Play: Cold War

Tonight, 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.. it was that or not see it at all! It'd be good to see them again, too.. and the weather has definitely calmed down. Although it is a little colder.

It's not that bad, getting to Islington from here - it's a straight bus run. Of course, that didn't stop me from making it complicated - three buses I got, in the end. And it unexpectedly rained on me while I was waiting between two of them.. that last bus was delayed, and Buses Due was out of action again. I ended up installing TFL Go, the official app. Both it and Google Maps were united in their opinion of when the bus would come - about 10 minutes away, they said. Both were, happily, wrong.. it came early, and I made Islington in good time.

Now, I've been to The Bull for food a few times, and decided it was time to renew my acquaintance. Figured I didn't need to book, and I was right. They do have events in the pub from Wednesday to Sunday - as advertised inside - but Monday and Tuesday are pretty quiet. (Well, apart from that table by the door, who, I'm sure, were the reason the background music got turned up..) I got a table without trouble - near the bar - and perused the extensive menu. It was a toss-up between steak and fish n chips - but they turned out not to have steak, which decided me.

It didn't take me long to be served - and wow, was I lucky in my choice! This must be the best fish n chips I've ever had - truly. The batter was light and crispy, the fish a good size, the chips were gorgeous. Also comes with tartare sauce and mushy peas - all served on the side. And a half lemon, which I squeezed onto the fish. Oh my, I was in heaven.. the Australian-sounding guy at the table beside me asked whether it was as good as it looked.. seriously recommended.

The wine was also lovely, and I did debate having another glass - except it was nearly time to meet, and the walk would also take a few minutes. So I passed, making for the theatre. Boy, was I to regret not having that second glass at The Bull - I had to wait ages for service at the Almeida, and what I got was the most insipid wine I've had in ages. Nowhere to sit either, of course.. this theatre has excellent productions, but their cafe bar leaves an awful lot to be desired..

And so in, and indeed up - we were all in the front row of the Circle. Which was fine:

(it was very dark - I'm surprised you can see as much in this picture as you can.) To the top left is the musicians' gallery, to the right you can see the railings at the bottom of the Circle stairs, which slightly, but not significantly, impeded my view. We did wonder whether the piano on stage would get played..

It did. (Well, apparently - I can't be entirely sure.) Now, this is advertised as a musical - it isn't really, it's a play about music, and featuring an awful lot of music. Adapted by Conor McPherson, with Polish traditional songs and extra music by Elvis Costello, it's based on an award-winning film of the same name. Starts in Communist Poland, where a performer in a folk group, organised to entertain the VIPs, catches the eye of a talented young composer.. during their concert tour, in Berlin, he decides to defect to the West. She's supposed to come with him - but doesn't. She does visit him there, years later though - but can their rekindled romance survive their uprooting from their home country, and everything they've held dear?

The acting is superb, the singing and dancing is captivating. Mostly though, you'll rarely see a play as intense. Music will always set me off, to be fair.. but I defy anyone not to be moved at this story, which spans years.. and as it moves from the 50s to the 60s, and from East to West and back, we can see the desperate contrasts. No wonder they find it so hard to move between these worlds..

I'd recommend it (highly), except the run is, as I say, completely sold out, and has been for a while. Runs until Saturday, if you happen to be lucky..

Tomorrow, 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 Wednesday, 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 in town on Thursday - 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. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

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