Opera: The Rake's Progress

Tonight, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for The Rake's Progress, an opera in the Hackney Empire. Hallelujah, that meant a lie-in! which I fully availed of. Moseyed out in the evening, in time to eat beforehand - and Lordy, was it cold! I'd noticed a Pizza Express across the road from the theatre, and figured I wouldn't need to book.


Weird cloud formations.. for much of the journey over the bridge, it looked as though there was a ridge of mountains behind the buildings!

Sure enough, I had no trouble getting seated at Pizza Express - service, in fact, was excellent throughout. I had their yummy dough balls to start - and ooh, they have a new pizza! BBQ chicken - which, unlike the pollo ad astra that I've got before - has a BBQ sauce base, instead of tomato! Oh joy, considering that I'm intolerant - I polished the whole thing off, for once - and it was delicious. By which time, messages told me that the group was already in place - I finished as fast as possible and made my way over there and upstairs - we were all in the Upper Circle, but really, it doesn't feel like that many steps; I've had worse. I ran to the loo, and the bar - they only do one white wine here, in a can, and which turns out to be quite sharp - and joined the others briefly, before we had to take our seats.


Oh man, the seats are rock hard.. but the view is fine. Also, in D32, I had an aisle seat, beside a pillar, which came with a little ledge that proved very handy for my drink!

Goodness me, what a show.. I'm afraid any merits it might have had completely passed me by. The music was discordant, the story practically nonexistent - or maybe I missed something, because I did fall asleep. I couldn't find a redeeming feature. When we reconvened at the interval, I brought my things with me - and was comforted to hear something of the same reactions from my companions. Anyway, for the second half, I was happy to surrender my seat to one of the group, who'd booked one with a very bad view. Another tried to get a seat with a better view, further down - and two of us left entirely. Great to see folks, but ugh! I won't ever be rushing back to that opera.. 

Missed my bus while I was busy confirming my Lotto win - all of €2! Neither had the board predicted it coming so fast.. Ah well, at least I got back in time to do some shopping.

Tomorrow, back with Back in the Day Walks, for a walk about Kensington in the 60s. Cheaper tickets available from TAC..

On Monday, I booked with TAC again, for Scarlet Sunday, at the Omnibus Theatre - so long since I was last there! However, they contacted me today - seems the producers made a mistake in their advertising, and the show isn't actually running that day. So they've refunded me, and instead, I've booked with CT to see Turning the Screw, at the King's Head. Another of these about an older professional with power seducing a younger protegé - this time, the focus is on Benjamin Britten. And lovely, I'll get to see their new venue!

On Tuesday, back again with UITCS, for Standing at the Sky's Edge, at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. I'm hearing great things about this musical.

On Wednesday, we have a work social! Cool.. loving the frequency of them. They're going bowling - well, I can watch.. last time I went bowling, I injured myself! In fact, this is proving so popular, they've had to move to a bigger venue.. we're now in Bloomsbury Lanes.

On Thursday, back - at last - with London Baroque Music Lovers. We're attending a concert called Lucky Charm, by Ensemble Les Ombres with Fiona McGown, at the Cine Lumiere, of all places! Hmm, I wonder where that'll be - hardly in the cinema!

Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend. That Sunday is Mother's Day, so I'm flying back a day later, taking the Monday as holiday.

On the 12th, back with CT at the Americana! This time, it's a jazz night.. which I should get more of an experience of than that magic show.. and this time, I'll know to starve myself beforehand!

On the 13th, another of those multi-Meetup socials.. I've signed up with The London Movie Club, and we're off to the BFI Riverfront Balcony Bar again! Excellent venue.

And on the 14th, back again with UITCS - this time, for Casserole, at the Arcola.

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