Play: Reykjavik

Tonight, I headed to Reykjavik, in Hampstead Theatre.. which, ironically, Up in the Cheap Seats went to a while back. What an awful night to be headed out.. cold, pouring rain.. Anyway, I walked to the station to catch the Tube. And despite someone's groan as it pulled in and we saw how crowded it was, mercifully most of them got off, so we got on. And I even got a seat after a couple of stops!

Ate at Ye Olde Swiss Cottage of course, as usual. I have to say, I've never seen it so busy! I was lucky to get a seat - not my usual table, but one at the other side of the bar area, which was fine. 20 minutes, I queued at the bar to get served - the lady behind me remarked that she'd never seen such a slow barman, but I think that was unfair! As I pointed out, there was only one of him - and the line of people never dropped off. Anyway, I duly had my order taken, and it wasn't too long before I got served - poor guy admitted that he'd forgotten where I was sitting. Never mind, the food was lovely, and I was finished in decent time.

My theatre ticket was upgraded, hurray! Does tend to happen here. So I was instructed to head to the box office when I arrived - and I was to discover I was in the third row from the front:

I've read mixed reviews of this. The first act seems straightforward enough - we're in a shipping office in Hull, where we meet the gruff boss, and see different sides to him, as he deals in turn with his junior assistant, his interfering dad (who used to be in charge), the young skipper who's not up to par, and the irate wife of one of the few survivors of a recent tragic sinking that happened off the Icelandic coast.

In Act Two.. he unexpectedly takes himself off to the hotel in Reykjavik where the survivors have holed up. What follows seems to have puzzled reviewers - indeed, what it seems to be is a bonding session, where he, and we, learn what salt-of-the-earth people these are, and how they interact. So yeah.. it is enjoyable enough, but I wouldn't go in the hope of finding a plot. Various things do happen, but to no apparent purpose. And when it fizzled to an end, it felt like a random place to leave it. It's not the worst, but does sort of beg the question what the point is.. perhaps it was the lack of plot development, perhaps the way it was played, but it felt like so much of not much, to me. Runs till Saturday, if you're curious.

Tomorrow 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, Movie Roadhouse London, at the BFI Riverfront Bar - this one is fetchingly called Frost Descent. Eating beforehand at The Archduke, as usual.

On Thursday, the Crick Crack Club 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 next Monday, unless something else crops up, I'm thinking of just heading around the Southbank Winter Market..