Musical: The Finellis & Talk: The People of the Peasants' Revolt
Last night, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for The Finellis, a musical in Wonderville. Cheap tickets from CT. I remembered the food not being great there - I booked the Angus Steakhouse, which is always good. And then one of my habitual dining companions from the group decided to join me - always good to have company.
I was at the office yesterday - and was delayed, having asked someone about something just before I planned to leave, and him having gone on and on about it! Plus, as I explained when I did get there, I had the laptop to carry. Plus I had the crowds to push through. So I was a bit late - my companion beat me to it. Funnily enough, although I'd told him to ask for my booking when he arrived, the guy who greeted me didn't make the connection, and tried to seat me on my own! I saw my companion though, and so that was sorted.
We only had the one course, slightly rushed as we were. We had different wines this time - he prefers red, I prefer white. He went for the fish n chips - which turned out to be a massive portion. I went for the chicken - I'd forgotten how spicy the dressing on it is! I managed it though, and it was tasty. With it, I had onion rings - I prefer them to chips, there's more flavour. And we were well fed. And afterwards, only had a quick trot to the venue.
Where we checked in, and were given a voucher for two-for-one cocktails after the show! Our organiser ran across us as we were doing that, and we were in with her - we had seats at the front:
We had tables - at the front, at least - which was handy for my drink; I didn't notice any of the others partaking. I don't think they were serving food, this time.. Anyway, the toilets were just upstairs, to the side of the stage - most convenient. I had to go a couple of times - the first time, I passed someone lying comatose on the floor, and thought I'd better say it to the bar staff when I came down! One of them remarked that he was just sleeping it off, and went to check - at any rate, Sleeping Beauty was gone again, the second time I visited the upstairs.
The show was.. interesting. We were very close, the actors were right beside our table at times. The costumes, TBH, captured most of my attention - although the singing was excellent, and the cast gave it gusto. However, whatever story it has was - you might say - lost in translation. None of us could really follow the plot, or had any incentive to do so - after the lead character's release from prison, and obvious attempt to re-integrate with his family, I completely lost the details. At one point, I was rather surprised to see him with a paint roller - so, it seems his (now ex-)wife turned the place into a B&B while he was inside, and I guess this is how he's now making himself useful. Their daughters show up, and some Mafia types. I have no idea what happened after that, or what the Mafia was doing there. I rapidly gave up trying to make sense of it.
But they appear to be having fun, at least. Runs till Sunday, if you're interested. We made a hasty exit afterwards - completely forgetting to use our voucher for a free cocktail! At home, I was busy with the film list, so it ran too late to blog - and I ended up being too busy again today.
Tonight, I was back with CT for a talk on The Peasants' Revolt, at Southwark Cathedral. I love this period in history.. arrived early, to find it still locked, and ended up chatting briefly with the speaker! who was a tad uncommunicative, as are most writers. Anyway, as we waited, we all got to pore over the historical drawing of London on the wall.. not as old as the setting of this talk though, it dated from 1443..
When we were finally let in, I was first for a drink: well, why not?! After all, I knew it wouldn't be easy afterwards, with book signings, and didn't fancy dropping my stuff and having to come back for it. This time, I sat over the other side of the room - and discovered that, while one side of the library (where the talks are held) has books about Judaism, the other side has books about Jewish interpretations of Jesus and the New Testament!
So, it turns out he's worked on a TV series or something about the people of the Peasants' Revolt, hence this talk. D' you know, it was on this very date in 1381.. which is why they were so keen to have this talk today! Indeed, the talk begins with the speaker drawing parallels between society then and now:
As he mused, could we have a similar revolt today..? (The audience had some fun with that idea during the Q+A.) He made a very interesting point about the Hundred Years' War - which wasn't going too well for England at this point - and which was the reason for most of the taxation. Much of the talk - and, I believe, the TV series - centred on the ordinary folk though, the rebels. And he had some fascinating examples for us, each with a picture of the person, generally AI generated, there being no other source..
Joanna Ferrour, for instance, was unusual in being a woman named as a leader of the rebels! Interestingly, we heard how her husband was later brought before the court for treason, in the reign of Henry IV: but was pardoned, because during the Peasants' Revolt, he had hidden the young boy who would become Henry IV in a cupboard, to prevent him being seized by the rebels!
Much interest was expressed in the consideration of how sympathetic the King, Richard II, was to the rebels.. he seems to have been at points, but of course, he wasn't yet ruling in his own right, being underage:
I didn't stop for a book, but will keep an eye on this chap in future - it's not for nothing that his talk was completely sold out - I was lucky to get a ticket!
Afterwards, to The Anchor again - I'd tried booking The Thameside Inn, which is closer, but also completely booked up - well, it is right beside the Golden Hinde. In The Anchor, I took myself straight to the main bar to retrieve my booking - which it took them some time to find. And lo, I ended up in the Boat Room again - the table at the side, right beside where I was last time! Mercifully, much quieter than the main bar. This time, I felt like steak - they have a sirloin, and it was gorgeous, as was the peppercorn sauce I asked for with it. As were the onion rings, and the chips weren't far behind. Excellent choice.
On my way home, the drizzle had finally stopped, and I came across one of the more interesting letterboxes I've seen:
Well! After much deliberation, tomorrow's film is Young Woman and the Sea (the title obviously inspired by The Old Man and the Sea). This is the story of Trudy Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel. And it's showing in the Odeon Covent Garden - ah, I remember when my office was right next door!
On Saturday, I'm "stalking" Buddies on Budgets in London again - just like last Tuesday, they're going to something I really want to see, but by the time I got around to deciding I wanted to go, all their tickets were gone. Never fear, other tickets were available.. this is part of Sadler's Wells annual Flamenco Festival, so irresistible to me. In fact, Saturday is the last day - and this is a performance by the Ballet Nacionál de Espana - Invocación. And I managed to score one of those nice, solitary seats at the side.. olé! For dinner, as usual here, I'm heading to The Wilmington.
On Sunday, squeezing in a meeting with Ivan - the only weekend day he and I can both make, this month! We're trying out Brown's on Butler's Wharf, near me - the posh side of the road! Don't seem to be able to get anyone else - James is off to Taiwan, and Martin has gone incommunicado again.. well, it is Father's Day.
On Monday, back with CT - to learn to sing showtunes with Ensemble at the Prince of Wales Drury Lane! Eating there beforehand.
On Tuesday, back with TAC for another talk at The Conduit - this one is Survival and Sisterhood in the Age of the Taliban, and is the story of the captain of the Afghan ladies' football team. It'll be really interesting to hear from an Afghan woman personally. And I've booked for Bella Italia St. Martin's Lane again.
On Wednesday, back with London Literary Walks for The Chaucer Walk. Meeting at The Bell, and I'm eating there beforehand again.
Next Thursday, back with CT for an LSO concert at the Barbican. Which gives me an excuse to head back to my old stomping ground of the local Cote! Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.
And on the 24th, back with UITCS - this time, for an interesting-sounding play called Visit from an Unknown Woman, in Hampstead Theatre..
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