Play: Blood on Your Hands & Comedy: The Gorgeous Diva & Katie Norris Double Bill

Yesterday, 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. Naturally, I headed for Mercato Metropolitano beforehand for food - where I was boring enough to go for the pasta, as usual. Interestingly, the gelato bar across the courtyard, where I've always got wine before, didn't have any this time - I had to go elsewhere. The pasta was lovely, BTW, and ready pretty soon after I returned with my wine - far too much for me, though, given that I'd asked for bacon AND mushrooms AND cheese on top, which, although delicious, left me far too stuffed. Kudos to the cleaning staff - I hadn't finished buttoning up my coat when someone materialised to clean away my things..

And so to the theatre, where I'd learned my lesson from last time, and switched my phone to "light mode" rather than dark, so the scanner could pick up my ticket barcode. Queued for a bit in the bar for my drink - there was a slight palaver, as he first asked me whether I'd like ice in it, because it had only just got put in the fridge, and wasn't that cold..! And then, he selected too small a glass - when he saw it wouldn't fit, he had to go and wash another (quickly), then decant it into that. Goodness, what a fuss..

We chatted before going in.. mainly about animal rights, given that this play is set in a slaughterhouse. When we did enter, we were warned not to sit in the front row, lest we be splashed (it's unassigned seating in the smaller theatre, where we were). The stage is sparse - a "Meat is Murder" sign propped up against a box with a couple of large knives on top is the most prominent piece of stage furniture before the play starts. And boy, did it take a while to start.. Meanwhile, a piece of music that we identified as "roughly Eastern European" played over and over..

Over 10 minutes late, the show started. Now, this play covers a few separate strands - but all interconnected - in the story of a Ukrainian refugee, who's left his wife and kids behind to come to a small town in Wales. Unfortunately, he ends up in accommodation so cramped it's probably illegal, and working in a job far below his skill level (of course). In this case, it's a slaughterhouse - which is not only ironic, he being a vet by training, but the place is generally hated by its employees, and indeed is being picketed by animal rights protestors (hence the sign). And the bosses are just squeezing the workers for all they can get out of them. Not to mention the dead-end, low-prospect (unnamed) town this is set in..

The blood could be said to be on practically everyone's hands in this - to give away full details would be a spoiler, but of course you have slaughterhouse workers, with animal blood on their hands, as the most obvious. This gives rise to the predictable "slasher" scene, where they bring out a piece of plastic sheeting, just so you won't possible be splashed. Indeed, they are a bit overprotective in not letting people sit in the front - mainly, it's just rags soaked in red stuff anyway, with the workers evocatively attacking the plastic with the knives. Not for the squeamish, mind - its imagery very much reminded me of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre film, all red and black, with ominous, screeching music.. and then there are the meat hooks..

Well, that's the horror film reference. They're not the only ones with blood on their hands, though - we're reminded, every now and then, of what's going on in the Ukraine, with media footage screened on the back wall. It's quite a downbeat piece, with this poor guy having to leave his family (and lie to them about how well things are going, because he wants them to keep up hope). Then he's exploited, in crappy accommodation, underpaid, and unable to escape his situation. Mind you, he ends up having quite a lot in common with his co-worker, a local who befriends him. This guy also hates the job and sees no way out - in his case, because of lack of education - and he's treated just as badly. He might not be in overcrowded accommodation, but he does live at home with his parents, long after he thought he'd be out on his own.

Lovely acting, particularly on the part of the "bad guy", who plays both a corporate bigwig at the slaughterhouse, and also an old schoolmate of that aforementioned local - who, nonetheless, has made something of himself in marketing in London. Neither character is one you'd warm to, both looking down on those they see as less fortunate, less deserving, than themselves.

The whole thing kind of reminded me of a Ken Loach film in its sheer despairing tone. The most despairing thought of all is how true it rings, for many in this society. It also feels accusatory in nature - Blood on "Your" Hands.. Certainly an intense and thought-provoking piece. Runs till the 3rd - not the easiest thing to watch. But recommended, with the aforementioned caveats.

I had to be in bed early last night, as I was in the office today - and what free time I had today was spent redoing the film list, so I haven't had a chance to blog until now!

Tonight, another CT ticket - this was for The Gorgeous Diva & Katie Norris Double Bill, at the Pen Theatre. Somewhere else I've never been, hmm.. and lo, it's on the borders of Peckham - somewhere near where the Man with the Hat lives. I didn't run into him, though! but it did set me to wondering how he's getting on..

It was something of a nightmare to drag the laptop there from the office.. at the bus stop, I counted five #98s and two #8s before our #188 came! And then we were diverted, because of a burst water main - by the time I finally got there, it was too late to go for anything to eat: not that there was a huge choice anyway. I decided just to go straight to the theatre.

It's not that hard to find - head down Penarth Street, and the sign isn't huge, but is lit up. They really have taken the effort to make sure they can be found - the theatre is in "Pen 22" of a multi-tenant building: hence the name. The front door was open, but there's also a sign saying, "For the Pen Theatre, call 22". A handwritten notice explains that the intercom is broken, and gives a number to call if the door is shut.

Inside, a sign beside the lift explains that the Pen Theatre is upstairs. There are also stairs. The theatre is just on the next level up, where a helpful sign indicates that the Pen Theatre is to the right. Sure enough, I saw activity inside the window - the door was unlocked, and I went in.

They'd only just opened, apparently. There are a couple of tables, with chairs, to the side, and I grabbed one. Dinner, for me, turned out to be a couple of caramel wafer biscuits and a packet of sweet chili crisps, washed down with Sauvignon Blanc. You know something though, for a place with scant resources, they're doing ok! My one major quibble with them is they don't have a toilet..

Well, and the heating isn't great - I took off my coat for the first act, and soon regretted it. The acts, however, were excellent - the first ("The Gorgeous Diva") took the persona of someone stuck in the 80s, all big hair and leopard print, who had, like, one hit, and is now touring it. She had a bit of audience interaction, and although perhaps a bit repetitive, was entertaining, accompanied on keyboard by a talented young man she introduced as her nephew, as I recall.

I swear though, Katie Norris - on after a short interval - played a blinder. She was practicing her Edinburgh show, apparently, and - perhaps it was because much of it centred around her (tuxedo) cat, so I was biased - I thought she was the best comedian I've seen in ages. Truly funny, worth a listen wherever you come across her. Nice antidote to last night!

As I say, they don't have a toilet - so it's a mercy the journey home was a lot shorter, and what a pity I wasn't just coming from home as well. Ah well..

Helen is in town tomorrow - 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're heading to Amerigo Vespucci for food. And hopefully, we'll have decent weather.. Funnily enough, 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners are also heading there that day - for the princely sum of £6, for a free event and a trip to the pub. Drinks not included. Think we'll avoid that. And, of course, I didn't want to be dragging my laptop, which is why I was in the office today.

Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again. And ooh, the film for the weekend is a doozy - All of Us Strangers stars both Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott! Dearie me, I shan't know where to look.. Plus, it's a ghost story! Seems that Andrew Scott returns to his hometown - where he finds, er, his parents (Jamie Bell and Claire Foy). Except.. they died 30 years before! Right down my alley. Seeing it in the Omniplex, as usual. I'll just have to keep checking that they haven't changed the showing time..

On Monday, I'm headed to The Hills of California, at the Harold Pinter. Another of those great value Seatplan vouchers..

Now, Tuesday and Wednesday are film - hence the revamped film list. Very happy with my choices those days as well - having edited out the chaff at the top of the list, Tuesday is looking like The Holdovers, a comedy about students who have nowhere to go at Christmas, so they stay on campus, with a couple of teachers as "babysitters". The excellent Paul Giamatti is one of the teachers given the job.. Showing in my closest cinema, the Curzon Aldgate.

And next Wednesday - well gee, there's another highly rated horror! Actually, the London Horror Film Group are seeing this tomorrow - the film in question is Baghead, and the "baghead" is some kind of supernatural being who can put you in contact with the dead. Wears a bag over her head, and when you take it off, she has taken on the appearance of the person you're talking to. Just like last year's Talk to Me, however, there's a time limit - with strict penalties for overstepping. (They give you a whole two minutes in this one - in Talk to Me, it was 90 seconds..) Anyway, it'll be interesting to see why it's so highly rated! Closest to me showing it is the Odeon Tottenham Court Road, which was once my local - and as always with the Odeon, it's cheaper to book, so I did.

The next two nights' entertainment, I got the idea for from Over 40 Living the Life, who are charging more for tickets, so I'll be seeking to avoid them. On the 1st, I'm seeing the Bronco Billy musical, at the Charing Cross Theatre.

And on the 2nd, I'm going to Murder Trial Tonight 2, at Sadler's Wells.