Play: Tarantula

Flew back to London last night - into engineering works on the Jubilee Line. See, these days I fly into Heathrow, because the times into Stansted are just too late - but that means I'm on the Piccadilly Line out of there, changing to the Jubilee Line at Green Park. Got off there, got to the Jubilee Line platform, only to find the southbound one, which I needed, roped off! I tried to get onto the platform, only to hear a conductor tell someone that there were no services from that platform. Damn. OK, I thought to take the Victoria Line and change to a Tube for Westminster, picking up the Jubilee Line there. AKA Plan B. Traipsed all over the station, and was just about to get on the Victoria Line when I finally heard the announcement that the Jubilee Line was completely closed, south of there. Uhh.. so, another trek through the station to get back to where I started, back onto the Piccadilly Line, and change to the Northern Line, which would also get me where I was going. AKA Plan C. So, that took a while then.. of course, I do subscribe to those TFL emails that tell you about planned engineering works at the weekend - it'd help if I read them occasionally!

This evening, back in London, and with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Tarantula, at the Arcola. So I thought I'd eat at Nando's, as usual, arranged to meet one of the group there beforehand. Buses were fine, not too crowded - as he remarked, it is a Monday, and still these days, most people don't go to the office on Mondays.

So, I got there when I'd said I would - only to find it closed! presumably for renovations. Damn, sez I, what on earth am I going to do now? (Second day in a row of unexpected obstacles.) So, thinking of finding something near the theatre, I headed down to a place called Kakki Katsu - but I baulked when I saw it, and decided the Indian place, Ranna, next door looked more attractive. So, we ate there. It does have the look and feel of a takeaway, but they have a few tables - all empty when we were there.

I had meat samosas - we both had chicken tikka masala: mine with onion rice, his with mushroom rice. Two naan breads as well, one garlic, one peshwari. And it was all quite nice. Drinks were soft drinks, from the fridge. Things about it was, as usual (certainly with me, with Indian food), it was too much for me - indeed, for us both - and we left a lot. Service was certainly friendly though, and I was happy to give them some restaurant business - I doubt they get much. I should maybe have given the katsu place a go.. but anyway, as he said, hopefully Nando's will be open, when we're next in the area..

And so to the theatre bar, where most of the others were gathered, and we chatted a bit before heading down to the Studio. Where, before the show started, we were offered the chance to move to the front row, rather than all being arrayed along the back - so we did. Having said that, although there was some free seating in the front at the sides, the place was pretty full. The play took a little while to start, during which we were regaled with birdsong. It had some bearing on the story, not a lot..

It's a one-woman tour de force. We all gave her credit for a bravura performance - a very physical one too, as she tears around the stage for 90 minutes straight, and manages to portray every character in her story.. most effectively! Including her older brother, her dad, other folk she meets.. Changes in voice (even accent), in stance, work very well.

And it's a striking story - starting with a charming and engaging story of young love, culminating in a vision of extreme violence, as sudden and unexpected as you could wish for - and the whole tone changes. She does come out the other side - but, as the blurb points out, it's hard to leave your past behind.. 

Beautiful piece of work - until the last section. You'll know it, she changes outfit. Nothing wrong with it - except it jars, after what we've just seen, the tone changing again completely: and then, we all agreed it's far too long. What the author needs to say could be said just as effectively by chopping out most of that last section. Still, it doesn't cancel out the fact that this is an effective, and memorable, piece of work - and a terrific job by the actor! Runs till Saturday - recommended.

Tomorrow, I'm back with CT for Stage Time, the improvised comedy show at Shoreditch Balls. Eating at The Blues Kitchen Shoreditch beforehand.. ooh, looking forward to that! Presumably, as they checked today that I was still coming, they'll be open..!

With the film list out nice and early for once, on Wednesday I'm off to see All We Imagine as Light, at last - showing in the BFI. I booked, because it was selling out. Set in Mumbai, it describes the relationship between two female roommates of different ages, and their different experiences of love. And sensibly, I'm going back to The Archduke for food.

Next, two Meetup days in a row. On Thursday, I'm heading to A Good House, at the Royal Court, with UITCS - eating in Cote Sloane Square beforehand. Whose service speed had improved, the last couple of times I was there - let's see whether they can keep the side up. Now, following my terrible experience on Wednesday in Cote St. Katharine Docks, they're refunding me and providing me with a voucher, would you believe, redeemable in any Cote! Arrived yesterday..

And on Friday, I decided to accompany The Hideout to see Presence! in Picturehouse Central. Stars Lucy Liu. Well, it doesn't have a terrific rating, but neither does it have a bad one - and the trailer looks good.

On Saturday, back with the Crick Crack Club at King's Place, for The Three Snake Leaves, with Hugh Lupton, Ben Haggarty, and Sally Pomme Clayton - music by Sheema Mukherjee. Accompanied by another sometime companion from UITCS. Potentially meeting Ivan for a late-night drinking session afterwards - TBD.

On Sunday, two Meetup groups I haven't been with in an age - in the morning, I'm headed with London Literary Walks for a parade commemorating the execution of Charles I! Never heard of it, but apparently it's a thing. We're meeting at The Red Lion, Crown Passage.

And in the evening, I'm back with Buddies on Budgets in London, for the Winter Lights show in Canary Wharf.

Finally, next Monday, I'm back at King's Place for a Kirckman Society concert by the Paddington Trio. It'll be good to get back to classical music, it's been too long..