Play: Double Feature

The second of three nights in a row with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) - all hosted by the same person, too! Tonight, we were at Double Feature, at Hampstead Theatre. I could have bussed it all the way - but got caught up at work. Being at the office today, I therefore hopped on the fancy new Elizabeth Line for one stop, then switched to the Tube. Had to wait for the third one, they were so crowded! Happily, the third one wasn't going to the end of the line, so was less popular.. Headed for Ye Olde Swiss Cottage, as usual - I'm getting sick of the chicken though, it was rather dry today. But there are other options.. and the atmosphere is lovely and cosy, the staff friendly - and the one white wine they have is rather nice, and very reasonably priced. I'll be back. A lot of foreign accents in tonight - including a couple of young lads, just arrived from Japan! and trying out their selection of beer..

Headed over to the theatre when I was finished, meeting the group in the bar. I took the precaution of getting my drink in plastic - on the off-chance that I mightn't be finished it in time. Which I was - just as well, considering I had to lug my laptop upstairs! Some in the group had got an upgrade - not me. But I did notice the rows behind me, in the Circle, were empty.

So, it's about an hour and a half, straight through - all set in an English-looking "cottage" (not what I'd call a cottage, but you know..). The play is interesting, in that it covers two different, but complementary, stories involving directors and their lead actors - Alfred Hitchcock and Tippi Hedren, filming Marnie, and Michael Reeves and Vincent Price, filming Witchfinder General. In both cases, the directors were driven to get the most from their leads. The films happened a few years apart - but all the actors share the set, the action cleverly switching from one pair to the other.

They're both terrific character studies - in the case of Hitchcock and Tippi Hedren, of course, he was the established, successful director, she the actor, trying to make a name for herself. With the other story, the roles are somewhat reversed - he was trying to make a name for himself as a director, Vincent Price was the box-office star. In each case, the director is trying to coax his lead actor in a particular direction.

The ebb and flow of the power plays is fascinating to watch - it's beautifully written, as the balance of power keeps shifting. Interestingly, each story has sexual undertones - we have heard about Hitchcock's obsession with glacial blondes, and in this, he does play with the "casting couch" idea, trying to force Tippi Hedren into an uncomfortable situation. With the other story - well, it's said that Vincent Price was bisexual - so, it's perhaps not coincidental that Michael Reeves strips off, to try to persuade him to stay when he's on the point of flouncing out on the shoot.

Sometimes, one pair of actors is lit, one pair in darkness, as we focus on one story or the other - at other times, they all share the stage, focusing on their individual stories and mirroring each others' actions. Again, cleverly choreographed. And with Michael Reeves mentioning something about Marnie, we get an insight into one story from the mouth of a character in the other. So, nicely intertwined as well. In all, a lovely piece of writing! And I enjoyed it very much. Runs till the 16th of next month - highly recommended.

A nice chat in the bar afterwards - and we were able to watch Hitch leaving the building. Complete with, eh, his shopping bag on wheels.. again, surreal..

A few of us were back on the Tube, which we did much complaining about - when we could hear each other, over the screeching. At least it wasn't as busy as earlier. And it could be worse - it could have been the Central Line..

Tomorrow, we're at Hir, a transgender comedy at Park Theatre. My companion of a while ago is coming to that as well, and we, at least, will probably head to My Cottage Restaurant afterwards.

On Saturday, I'm back (whee! at last!) with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners.. I've been persuaded to redo his Dickens walk. Well, it's months since I was on one of his - and he now only does one Saturday a month, says there's no real demand! And since I can no longer go on the midweek ones, in general.. well.. it'll be great to be back with them anyway.

On Sunday, back with Discover London - History Walks and Events: it was a while before I thought to check that website to see whether there was another walk, and there is, that day! So we're off to Discover London's Oldest Market and Original "High Street"..

 

On Monday, I'm headed to film - I'm finally seeing The Zone of Interest, a recreation of the story of the Höss family, living a normal family life in the shadow of Auschwitz (Rudolf Höss was the commandant). Showing in my local cinema - not that the film listings tend to include the Curzons, generally.. but, as usual, I know to check separately..

On Tuesday and Wednesday, back with UITCS. On Tuesday, we're at The Merchant of Venice 1936, in the Criterion Theatre. This production, in association with the RSC, is based around the Cable Street riots. Got the very last ticket, as I recall.. Funnily enough, on Monday, a couple of Meetup groups are going to a musical about the same thing - I'd have loved to have gone, but it was completely sold out by the time I came to think about it!

On Wednesday, we're at Nachtland, at the Young Vic. Three days on roughly the same theme.. and it seems appropriate these days.. this is about a family who find a painting, stashed in the attic. It's by, as described, a failed artist who abandoned his original vocation for Nazism.. The thorny question here is, what exactly to do with it..

On Thursday, there's a concert at King's Place that sounds rather good. Worksongs is part of their Scotland Unwrapped series, and has the Maxwell Quartet playing a mixture of classical music and Scottish traditional. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

On the 26th, I'm back with CT for Magic Monday at Americana! This is a magic show, which I can't even see advertised on their website - but anyway, the booking fee is discounted from dinner, so this sounds good!

On the 27th, back with UITCS for An Enemy of the People, at the Duke of York's Theatre - got the very last cheap ticket for this from London Box Office!

On the 28th, back with CT again - and back to Backyard Comedy at last! This is for Joke Thieves, where people tell each others' jokes.. Gee, it's weeks since I've been there, it'll be good to be back.

And on the 29th, I have a Crick Crack Club event.. this is online from the Oxford Story Museum, and is Dark Tales from the Wood. As told by the excellent Daniel Morden.