there were enough empty ones. Me, I stayed put - I could shift around a bit if I needed to see past this pair's heads, and there wasn't much to miss anyway.

So. The music was - in parts - excellent, the choreography perfect. However, I really wished they had stuck to the song and dance numbers, rather than what they did do, which was to hang the whole thing on a twee coming-of-age story. The young star of the show wasn't half as good a singer as the older woman playing her mother, either - ah well. I wasn't the only person dissatisfied - I'd read a bad review before seeing it, and a number of audience members today just remarked that they thought it'd be - different. Not really recommended at all, then - runs till Saturday if you're interested.

Afterwards, continuing the Latino theme, I headed to Nando's, and was well-fed - also got the chance to use my tokens, so I got the food for free, just paid for the wine. While I was there, what I'd have to call "an entourage" came in - a few as an advance guard to check they had room, then the rest sauntered in with this bloke in shades and silver chains. Accompanied by another bloke with a professional-looking camera. Now, whether the guy in shades really was supposed to be be someone, I dunno..

Tomorrow, booked on another of Barrie's walks with the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners - this time, it's Mile End. But just today, I saw London Baroque Music Lovers had scheduled a trip to see Céphale et Procris, at Grimeborn at the Arcola. So now I've booked that instead - it's too long since I've seen them, and I hadn't actually paid for the walk anyway. Plus it's due to rain.

On Friday, back with Laurence Summers and the 45+s, yet again - couldn't resist a walk around Glorious and Grimy Gray's Inn Road! Mind you, this is subject to me cancelling, if I should happen to get a job interview - watch this space. Might be able to go for lunch, at least. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again - where there are plenty of films I want to see, but none, it seems, on at a time when I can see them..

On Monday, I signed with London Socials again - I didn't count on me going, mind. They're off to listen to some music in the Archway Tavern. And sure enough, I came up with something better - during my long session with Ivan on Sunday night, he mentioned a fascination with Shakespeare's Globe, so I asked whether he'd like to go to a play there. And so it came about that we're now going to see Macbeth there, on Monday. I do hope he arrives in time to explore a bit!

On Tuesday, I've finally booked to see Dr. Semmelweiss, at the Harold Pinter. Cheapest tickets I found were with What's on Stage, who sent me off to Love Theatre..

Next Wednesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Sara and Cariad's Weirdo's Book Club - a live version of the podcast by Sara Pascoe and Cariad Lloyd - at 21 Soho. Tickets from Ticket Text.

And on the 7th, I was to be back for the first time in months to Watkin's Bookshop, for an author talk: this is Pagans by Ethan Doyle White. However turns out The Hideout has a new group - London Hot 100 Socials, Music & More. So I'm heading off with them for a game of mini golf! At Westfield, where I haven't been in almost 10 years.. Well, I like the group, so..