Play: Dr. Semmelweiss

Last night, I 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..

Looking for restaurants thereabout, I came up with - a lot of Italians. On another hot day, I didn't feel like that - so, seeing Angus Steakhouse not too far away, and having had another horrendous afternoon being slandered by my ex-flatmate (who's now accusing me - incorrectly, I might add - of passing his name and number on to the gas and electricity company).. I decided I deserved a treat. So there I went - just made the bus. Which was stifling.

No need to book - it was practically deserted at around 6pm, when I arrived. Whatever the greeter at the door asked me when she showed up, I dunno - I had to ask her to repeat it, and still was none the wiser! I was saved by someone else, who asked smilingly whether everything was ok - and so I was sat, and safe from conversation.

Had those delicious calamari to start. For main, I knew I didn't want steak - and the salmon in a honey, chili and soy sauce glaze sounded the business, so I had that. Fries were extra. At least this time, there was no problem bringing me a carafe of wine! And when it arrived, the calamari was as delicious as ever - the salmon started out spicy, and ended tasting a little peculiar - I don't think I'd have it again. But hey, I was well fed, and service was impeccable, as always these days. As usual, I didn't have time for dessert - perhaps one day.

The theatre was just around the corner - and I managed the climb to the balcony without expiring. I'd chosen an aisle seat, for the legroom:


So, this is the true story of a Hungarian obstetrician (Mark Rylance) in the Vienna General Hospital - then the largest hospital in the world, it seems. With the help of the nursing matron (Pauline McGlynn, painting, as always, a very sympathetic character), he realises that the maternal death rates are lower in the nurses' and midwives' ward than in the doctors'! Unfortunately, he is no player of politics, and to this day, hospital doctors tend to consider nurses and midwives of lower status. So his message doesn't go down well. He then discovers the antiseptic qualities of washing your hands in a solution of Chlorine - so insists that everyone do this. He causes absolute ructions, leading to his eventual dismissal. He returns to Hungary, where the women and children under his care continue to enjoy higher survival rates. He is still haunted, however, by the ghosts of the women he couldn't save..

Well, I'd heard good reports of this. And for sure, it's a powerful production, employing dancers as the ghosts of the deceased. There's also a lovely backing track to the action, played by some of the "ghosts" on violin. But as the ladies behind me were discussing on the bus back, frankly, there were too many dancers, and the music, while lovely, was quite intrusive when played as the actors were delivering their lines. "Over-egging the custard" as one lady described it to her American-sounding companion! I agree. In fact, I found the middle dragged a little, with all of the added elements - but for all that, it is quite powerful in the end. Runs till the 7th, if you're interested.

Started the blog last night, but was unexpectedly exhausted - think I have a touch of flu! Anyway, I slept in, and feel much better now. Tonight, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) 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.

On Thursday, 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 Hideout, so..

On Friday, back with UITCS for The Shatter Box, at the Lion and Unicorn. 

On Saturday, back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners - this walk is Barnet- Royalty, Boozers & a Civil War . Up around his area!

On Sunday, I'm with Cultureseekers - it's Open House, and we're off to the London Scottish House and the Banqueting House. 

On Monday, I'm off to The Effect at the National.

Then - for the first time in a long time - there's a run of Meetup events - and specifically, UITCS! On Tuesday, back with them to see Russell Howard for the last night of his run at the Palladium - terrible trouble finding a decent seat in the Grand Circle, which was all that was left!

Next Wednesday, I was to be back with Laurence and the 45+s for The Long and Winding Road, a walk about, of course, The Beatles! Personal commitments, however, have meant he's postponed it. So now I'm going with UITCS to It's Headed Straight Towards Us! (a comedy about a volcano), at Park Theatre.

On the 14th, back with them for Anthropology, at Hampstead Theatre. Cheap tickets from TodayTix. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

The next two days are with UITCS again - on the 18th, it's Crazy for You, at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.

On the 19th, it's Octopolis, at Hampstead Theatre again!

And on the 20th, I'm with CT for a classical concert - a Chamber Recital at St. Mark's, Hamilton Terrace. Regular tickets from TicketSource.

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