Comedy: Jimmy Carr Laughs Funny

Last night, back with London Hot 100 - we were at the New Wimbledon Theatre for Jimmy Carr Laughs Funny. Tickets were from Ticketmaster, and I got an email from them a couple of days before with strict instructions about how to display my ticket (screenshots don't work with theirs, of course). Option #1 - the app. Well, that wouldn't open for me. Happily, their second option was to save the ticket to a wallet on my phone, which I did - that is so handy..

So the laptop went on a little trek.. I also see it's got a nearby GBK (Nando's too, but I prefer GBK), so skived off early to eat there. Would have left a bit earlier, but happily, instinct told me to hang on a bit - just as well, as someone approached me with a task, shortly after.

Had to be Tube - quickest was Northern Line to South Wimbledon, then a bus. It's a really, really long way.. nearly to the end of the line. I had to be careful to catch a train going the whole distance. Got a seat after a couple of stops, mercifully. I didn't manage to grab a paper, so dozed off for part of the journey - like most of the people in the carriage! As I say, it's a really, really long way. Alighted in South Wimbledon. Now, it'd been spitting rain at lunchtime - at South Wimbledon Station, it was torrential! People huddled in the doorways, afraid to go out. I sourced where to catch my bus - the stop was just down from the station. I peeked out - hallelujah, it was covered! I got slightly drenched crossing to it - and in the meantime, two of my bus passed, durnit. I was prepared for a long wait - but wow, I hardly had to wait at all for a third! Why can't buses be that frequent around where I live?!

Wouldn't you know it, the rain had completely stopped by the time I got off. Surreal. Anyway, into GBK, and I was seated quickly - they just had to clear a table. I tried to order at the counter, as at the one in the Brunswick Centre - oh no, here they just do table service! Classic chicken burger, as usual - chargrilled these days, it fits better in the burger. And as I never finish the fries, I just ordered onion rings - which they typically run out of in the Brunswick Centre. And they were delicious! Meantime, I was a little late to meet the other person from the group - I messaged him, but he was running late anyway, handily. Meant I didn't have to rush.

A bag check at the theatre entrance was more thorough than usual, although he kept apologising for inconveniencing me. Into the lobby - there are bars on every level, apparently, but I didn't know where the other guy was sitting, so decided it was better to stay in the lobby, where there is a bar too. Got a drink, messaged him again - now he didn't think he'd make it before showtime, said to go in without him, he'd meet me afterwards. Well and good - I climbed all those stairs down to the stalls. (I actually booked this ticket ages ago, in anticipation of it selling out - I checked last night, and I could still have got a ticket: just not a good one.)

I was in the rear stalls - an OK view, apart from the guy with the big head, who ultimately sat two rows in front. He kept leaning to one side, then the other - so I had to do the same, in the opposite direction! Lord knows how annoyed anyone sitting behind me was.. Oh, and for heaven's sake, the entire show was peppered with people going in and out, in and out! and rows of people having to stand to let them pass. Honestly, between that, and the ushers speaking to latecomers - in normal speaking voices! We were actually telling the ushers to shush..

A slide displayed before the show urges people to contact Jimmy:

The show is 90 minutes, straight through - and he was his usual, acerbic self. He makes a career out of offending people, you know, like a naughty schoolboy - and he is hilarious while he does it. (It's just unfortunate that I recently read an article about how intimidated young girls feel by the way young boys and men speak about them, and to them, and the way they treat them. So I felt quite uncomfortable during those bits.) However, I do know he doesn't mean it, it's just for effect.

He has some one-liners, but he's really better interacting with his audience. He's great to watch with heckles - which he encourages - but I think his best bit is reacting to messages he gets on the number displayed on screen before the show. Sharp and incisive, and downright funny. And yes, his funny laugh was much in evidence! I always enjoy a Jimmy Carr show. 

Outside, I messaged my fellow group member again - he'd got to the show, but now had a headache and taken himself home. So, that was me on my own then - unusually for this group. Hey-ho, an early night - and I had plenty to do with it. Including the film list - so no time to blog last night.

Tonight, meeting an old acquaintance for drinks - he has to come to Waterloo anyway, so I said that location would be perfect, and suggested the BFI. I've booked to eat beforehand in Black & Blue. Boy, am I looking forward to the weekend - I've had it for work for the week.

Tomorrow, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for the matinee of May 35th at Southwark Playhouse's new venue! Now, this should be interesting.. basically referencing the Tiananmen Square massacre (35 years ago), and supported by Amnesty, there are different speakers every day. Saturday's matinee sees the head of Priority Campaigns at AIUK as host, with the Chief Executive of Hong Kong Watch as speaker.. We're meeting for lunch at Mercato Metropolitano beforehand.

On Sunday, I'm back with Discover London - History Walks and Events for a walk all about Crime and Punishment: 16th to 19th Century..

On Monday - now that the film list is done - I know I'm going to Non-Aligned. It's a documentary with footage of Tito travelling the world during the Cold War, trying to find a "third way", non-aligned to either of the major powers! Honestly, this is something I never heard of.. Narrated by the cameraman who took the original footage, who describes what it was like. Showing, of course, in the Curzon Bloomsbury - and I had initial trouble booking it on the app, but it's working now.

On Tuesday, back with Buddies on a Budget (BoB) in London for The White Mouse, a play based on the true story of Nancy Wake, a spy for the SOE during the Second World War. Showing at The Theatre on Barnes Pond, who've given us a discount code, lovely! I also accidentally booked with her other group, London Herstory Walks - no harm. Anyway, the theatre turns out to be right next door to Cote, so I've booked that as well.

On Wednesday, back with London Literary Walks for The Camden Walk. Booked for dinner beforehand in The Blues Kitchen Camden, just down the road - well, the Shoreditch branch is excellent, let's try this one! The walking group, however, is meeting in The World's End. Unfortunately, I have to be in the office that day.. guess I'll be dragging the laptop on a walk! Jeez, this job gets less attractive daily..

On Thursday, back in Southwark Playhouse - original venue, this time - with UITCS, for The Bleeding Tree, a drama involving a murder and a conspiracy of silence. Both tickets booked on their excellent PAYG system, where a prepaid amount counts for five shows, no time limit. Can represent a good saving! Probably eat in Mercato Metropolitano again. And then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

On the 10th, back with UITCS again for Kathy & Stella Solve a Murder - a musical comedy about the presenters of a murder podcast, finding themselves in the position of sleuths! Showing at the Ambassadors Theatre, cheapest tickets from the official source, with a promo code! And I've booked Bella Italia St. Martin's Lane again.

On the 11th, BoB is off to the Yamato Drummers at the Peacock Theatre. Their tickets were sold out by the time I came to booking this, but it's the best thing on Meetup for the day - so I booked my own ticket. Eating in Cote Covent Garden.

On the 12th, back with UITCS for The Finellis, a musical in Wonderville. I remember the food not being great there - will see what my options are nearby.

And on the 13th, back with CT for a talk on The Peasants' Revolt, at Southwark Cathedral.