Films: Twisters & Heathers, Musical: Next to Normal, Comedy: Stagetime, & Walk: Dickens Woolf & Lawrence
Last weekend, I was back in Ireland again. Film for Saturday - at last! - was Twisters, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones as one of the tornado-chasers. Now, I'd heard mixed things about this - but hell, I love a good disaster film, loved the original Twister. I thought I'd enjoy it - and was delighted not to be missing it; I was afraid I would! Showing at a nice, convenient time at the Omniplex, for once.
Driving into town, I was lucky to hear on the radio that part of the road was blocked off to traffic - in time that I could detour. They were touting it as a great opportunity to get out and enjoy the Georgian architecture - I wonder whether this is a permanent thing! They have done it in other places.. and it tends to be an excellent idea. It'll just require a permanent change in my route to the cinema, if so..
So I made it to the cinema in time. I'd chosen a seat convenient to the door - easy to find in the dark, if I arrived a bit late! Unfortunately, it does have a seat in front of it that actually blocks the view of a corner of the screen.. but I managed.
Ah well now, I loved this. Dunno what the dissenters were complaining about - the tornadoes are huge and scary, the film opens with a disaster in Daisy Edgar-Jones' student days, in which a number of her friends were killed while storm-chasing, and she was lucky to escape with her own life. Not a spoiler, it's referenced in the film blurb. So, this event scars her to the extent that, although she keeps working for a met service, she doesn't chase storms any more.
Until an old friend - also a survivor of this incident - gets in touch, wanting her "tornado-detecting" skills for his business, which involves tracking storms with a view to figuring out how to deal with them. She's really reluctant to get back out there - and things aren't helped by the arrival of a celebrity storm-chaser, Glenn Powell, who just annoys her with his t-shirts with his face on them (!) (which are for sale), his band of followers, and their habit of live-streaming the whole process to YouTube. Will she be able to overcome her reticence, and "get back on the horse", so to speak..?
Well now, it wouldn't be much of a film if she didn't. And the storms continue to be scary - a comic character is introduced, in the form of a journalist from South London, of all places, who gets so scared as he follows Glenn Powell around that he throws up frequently. I loved the action sequences, also thought the chemistry between Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glenn Powell worked well. I mean, it's good fun, the effects are great - what more do you want?! Highly recommended, if you're into action films.
I forgot about the detour on the way home - but from that direction, the detour turns out not to be that complicated anyway.
That night - what should be on TV but Heathers! There's been a lot of chat about that recently - it seems to have been re-released in cinemas. Well, I thought, I can watch it on TV and spare myself the trip! I didn't really know anything about it, except that it was set in high school - what it is, of course, is the story of Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, who are in school together and going out with each other, and who decide to deal with the thorny issue of the people making her life a misery by, er, killing them and making the deaths look like suicide. The film comes from a group of girls in the school, all called Heather - and part of a bitchy clique; one is played by the late Shannen Doherty.
Wow, the nostalgia.. it came out in 1988, and it shows from the fashions (this is, of course, a fashionable set). And the fashions are suitably crazy, from these rich kids - particularly when they're showing off at the various funerals that are a necessary side-effect of the killing couple's favourite hobby. It's a very black comedy, soaked in the ennui of teenagers with nothing useful to do. Mind you, as the body count mounts - will they be able to continue? And what unexpected consequences might there be?
This has become quite the cult classic - probably because of its gruesome subject matter. I found it enjoyable.. but teen ennui doesn't really do much for me, and I won't be giving it a repeat viewing. Anyway, I found myself far too busy doing film lists to blog at the weekend..
On Monday, back in London, I headed to Next To Normal, at Wyndham's - cheapest tickets with TodayTix. Booked at Bella Italia (St. Martin's Lane) again for beforehand. Now, that is a favourite of mine.. and this time, I actually arrived on time! Dunno whether they actually checked my booking - I was quickly shown to a table by a frazzled waiter. And they were as busy as ever - still, it wasn't too long until my order was taken. I decided to go for their new starter again - the chicken frites - and my usual main.
Frantic, frantic, frantic waiters dashed around throughout my meal. And wouldn't you know it, there was trouble with the starter again - this one wasn't cold, like the last in Bella Italia (Covent Garden) - it was burnt! I doused it in the accompanying dip, and managed to finish it - but what a disappointment; it was lovely the last time I was here. Ugh, I won't be having it again here. I guess Bella Italia is becoming a victim of its own success - if they're so busy that they can't cook properly, they're going to damage their reputation.. at least my main was lovely. I noticed that my waiter didn't ask me to leave a review, as he did the table near me - wonder whether he noticed my distaste at the starter!
BTW, I managed to leave my UK debit card in Ireland - so I've been spending the week paying for things with my phone, for the first time! Have to say, it's much more responsive than the physical card..
The theatre was right across the road. And I had a lot of steps up to my seat in the gods.. happily, there was a bar right beside, which saved me carrying a drink all that way. And I had a nice chat with the chap beside me, who was planning a trip to Ireland soon - I gave him some tips.
That view isn't actually as bad as it looks - I could peer under, over, and around the railings to see as much as I needed to. And oh.. what a show. Well worth whatever ticket you have to get. There's been quite a buzz about this, and it's justified - the subject matter is, admittedly, harrowing, being the tale of a wife and mother with bipolar disorder. The guy beside me, in particular, seemed to find that hard to deal with. But at the same time, it's funny, we get to empathise with her and her family as she bats around the place doing crazy stuff, and sympathise as she tries medicine regime after medicine regime, in an effort to find the right combination of what is a real cocktail of drugs.
And WOW, the singing just blew us away. And the songs are catchy and clever. Truly, by the end of the show, I was dying for it to be over, just so I could leap to my feet for a standing ovation! Seriously, arguably the best show in London right now. I only wish I had it to see over for the first time.. get a ticket, go see. Cannot recommend it highly enough.
On Tuesday, I headed back with CT to Stagetime - more improvised comedy - at Shoreditch Balls! Booked to eat at the nearby Blues Kitchen, which I love. The bus driver obligingly let me off slightly early, with the traffic stalled - worked well for me, as I was headed back the way we'd come! So I was early for my booking - but they seated me immediately: facing the bar:
Seeing all the ads for bourbon, I was inspired to let Ivan know - he's just back from a business trip to Austin, and fell in love with the bourbon there! In fact, they seem to have quite the range of bourbon.. we might pay a visit here sometime.
Now, service here can be patchy - but my order was taken quickly. I had the fried chicken again, and a glass of wine. Except my food arrived before the wine did.. dunno what the issue is, servers here just sometimes seem to forget! I had to ask the food waiter to get it for me. My second glass arrived faster, mind you. And I do love it here - dim lighting and good music, the vibe is great, and the food good - although they have better fried chicken in the Seven Dials food court. But it was tasty, and I was well satisfied.
And so, a short walk to the comedy venue, where I had more wine - not as nice, I have to say. And they still don't have a sign to the comedy in the upstairs bar! And the audience is still mostly made up of performers. But the crew are friendly, and the performers still inventive - the performance dragged a bit for me that night, though. Still, I've had worse comedy nights.
Yesterday evening, back with London Literary Walks (LLW) for Dickens, Woolf and Lawrence. We were meeting at The Dolphin, but they don't do food, so I booked at the adjacent Isolabella Italian restaurant beforehand. Entrance is through a hallway.. but persevere, it's worth it.
From the minute I entered, I was impressed. Simple, but perfect attention to detail - the decor is plain, but pleasant, with simple white walls, muted colours, recessed lighting, and plenty of mirrors to enhance the feeling of space in what is a small establishment. Service is also swift - to be fair, they weren't busy - and it was pretty easy to catch their eye. Mind you, he could have been prompter in bringing me some tap water, given that I suffered a coughing fit the minute I got inside! Weird - came out of nowhere.
That dealt with, I had a lovely pinot grigio, ordered garlic bread to start, and chicken in cream and mushroom sauce, with sauteed potatoes on the side (all sides are extra). The garlic bread was excellent - the sauce with the chicken was gorgeous! The chicken itself was a teensy bit burnt on the edge - but that really is nit-picking. Most of it was so tender.. and the potatoes so perfectly done. Really - as I say, attention to detail: you don't know what the others are missing until you see it in action! I got a second glass of wine without requiring the waiter even to break his stride - just waggled the glass at him.
Happily, I had time for a dessert, just about - and when she asked whether I'd like to see the menu, I was able to tell her that I'd already taken that opportunity, and thought the chocolate mousse cake sounded interesting. Oh ho, it was.. deliciously rich, but beautifully light, on a plate decorated with cocoa powder in a star shape, with the cake itself doused in both cream and chocolate sauce. Caused serious envy in the small girl at the next table, who couldn't take her eyes off it.. no wonder she lost interest in her starter! Five-star choice. Seriously, if you find yourself anywhere near this part of town, make a stop here..
I was a teensy bit late for meeting the group next door - they were squashed into a corner in what is a very small pub. I got another drink, and joined them - and some later arrivals - in a convivial chat before we headed off. Mind you, as we were sat there, our guide pointed out the clock that stopped when the pub was bombed during the Blitz, and was never restarted:
One of our first stops was Conway Hall! where, on the list of events, I spotted Martin Shaw.. must consider going to that myself:
We stopped off in Red Lion Square Gardens, which I never really noticed in my visits here - to be fair, they have tended to be after dark:
..and we paused to consider Georgian fanlights over the door, which, as our guide pointed out, are very useful in meaning you don't have to carry a light when answering the door! or simply coming in or going out:
We spotted some pre-Raphaelites:
and, for goodness' sake, wooden bollards!
We also saw a permanent game of hopscotch!
And we passed that curious undertaker's, with the fascinating display:
Can't say, however, that I ever before noticed the signage above, in which most panels are flat - but one bulges, the remaining visual after-effect of bombing!
I never thought about it much, but obviously Conduit Street would have something to do with water:
Oh yes, and we did come across some writers:
Such signs always attract it, don't they:
An original street sign:
and a fantastic doorway:
Yes, I know!
Interesting part of town to wander around - I do miss living locally:
Now, how many people know that this person was actually the inspiration for Lady Chatterley!
Here's a handy piece of furniture:
An early rickshaw?
The old headquarters of The Spectator!
Charles Dickens, of course, is everywhere in London - so they made him a museum!
As it's converted from a Victorian toilet, it's only appropriate that they have a large portrait of Mr. Crapper behind the bar!
And lo, for all the times I've been in Russell Square, I never noticed this:
On the site of the Kimpton Fitzroy:
Another fascinating walk! Roll on the next. Now, as you might have guessed, work kept me too busy all week to blog.. not to mention the compilation of film lists, not just for next week, but for this week too! Read on..
This evening, I was supposed to be back with Buddies on Budgets (BoB) for a sketching evening (!) in Phoenix Garden. Tickets from Eventbrite. Not usually my thing, but I said I'd see. As the week wore on, I grew less keen - especially given that I hadn't had time to source drawing materials. not keen on drawing nature, anyway. I cancelled before I was quite sure what to do as an alternative - I ultimately plumped for film, the first of three in a row! Top of the list to catch my attention for tonight is About Dry Grasses, a Turkish film about a teacher, banished to the middle of nowhere for inappropriate behaviour with a student. The trailer is captivating.. so I booked. First of two in the Curzon Bloomsbury - bless its unusual film listings! (I see the app is still giving issues, telling me there's a problem with my payment method before sending me a confirmation email, immediately after). Mind you, I didn't notice how long it is.. I'll have to eat beforehand.
Tomorrow, I really like the look of Radical, about a Mexican teacher with, well, radical methods for saving his students from the path of crime and violence. On in the same place.
On Saturday - how could I resist Trap, M. Night Shayamalan's latest, where Josh Hartnett is a serial killer, trapped when he takes his daughter to a pop concert?! I love his dead stare in the trailer.. And this is the start of five Meetup days in a row for me. Two Meetup groups are actually going that day - but London Horror Film Group are going at midday, for goodness' sake. Anyway, I'd rather go with The London Movie Club, who are going in the evening - meeting in Clubhouse 5 beforehand. And given what happened last time, when we headed out after the film, I'm eating beforehand, even though it's quite early - Bella Italia (Cranbourn Street), of course.
Interestingly, they've advertised two cinemas, given the small screens in Cineworld, where I've booked - they've also suggested the Odeon, where there's a showing at a similar time. Unfortunately, they started out with a link for the wrong day for Cineworld.. hope nobody was caught out by that! I only spotted it after my card was inexplicably declined, and I had to go again - damnit, there's always a problem with their site! It's also a nuisance that my Pass app is no longer autofilling card details, given that I don't have them saved with Cineworld, and as I say, I forgot my card and can't remember the details! Had to go with my Irish one, in the end..
On Sunday, back with BoB - this time, for a tango show in the Scoop! My first time this year, imagine.. Supposed to be a hot one that day. Wonder whether I'll run into my new flatmate, who's in charge of security there.. It is actually starting before we arrive, but I'm sure we'll see plenty! Sponsored by the Argentinian Embassy, apparently.
The next two days, back with Up in the Cheap Seats - on Monday, we're off to Farm Hall, in the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Based on true events, it's the story of a group of German scientists, detained in England during the Second World War. I'm eating at Angus Steakhouse.
On Tuesday, off to Fangirls at the Lyric Hammersmith. Not a standard pop fan story, this tells the tale of what happens when a young female fan's adoration for her pop idol is shattered..
On Wednesday, back with LLW - this walk is the St. James' Walk.
And next Thursday, film again (!) - thinking of a feature at the Prince Charles, who are showing It's Such a Beautiful Day, the animated film by Don Hertzfeldt, which will be accompanied by his new short film, Me. And of course, that'll be accompanied by a trip to Bella Italia (Cranbourn Street) .. And then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
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