Backyard Comedy Club, Film: The Boys in the Boat, & Play: Hamnet

Last Thursday, back with the Backyard Comedy Club - tickets from CT again. And I was in the office - that poor laptop is coming to a lot of comedy!

Stayed a bit late, managed to outlast the boss - always a good look. And so up to the club - a little later than usual. (Never seen so many fare-dodgers on the bus, BTW.) This time, ordering food, I went for onion rings and wedges, instead of onion rings and chips! The wedges aren't spicy - as advertised - but are a lot tastier than the chips, IMHO. Now, as I say, I arrived later than usual - so did the food, which I just had time to sample before the house opened. By the time I'd gathered up everything I needed to bring in, the only table left inside - and I did want a table - was to the side of the stage. Ah well..

I hadn't checked the list of performers before I came in:

So yeah, David Whitney MCing again.. but oh, look at the rest of the lineup! Crikey, I had no idea what was in front of me.. first up was Trevor Bickles/Pickles (sic), who's always great! Haven't seen him in ages.. Rory O' Hanlon injected an Irish element into the first section, and was most entertaining.

(It was interesting, being at the front - on my own - then heading to the bar at the intervals, where everyone thought to ask me what I thought! Glad I enjoyed it.. I have to say, David Whitney - who recognised me from previous attendances - went pretty easy on me. He didn't interrogate me, just asked me to lead the applause. Doable..)

Of the rest, Ash Suri was great - but wow, when I saw Radu Isac come up.. Aw man, I always remember that night we spent drinking with him after a show, back in the (much-missed, if he ever doubted it) Man with the Hat days! He's just as good as ever.. but it was Jeff Innocent's night, as he captivated the audience to the extent that - so unusually for here - he was called back for an encore! Nothing like a self-deprecating, middle-aged skinhead in a tracksuit, making fun of himself.. Fantastic night! It can be a bit variable here, but is always a nice venue..

Must have been too tired to blog that night. Friday, I was back to Ireland for the weekend. Film for Saturday was The Boys in the Boat, the story of a Depression-era rowing team, competing in the Berlin Olympics of 1936. (Isn't it funny how many films are being made about the time around the Second World War right now?) I booked for the Omniplex. 4.10pm, to give me time to get there.

Left early enough that I had plenty of time - got a space right outside the cinema, hung around before going in. After all, it was only 3.40, I was very early! Queued for chocolate, had my ticket scanned. It wasn't until I was going into the screen that I noticed the film was scheduled for 3.40..! Blast it anyway, I hate it when cinemas do this - so, technically I missed 30 minutes. Actually, probably more like 15, accounting for ads. Still, my ticket did say 4.10.. and sure enough, when I went in, there were the romantic leads, whispering sweet nothings to each other. Appropriately, on a boat.

I don't think I missed too much. And speaking of the romantic leads - jeez, they, shall we say, lack charisma! I've rarely seen such an uninteresting leading pair - not to mention the lack of chemistry between them. They do look healthy, I might say - appropriately for people involved in sports. Nice, rosy complexions - you know the sort. As for them being the leading pair - well, not quite, because at some point in the film, the director (George Clooney) decides to switch the attention to the coxswain, kind of the cheerleader for the boat. Which isn't a bad idea actually, he's a lot more interesting. Or there's the quiet fellow who catches a virus just before the race, then powers on regardless..

Nah, don't watch this film for them - watch it for the sport itself. The O' Donovan brothers made rowing interesting for the Irish in general - that same excitement is strongly in evidence here. Certainly, my heart was in my mouth - the races are all beautifully filmed, the suspense maintained. Even to the extent of them trying to raise the funds to go to the Olympics! And even though you know they get there in the end - it's still suspenseful.

Again, ran too late to blog that night. Amazing that I finally got around to it now! Flew back to London last night - once they got the plane de-iced. And this evening, finally got to see the RSC production of Hamnet, the story of Shakespeare's short-lived son. Playing at the Garrick.

Today was colder than.. (insert preferred phrase here). Well, I bundled myself up and off I went. There are plenty of places to eat around the theatre - and I've had lots of bad experiences in them, too. So I decided to play it safe with Prezzo - and as I've never yet failed to get a table there, I didn't bother to book.

Boy, what a relief to step through the door and into the heat! It took the nice man less than a minute to find me a table, despite the large group taking up the whole centre of the room. I had my usual - and when they brought my garlic bread, they apologised for the delay! which wasn't so much. The rest of the delays were more substantial - but then, I'd come in good time. I was starving - the food was much appreciated. I even had time for dessert - unusually for me! And what caught my eye on the menu.. was the dark chocolate gianduiotta. Now, I'm addicted to gianduja - so I had to give this a go!

The chocolate shell is actually too hard to break with the supplied spoon - I had to bite into it to release the gianduja and melted caramel inside. They could have left out the caramel, but never mind.. they could certainly have left off the big blob of cream, which I returned untouched! Basically, yum.. cheaper than most of the desserts, but far and away the chocolatiest thing on the menu. I know what to go for in future - if I have the time.

And so to the theatre - where I was in the Stalls, for once. Which are downstairs - the usher assured me that bar and toilets were available down there. Yes, I noticed "Gentlemen's", "Ladies", and "Gender-Neutral" - very comprehensive. There's a (one-way system) bar at the back, which I availed of - and my "restricted view" seat was anything but:

Well, this is the story of William Shakespeare's early years - his home life, his courtship of Anne Hathaway, their children, and his move to London to give playwriting a go. And I thought it was great.. the RSC never really disappoints, and their telling is earthy, visceral - frankly, with the family he had, I'm not surprised he had itchy feet. There are snatches of his plays, a brief mention of the Globe, and some railings erected that look like they were taken straight out of the recreation - but it's mostly focused on the family at home, with Anne at its centre. They are beset by problems on all sides - illness is heaped upon arguments with both sides of the family, and when their children fall ill during an outbreak of plague, it is truly touching. With my love of Shakespeare, I really enjoyed it.. plenty of seats available tonight, and likely ongoing, if you want to book. Runs till the 17th of next month - roll on summer, when I can get back to the Globe itself!

Outside, I was checking my route home when the actors came out:

(That's Anne, there..)

Tomorrow, seeing Rock 'n' Roll by Tom Stoppard, at Hampstead Theatre. As, funnily enough, was the guy sat beside me at the restaurant - he was telling his companion.

On Wednesday - yes, back with Meetup! This time, it's the New Year Social co-hosted by the London Movie Club (LMC), the Hideout, and London Hot 100! all of which are run by the same people. I've just booked with the LMC myself, which was the first to advertise it. Back at the BFI.

On Thursday, Helen was supposed to be in town - and suggested we have dinner, and head to the Canary Wharf Winter Lights! Excellent idea - I was thinking of seeing them, but didn't have a specific date in mind. We were heading to Amerigo Vespucci for food.. but her schedule has changed. So it's back to the Backyard Comedy Club, for me and my laptop!

On Friday, back with CT - for a show called The Gods, The Gods, The Gods, at Underbelly Boulevard. New venue, it seems!

Saturday is when I'm trying to catch up with all those ex-colleagues.. Ivan can't move his rehearsal from that day, so three of us are meeting for lunch in Cambridge Heath, so he doesn't have to lug his equipment too far. The Approach Tavern, to be precise. Then he's off to play music, while the other two of us will head down to Victoria and see what pubs look good around there - James is headed home from there. As for Martin - who knows? He might schlep out to Victoria - it's handier for him than is Cambridge Heath..

On Sunday, I'm back with London Walking Tours, Art & Culture Explorers for Jane Austen's London Walk..

Next Monday, back with North London Friends for the first time in ages! They had one remaining ticket for Cold War, at the Almeida - otherwise completely sold out! So I bit the bullet and bought theirs - albeit above my normal price range, including a Paypal fee, and with a Meetup fee on top.. it was that or not see it at all! It'll be good to see them again, too..

On the 23rd, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Blood on Your Hands, at Southwark Playhouse - for which I used the second of my theatre vouchers, bought under their Pay as you Go scheme, where you get them at a discount.

On the 24th, another CT ticket - this is for The Gorgeous Diva & Katie Norris Double Bill, at the Pen Theatre. Somewhere else I've never been, hmm..

Helen is now coming on the 25th, so we're doing the planned programme that day.. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

And on the 29th, I'm headed to The Hills of California, at the Harold Pinter. Another of those great value Seatplan vouchers..