Play: Casserole

Tonight, back again with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) - this time, for Casserole, at the Arcola. Even had I known anywhere decent to eat around there, I wouldn't have had time.. work is hectic. So, like lunch, dinner was at Pret.. and the branch across from the theatre is still in the business of kicking people out. Last time, I hadn't realised they closed so early, and was shocked to be told, halfway through my sandwich, that they were now actually closed, and could I please leave. Had to finish it on the street outside. This time, I actually arrived 25 minutes before closing - only to find that they'd already closed all the seating! Happily, the Arcola bar was open, so I had my sandwich there. And also happily, I got their last salmon sandwich..

This play has a very early start, at 7pm - especially for a short one! I discovered my seat was practically onstage:

So, the audience is front and centre in someone's living room - and, as I remarked, this set is bigger than most London bedsits! Happily though, the usher told those of us at the side that we could move, just before the start - I didn't fancy sitting in the kitchen! As it happened, she was sitting on a row of seats directly opposite us, for the duration - and I must say, the poor woman looked terribly bored. Rather distracting.

It's a two-hander - this couple are living together, she's off getting an award, he's had the place to himself for a while, whereby it's descended into chaos. She comes home halfway through the awards ceremony.. and the row starts. That's essentially what the play is - a pretty nasty row. And another of those plays whose characters I'd hate to meet in real life! Anyway, it all starts off quite typically - neither wants to participate in the thing the other has planned, and there's a back and forth, back and forth..

I started off being quite bored myself. But over the course of the play, it did get a bit more interesting for me.. principally, what kicks it off is the casserole of the title, which he whacks in the microwave at the beginning. I won't say why, but it is a unique twist. And I guess, one meaning you could take from the play is how relationships can bend and reform in the most surprising ways, and from the most banal causes. I did find the path their argument took was interesting. But yeah, this isn't exceptionally plot-driven.. anyway, I liked it. Runs till the 30th, for anyone interested.

Tomorrow, I was thinking film.. always the reason for a delay in previewing upcoming events, I have to wait for the listings. Anyway, I'm back with the London Movie Club for once - we're headed to Trust Fall, a documentary about Julian Assange, as well as wider issues around freedom of information! First time I'll have actually gone to a film with them - it's at The Garden Cinema, and a bit early - I'll have to leg it from work.

On Saturday, my monthly catchup with ex-colleagues - this time, only James can make it, what with Ivan rehearsing and Martin at the theatre. Anyway, we're off to Brasserie Zedel, which I had such a great impression of before! Lunch, and then I'd like to check out the bar..

Sunday is, of course, Patrick's Day - and Buddies on a Budget is off to the parade! And so am I. And afterwards, I'm off to Seven Drunken Nights at the Dominion Theatre - well now, I could hardly resist! The title comes from the famous song by The Dubliners.

Now, I was going to go to a film on Monday as well.. and UITCS are off to Just For One Day at the Old Vic, the following day! The musical about Live Aid, dontcha know.. Ooh, sez I.. I couldn't resist this, if only to see someone portray Bono! Wonder how many more I'll recognise.. I booked through Seatplan.  Anyway, I was rather frazzled when I was booking this, on Monday night, having just flown back to London - my mother's landline was down, and of course it was up to me to do what I could to fix it. (It eventually fixed itself by means of her dropping the handset on the floor.. works fine again now..) Well, wouldn't you know it, I accidentally booked the show for Monday instead of Tuesday. Darnit! They won't let me change it - ah well.

So now I'm going to a film on Tuesday instead - and that would be Article 370, a Hindi film about a young woman in the police or something. And I have to go all the way to Cineworld Wembley to see it..

On Wednesday, back at last with London Classical Music and Theatre Group! We're off to the Opera House for a ballet..

And next Thursday, I'm back with London Social Detours at last.. she usually runs daytime events that I can't make. Anyway, we're off to a free concert by the Guildhall School Big Band, at the Barbican.. And then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again!