Socials & Film: Maria

Yesterday was a busy one - in the middle of the day, Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) had a social, which I signed up for, in The Royal George, Charing Cross Road. Excellent chance to see them all - I don't so much these days! Anyway, off I popped, one of the first four to arrive. In the end, it was a large group, people going and coming as they needed to. We had lunch (brunch for me) - and I'm delighted to say I loved my chicken schnitzel. Chat was good, and I stayed there till the bitter end, hanging out with old faces and new. It's nice to have a sit-down with them, and it was a lovely afternoon.

In the evening, I was back with Movie Roadhouse London for Maria, in which Angelina Jolie plays the famous opera singer, Maria Callas. In the Curzon Mayfair - which is great, because as a Curzon member, I got a free ticket! and this would be expensive enough, otherwise.. It was walking distance from the Royal George, and off I set. Mind you, it's a tad confusing - the first part of the building I saw, I went to the loo in, but it turned out not to be the cinema! The nice man directed me to the right place, where the group was assembling. (Well, I hadn't been here in years.)

Funny - had I not got a free ticket, I'd have paid the same as for the Odeon Luxe Haymarket - but without the recliner seat. The film, though, I thought was excellent - Angelina Jolie gives an understated performance as the elegant Maria Callas, in the last year of her life, hanging out with famous people, gradually losing her singing prowess, as well as her health. The sets are gorgeous, the outfits are gorgeous - we don't get to hear much singing, but apparently she really did receive vocal coaching, and her voice was combined with real recordings of the star she portrayed. Truly, a respectful rendition - I loved it. Things ran too late to blog afterwards, though.

Today was this month's get-together of my ex-colleagues - arranged for a Sunday so as to accommodate Ivan's Saturday music rehearsals. So, this time we went more central, to oblige those who have further to travel, and were at Victoria Taps, a congenial place that James and I discovered before. We managed an all-day booking - and the code JAN40 gives a 40% discount, but it turns out they only applied it to our first round. So, as the lady said, we'd better order food first off, to get the most value..

Yet again, it seemed I'd mistimed my first bus - but lo, it appeared faster than predicted! I had to change, and wasn't the second bus approaching as I waited to cross the road.. Happily, I got a break in the traffic, raced across, ran for it, and made it! And then it was diverted, but happily not by much - and why drivers attempt to make announcements without the mic on is beyond me; nobody could hear a thing - and I made the pub on the dot of the reservation time. Unusually, I was the first of the group to arrive, and was given the choice of what the server described as "a lovely booth" near the door, or a table in the back. Which I chose. Who wants to sit right inside the door..?!

Ivan, again unusually, was next, with James third! A real subversion of the natural order of things, as I remarked. Anyway, we knew Martin would come later, so we three ordered lunch / brunch together, and yes, got a substantial discount. We all had the chicken, from the "Rated Plates" section - so did Martin, when he arrived. Now, not everyone was delighted with it - I have to say, I've often had worse, and I was very happy. Particularly with the garlic bread, which I had ordered separately, and had a second portion of. And wow, it was great to see everyone - unfortunately, we had a backdrop of football, which Ivan was following.. but which did finish eventually. And we stayed till we were kicked out. Excellent day, all told - roll on the next!

Tomorrow, I'm at The Little Foxes, starring Anne-Marie Duff, at the Young Vic - booked the local Bar + Block beforehand. Nom-nom-nom.. Unfortunately, UITCS is going the next day, but what can you do..?

The next two days are looking like film again - on Tuesday, I'm thinking of The Girl with the Needle at the ICA. A Danish film, it's apparently based on the story of Danish serial killer Dagmar Overbye.. and described as a psychological horror. The trailer certainly looks intriguing..

And on Wednesday, I'm thinking of A Real Pain, a comedy where Jesse Eisenberg finds himself travelling around Poland with his really annoying cousin as a travelling companion. Showing in my closest cinema, Curzon Aldgate! Two showings I can make - we shall see which suits.

On Thursday, delighted to have managed a cheap ticket for Dara O' Briain! See, he's touring later in the year, but is doing this warm-up show in the Pleasance Theatre.. now sold out. I jumped at the chance as soon as I heard of it.. Eating at The Depot beforehand. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

On the 20th, back with UITCS for Tarantula, at the Arcola.

And on the 21st, 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!