Play: Infinite Life

These two days, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) again - tonight, it was for Infinite Life, at the Dorfman Theatre. I arranged to eat beforehand at Black & Blue, which I know to be good, and one of the group joined me. Just as well I booked, really - although it was empty enough when I arrived, it soon filled up - quite busy for a Monday night!

For a change, I had a pate starter - it was chicken and mushroom pate, served with toasted sourdough. Have to say, it was very tasty - although two thick strips of pate seemed excessive to me, for two slices of bread. I finished most of one - the surprised look on the waiter's face, that I'd left so much, was quite comical.. For main course, I had chicken "& friends" - it came with a teeny strip of bacon, and a large slice of cheese. Tasty, but not exceptional. The fries were lovely - but it was the mushrooms, which I'd ordered as an extra, that stole the show. Sauteed in a red wine jus, they were gorgeous.. my companion had what he described as "surprisingly good" sausages and mash. No time for dessert - but we were well, and quite quickly, fed.

And so over to the theatre, where I just had time to grab another glass of wine (in plastic) before we went in. My seat was "restricted view" - but honestly..


The most awkward part was quite simply trying to manoeuvre a coat, scarf, bag, and wine, and a high seat. The view was perfect..

This is set in a health resort in California. Its guests are all on detox - fasting, and spending their days on loungers in the sun. They range in age from 47-year-old Sofi to the elderly Eileen, and all the action takes place around these loungers. The play is nearly two hours long, without interval, and pretty much all consists of them discussing their ailments.

And it's very, very funny. Delivered in a droll, deadpan humour, some rattling on about their illnesses for ages - others are more reticent. What this is, I think, is simply a pitstop in the busyness of life - a chance for the characters to stop and reflect. Maybe they'll come out with something profound, maybe they won't - but as they groan and ache through their treatments, we do get glimpses of what is important to them. And I tell you what - it's a great excuse for the audience to get together afterwards and discuss their own complaints! ;-) Recommended - particularly for those starting to get a bit - creaky.. Runs until the 13th of next month.

Tomorrow, I'm with the same group for Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) at the Kiln.

On Wednesday, I have the Christmas party with my new company - now, there's timing! It's at Haché, and I've already put in my food order!

On Thursday, got another CT ticket - this time, for the Backyard Comedy Club. Always good. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

Next Monday, making my annual pilgrimage to Winter Wonderland - as usual, seeing the Ice Palace (Norse mythology this year, it seems!) and Cirque Berserk. My goodness though, my bank isn't a fan - this booking caused problems with online payments with my card.. now sorted.

On the 19th, I was heading to a free carol concert at St. Stephen Walbrook. As advertised by Cultureseekers - who apparently have 74 signed up, as of my last peek. So I figured they shouldn't miss me.. but then UITCS suddenly (and quite belatedly, for them) advertised an outing to see Old Friends by Stephen Sondheim, at the Gielgud. And I figured - hey, this concert was free, and I'm going to a carol concert the following night anyway.. I'd like to see the musical. So I booked - UITCS helpfully let me know that ShowFilmFirst (SFF) has cheap tickets.

On the 20th, at another carol concert - this with Buddies on a Budget. And my last Meetup of the year! This is at the Actor's Church - St. Paul's, Covent Garden. Tickets from SFF again.

On the 21st, back with CT to Backyard Comedy - then back to Ireland for Christmas on the 22nd. Happy Christmas to all, and a Happy New Year!

I fly back to London on the 2nd, and on the 3rd, well, there isn't a lot advertised on Meetup - at the moment, I'm thinking of heading to the Winter Light Festival at the Southbank Centre that day.

And on the 4th, I'm off to see The Time Traveller's Wife, at the Apollo. Handily enough, Seatplan was one of the sites with the cheapest tickets to this - and I was eligible for a Seatplan voucher. So I used it, and got my ticket for £5. Let's just hope, from that high up, I can see something..!

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