Play: Second Temple
Back to London, yay. These two days, back with CT for the Bitesize Festival at Riverside Studios - tonight, it was for Second Temple, a Jewish comedy. Now, after my last experience, I wasn't going to eat there.. but looking at the map, I saw The Old City Arms, a hop, skip and jump away. They also seemed to have a Thai menu - lovely, sez I, and booked.
Saw this curious being on my way out:
Well, it took me over an hour to get there - longer than predicted. The Jubilee Line was empty enough, as it was rush hour, and I was heading into the centre - I got a seat without problem. The Piccadilly Line, which I headed out of the centre on again, was another matter, and after having to wait for the second train because the first was so crowded, I then stood most of the way. In the end, I was almost 15 minutes late for my booking.
..which didn't matter a bit, because the relaxed barman remarked that, as they were practically empty, I could sit wherever I liked. So I did. The menu was a shock, though.. seems they don't do Thai any more, they do Pieminister (they also have pizza). (They did have a photo of that menu online as well, it's just that the Thai one came up first.) So I decided to have the Moo pie (steak & ale). I also wanted Sauvignon Blanc.. and tried to order on the app, only to discover that they only seemed to offer wine by the bottle! Well, I was close enough to the bar, so I ordered there instead. Where he was happy to sell me a glass. I paid while he was off looking for it - lo, he returned apologetically, saying that they didn't have any, and would I like something else - and I could have the next one free! Well then, I said thank you very much, and had Pinot Grigio..
The pie wasn't long in coming. Unfortunately, it definitely wasn't anything to write home about - the crust was nice and crispy, but the filling, frankly, tasted like something microwaved (and I should know, I've done enough of those). The mash wasn't much to talk about either. But hey, I was fed - and the place has a great atmosphere. In fact, there was a fellow propping up the bar, pretty much the whole time I was there - I started to chat to him as I waited for my free glass of wine, and we had a great old natter about drink in general, and wine in particular. Honestly, I was sorry to leave - it's just a shame the food isn't better.
My destination really is a hop, skip and jump away - although whether you'd want to descend the steps like that is another matter. So, down to the river, hang a left, down the steps - and it's right in front of you. As you enter, they have the names of the shows on a screen - I saw mine was in the "River Room". I saw a sign for that, ran to the loo first, and when I came out, there was a long queue, which I joined (the screen had also pointed out that it was sold out). I completely forgot, but I think I was supposed to pick up a ticket at the box office - I just showed my confirmation on my phone, and it seemed to be OK. Took a seat in the front row, why not:
Most of the action takes place - appropriately - around this dining table. FYI, there's a table with drink, over the side - don't go for it, it's a prop. There's also a sofa at the other end of the room, and a couple of boxes with odds and ends in them. The story concerns the funeral of the family patriarch, in Leicester. He leaves a widow, Leah - the only one who remembers life in Iraq, before they went into exile. She's also the only one in the family who speaks Hebrew.. present on this occasion are her children, a son, David, and daughter, Sara, David's daughter, Bathsheba, and Sara's daughter, Rachel. No spouses are in evidence. Neither in evidence is Sara's son, Joshua (Joshi), whom she's sure will arrive, but Rachel has less faith in him.
There's a poster on the door with a ton of trigger warnings - war, displacement, aggression, homophobia, sexually explicit language, alcohol, drugs, antisemitism.. there's also a blurb in the flier on every seat, explaining how this version of the play has been reworked to include more of Leah's story, which involves expulsion of the Jews from Iraq. Yeahhh.. you know something, I only noticed the trigger warnings coming out, and I had to have a sit while I wondered exactly where all of that had been in what I'd just seen..
I did figure it out, but really.. it all happens in the context of a family get-together, and apart from everyone drinking wine, and the young girls enjoying a spliff or two and talking about Rachel's love life, all of the trigger warnings relate to stuff the granny says! And she doesn't even talk all that much - no, you basically have an elderly lady at the end of the table, out of touch with what everyone else thinks, and without social filters. As to the stuff about war, displacement, and antisemitism - that's mainly in the fliers! It's hardly mentioned in the play at all. Frankly, paying attention to the trigger warnings would lead you to conclude that this is a much darker play than it actually is - perhaps that's why a couple of ladies walked out.
What it is, is quite funny - several people laughed heartily at various bits, although I didn't notice everyone joining in. It's more a comedy about the clashes between generations, than having much to do with cultures - although there is a slight undertone of that, with, as I say, only the old lady knowing Hebrew. Naw, it is good though - but don't go expecting anything political. Hey, I loved the Middle Eastern music playing at the start, though - during the play, when Bathsheba gets her DJ skills working, the music is more chopped up, more rap-style. And for me, she was the most entertaining character, with her Bambi-like brown eyes, her hair in ponytails, the Gen Z rapper doing Tarot readings..
An hour long, running again from Friday to Sunday. Recommended - more fun than you might think! And on the way home, the order was reversed - this time, I took the nice and peaceful District Line, followed by a crowded Jubilee Line..
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