Play: Wilko - Love and Death and Rock 'n' Roll

Tonight, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) - this time, at Southwark Playhouse, for Wilko: Love and Death and Rock 'n' Roll, the true story of a rockstar who was told he had a limited time to live, only to defy the predictions.

Well, for here, Mercato Metropolitano is always my go-to for food. I was delighted to discover it's under half an hour's walk from me! Never checked before. So, off I set, in brilliant sunshine (although still not that warm). A lovely evening for a walk, you might say - except that, with the sun in my eyes most of the way, I could neither see where I was going, nor see my phone, to see where I was headed! Google Maps did lead me through a fascinating warren of backstreets though.

Arriving at last, I was dubious about what to eat; I'm a massive fan of katsu, but didn't much like the katsu rice bowls I'd been getting here - more rice and veg than chicken, and a miniscule amount of sauce. So I was delighted to find another katsu place, right across from the first - these are to the right as you come from the main entrance: the place with "Japanese" in the title, not the place that mentions "ramen". Ordered from there - and they give you a choice of rice or chips, so I decided on chips for a change. The place was as empty as I've seen it - so I didn't bother to get a seat until after I'd gotten my wine, from the wine bar. Funnily enough, I subsequently noticed a couple more places that sell wine - always good to know.

My meal, when it was ready, came on a plate, so you could see exactly what you were getting - and sure enough, tons of chicken, plenty of sauce: and it was gorgeous. The chips, mind, were insipid - I think I'd get rice, coming here again. I was joined by a couple of people from the group - who went for quesadillas from the Mexican stand - and we ate, and chatted, before leaving together for the theatre. Where I had a dessert of Tayto, and cheaper wine, and the rest of the group gathered, chatting again until it was time to go in.



I was second row from the front - and with the whole end of the row free, had plenty of space!

What can I say - it was educational for me. On the advice of one of the group last Saturday, I'd looked Dr. Feelgood, the band this musician was in, up on YouTube, so had some idea what music to expect: but I'd never heard of them before - nor of Canvey Island, where they were apparently from. The play does go through pretty much Wilko's entire life - unsympathetic father, love affair and early marriage, brief academic career, and then into the music business. Throughout, he's played by the same guy - bald, and bearing some resemblance to the real man in later life. He's the only actor who doesn't play multiple characters..

I got the impression, talking to the group afterwards, that some would have preferred an actual concert to the play. Well, I won't say that, I found it entertaining - the music is good too, although, you know, they're no U2. And I found the story moving towards the end. All in all, very enjoyable, as long as you're ok with the style of music - which I certainly am. Runs to the 19th - recommended for any fans of this kind of music. Toe-tapping stuff. And a convivial night, chatting to all.. it was distressing to hear they're planning to develop the Mercato site though. As I keep saying, if they turn everything into flats, what are the people who live in them going to do?! London won't be worth living in..

Tomorrow, finally managed to squeeze in a trip to Darkfield..! They're in the basement of Shoreditch Town Hall until Saturday - "Darkfield at the Ditch". They have a bar n all - and wow, are letting people experience the shows live that were previously only available on "Darkfield Radio" (online). So I've booked for Double - they advise that if you book on your own, you might be paired with another audience member, as it's meant to be done in pairs. Fine by me! Sadly, the only other show in this that I haven't already experienced is Visitors, and as well as participants having to book in pairs for that, it's actually sold out. Heading to the Blues Kitchen for dinner afterwards.

The next two days are Meetup. On Wednesday, I'm back with Movie Roadhouse London for La Cocina, another frantic kitchen drama, set in a restaurant in Times Square. Showing in Curzon Soho.

And on Thursday, back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group, for the first time in nearly a year! We're going to a classical concert at the Barbican, and I've booked to eat beforehand in Cote Barbican, which at one time was my local restaurant. Then back to Ireland for the weekend, of course.

Next Monday, back with UITCS for Ghosts, a contemporary reimagining of the play by Ibsen, at the Lyric Hammersmith.

And on the 15th I'm going to Tallis Lamentations for Holy Week by Tenebrae, at St. Martin-in-the-Fields. 

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