Play: The Glorious French Revolution (aka Why sometimes it takes a guillotine to get anything done)

Now, a couple more days with Meetup. Tonight, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for The Glorious French Revolution at the New Diorama Theatre! I booked to eat beforehand at the nearby Greene Man, which is a Greene King pub, where good food can always be had. Most of the group actually ate at Ravishankar - but with it being vegetarian, I wasn't keen.

Wow, it takes a long time to get there from where I live - had to be Tube! I had planned to walk to the station - and just as well, because en route, I didn't see any bus pass that I could have got from home. Wow again, I don't recall ever seeing the Tube this busy - it took a while just to get through the barriers. The train itself, mind, was relatively ok, wherever that crowd were all going to.. and I got a seat most of the way. At Baker Street, I had to change for the Metropolitan Line - and arrived just in time to see it pulling away. The next one didn't come for about five minutes - but was nice and empty.

I was a bit late arriving at the pub - happily, the lady at the bar was perfectly happy to evict the girls sat at my table. Which was right beside the open fire, lovely! I ordered on the app - and it's exactly the weather for my traditional Greene King favourite, steak & ale pie. I see you can elect not to have any peas, now - pity I couldn't do the same with the chips, which were rather underwhelming. But the pie was as lovely as always. I did finish a little late though - but it wasn't a long walk to the theatre.

To the box office first, where my name was checked off a list and I was given a "reusable" ticket, to hand over when I was going in to the show. Someone later remarked that scanners are actually quite expensive, which might explain why some smaller theatres don't use them. I got a glass of wine - they seem to have had a French promotion, so it probably was French, but I honestly cannot say.. anyway, a convivial chat was had in the bar before we went in. 

Seating is open - we got seats slightly back from the stage:

Ah, I love budget productions.. we were to see a lot of cardboard signs throughout; actors hang them around their necks so we see what side they're on - the only individuals that appear in the play are the King, the Queen, and General Lafayette. By and large, we are introduced to people known as "peasant", "washer woman", "bourgeoisie".. A projection on the rear wall gives the basic facts, as a background to the, well, sheer anarchy on stage..

This is terrific. Starting off, it reminded me of Horrible Histories - a hilarious way to re-enact historical events. The royals and aristocrats are camp and ridiculous, the peasants downtrodden - it falls to the canny bourgeoisie to take control. But sedition bubbles away underneath..

It moves seamlessly from madcap antics to something more sinister, as the revolution keeps growing. And honestly, I learned a lot about the revolution tonight - and the facts don't make for easy reading, displayed on the back of the stage as they are. It was a long-drawn-out, bloody affair. There is no blood on stage in this - but there are some pretty graphic descriptions. 

The final act was the only one the group felt moved to criticise, afterwards - and only because it drags a bit. Otherwise though, it is a brilliant twist, bringing the revolution right up to date. 

Throughout, frenetic music and lighting convey the tension of the times quickly, saving the actors the trouble of conveying the wider context. Absolutely engrossing throughout its 90 minutes (no interval) - indeed, at one point, it becomes interactive! Recommended for ages 14+, what with the graphic descriptions of violence, and the odd sexual reference. Utterly fantastic, in my view! Previews till Monday, runs to the 14th - go see, absolutely..

I managed to get buses home - but Lordy, they were really pushing it with the first one, for which I had to wait half an hour! I needed a small shop, so I was lucky there was a Tesco Express nearby, and I could shop before my journey.. When the bus finally came, we went down Regent Street, where traffic was like treacle. Mind you, it wasn't so bad being stuck in traffic, what with the Christmas lights being up..

And my local display is still merrily lighting the night sky:

Tomorrow, back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies, yay! This walk is Baker Street and its Quirky Surrounds. So, back in the same direction.. gee, I should nearly have stayed the night!

As is becoming something of a habit, afterwards I'm joining Movie Roadhouse London (MRL) for a film! This time, it's Gladiator II, at Picturehouse Central, with Paul Mescal replacing Russell Crowe as the gladiator who shows Rome the error of its ways, and a return by Connie Nielsen.. seems I mistook who was whom, and her son is actually the aforementioned Paul Mescal, by Russell Crowe! So yes, he IS his son.. Denzel Washington also shows up as a slave that wants to overthrow Rome. Directed by the very bankable Ridley Scott.

On Sunday, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club (CCC)! This time, it's Queen of Between, with Sarah Liisa Wilkinson, and it's at the British Museum again - which means I'd better leave a huge chunk of time for queueing!

On Monday, I'm headed to Reykjavik, in Hampstead Theatre.. which, ironically, UITCS went to a while back..

Tuesday is looking like film again. So, what I've come up with is Soundtrack to a Coup d' État, a fascinating-looking documentary about events in the UN in 1960, with the entry of a host of newly independent African nations, shifting the balance of power. We get Khrushchev banging his fist, we get Eisenhower - and we get a political assassination. Lots of shenanigans - and all to a rocking jazz soundtrack. Showing in the ICA.

On Wednesday, another social with The Hideout and their sister group, MRL, at the BFI Riverfront Bar - this one is fetchingly called Frost Descent. Eating beforehand at The Archduke, as usual.

On Thursday, the CCC has an event in The Cube, Bristol - which has the advantage of having streaming tickets, one of which I've bought. I'll probably be in the office that day, and for once yes, heading home afterwards! The event is The Three Snake Leaves - and ironically, is happening in King's Place in January, which I'd have preferred - I always prefer to go to things in person, and especially storytelling. But never mind..

Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend. And on the 25th, unless something else crops up, I'm thinking of just heading around the Southbank Winter Market..