Film: Abigail

Tonight was film.. but you know, after all the effort of doing the list, I decided sod it, rather than go on my own, I'd rather go with The Hideout, even though I wasn't as keen on the film they were seeing - Abigail, about the pre-teen vampire daughter of a rich man. Pity her kidnappers.. well, there did seem to be some amusing moments in the trailer, and I see its rating keeps going up.. Showing in the Vue West End, so I booked to eat in Bella Italia again. I just hoped that the cinema bar wouldn't be closed for an event, like last time!

With the effort of writing the last post, I left it too late to get just the bus there - I ended up on the Bakerloo Line. Which, I have to say, was deliciously empty at Elephant & Castle, its terminus. As we approached Charing Cross, where I was to alight, interestingly, an announcement was suddenly made that the station was closed, and we wouldn't be stopping there! Heh.. nuts, we absolutely did. When I got off, I ended up stuck behind this woman and her two little boys - not only at the exit barriers, which they took an inordinate amount of time to navigate, but also at the street exit, where they plonked themselves blithely in everyone's way, waiting for "the rain to clear". Hmm..

To be fair, it was pouring (terrible weather app I have, which didn't predict that). Happily, it wasn't that far a walk to the restaurant, although still miserable.. and when I arrived, bang on time, I was told I'd have to wait for five minutes. They did subsequently tell someone else the same, it wasn't a conspiracy.. and I happily got my starter BEFORE my main, unlike last time, reassuringly. Everything was delicious..

I arrived at the cinema bar a little after the scheduled start time for the event, to find the organiser sitting there in splendid isolation. Oh dear.. never mind, we had a good time to go before the film, a good number of people did arrive, and some excellent conversation was had! The bar was staffed.. intermittently, by a very friendly barman, who, however, had other bars to serve at, it seemed..

And so to the film.

...

Not quite sure what to say about it, to be honest. The general consensus afterwards was - decent, amusing, but derivative. I've actually never seen From Dusk Till Dawn, which it apparently rips off shamelessly - according to a couple of people from the group. In itself, it's definitely decent - more gore than I'd like, really, but also some humour. Ultimately, I actually didn't think as much of it as I thought I might, and I certainly don't think it deserves the high rating it now has on IMDB. Did love the way the carnage was set to the theme from Swan Lake though (our vampire being a ballerina).. Ah well, you know me, a sucker for music..

A few of us headed to the pub after - All Bar One was ridiculously loud, so we headed for Clubhouse 5, where we squeezed in the last orders of the night (they closed 20 minutes after we arrived). One of the group was kind enough to buy us drinks, and wow, it was worth coming just for the discussion over those drinks, which was a heated one, to a backdrop of 80s music. Love this group, TBH.. Always look forward to the meets.

Tomorrow, whee! Back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners.. first time in months! This time, it's for The Great City of London Walking Tour - we're having lunch afterwards at Ye Olde Cock Tavern. Now, this is also the only day this month I can find for my work reunion.. James couldn't make it on the 6th because of rail strikes. Ivan can't make it, and I'm still waiting to hear definitely from Martin - but anyway, James is joining us for lunch, and we might stay there, as I've told Martin. Having said that, James isn't a definite, having had a busy week.. he's to decide in the morning. Ah well, at least I'll be there!

On Sunday, back at last at the British Museum with the Crick Crack Club! This one is Woyengi and the Medicine Woman, by Jan Blake. Man, I've missed these.. it's nearly a year since I was last there!

On Monday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Boys on the Verge of Tears, at Soho Theatre. Again, ages since I was last there!

On Tuesday, another dinner at Greenwich Yacht Club with Over 40 Living the Life. Third Tuesday in a row - but the last time for a while they'll be doing it.

On Wednesday, I'm at The Hideout's April social! The BFI Riverfront Bar again..

On Thursday, taking a break from Meetup - I'm going to a talk, interesting-sounding to me, at Southwark Cathedral. It's The King's Assassin, about the relationship between James VI/I and George Villiers, now a TV series, Mary & George, with Julianne Moore as his scheming mother. Based on a book, whose author is giving this talk. And as that's also walking distance from me, I'll look to go to the office on Wednesday. Maybe. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

The next two days in London, I'm ticking theatrical boxes - both in Delfont Mackintosh theatres, and both, would you believe, cheapest from the official source! On the 29th, I'm finally getting to see Player Kings, depicting the relationship between Falstaff and Hal from both parts of Shakepeare's Henry IV, with Sir Ian McKellan as Falstaff. Looking forward to it - I love Shakespeare adaptations. That's in the Noel Coward Theatre, and I'm paying a little extra not to sit in the slips, so I get more legroom.

On the 30th, I'm back with UITCS to see Opening Night, a musical with music by Rufus Wainwright. Before it closes! That's at the Gielgud.

On the 1st, back with The London Horror Book Club - they're doing a book I think I'll like - well, I certainly was interested in the free sample, so I bought it. It's The Fifth Child, about a couple living in domestic bliss, having four children, and all is sweetness and light.. until the fifth arrives.. This will be in The Prince of Wales, Drury Lane again. A few months since I was last with them.

And on the 2nd, back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group, for the opera Lucia di Lammermoor in the Royal Opera House.