Play: Blithe Spirit

Last night, headed with TAC for the first time in an age, to Blithe Spirit, by Noel Coward, in The Courtyard. Booked to eat beforehand in Schnitzel Heaven - where I thought I might try something other than the katsu, for once!

Left from the office in good time - and the bus was late. It did eventually show, having to park behind a broken-down one - and damnit, was already full. So I started by having to stand, laptop and all - but got a seat after a few stops. And mercifully, it didn't stop short, like last time!

Made the restaurant a few minutes late - but really, I didn't have to book at all. Indeed, later, a group of seven (!) well-fed-looking people who, when asked, described themselves as Austrians, showed up without a reservation, and were seated with no problem! Obviously keen for a taste of home.

The server remembered me, which was nice. They're friendly here.. and were constantly in and out to delivery couriers - they do a fantastic takeaway trade. Well, for a change, I went for the Vienna Supreme! One of the specials, again you get two, one on top of the other, and they come with a slice of lemon, a knob of butter, and a jug of sauce on the side - in this case, creamy mushroom. I've developed the technique of using the butter on the top schnitzel and whatever sauce on the bottom one. And wow.. I was asked a couple of times how my food was, and had to keep resisting the urge to say "heavenly".. this place really lives up to its name. They're tasty, delicious with butter - and the mushroom sauce really was creamy, practically no bits and not too heavy! I bet the Austrians were happy - this place really does a superior schnitzel. I was stuffed afterwards, mind..

A short walk then to the theatre, where I had my name checked off and wandered into the bar - where, nicely, someone was playing the piano. Quite set the mood! The house white is fine, and I could take it in with me - upstairs to the theatre, damnit, and I had to manoeuvre my laptop as well as everything else. Open seating - I took a seat pretty near the front. Pity the seats aren't more comfortable.

I have seen the original film of this before, directed and co-written by David Lean, but it's been a while - and it looked the best thing that TAC was advertising. In it, Rex Harrison's wife for some reason has the idea of holding a seance at their home - the medium is Margaret Rutherford. Awkwardly, they end up summoning the spirit of his first wife, who died unusually young, and is a sparky individual, determined to make a nuisance of herself - and he's the only one who can see or hear her! Made in 1945.

Sure enough, they try to be faithful to it in this production - the set fits, the outfits are well done. And the story is good fun. The acting, however, wasn't terrific - but then, they're amateurs, and it's enthusiastically played. I thought those playing his wives, and the maid, did the best job - in particular, Blythe West (appropriately!), who plays his second wife. But the guys are a bit wooden, the doctor's wife is nondescript (to be fair, it's a small part), and ouch, the medium is completely OTT! But well, she must have been instructed to overplay it.. she's no Margaret Rutherford though, much as the man with two wives is no Rex Harrison..

Has a short interval, during which I had time both to run to the loo, and get another drink. Run ends tomorrow, if you're interested. I was too tired to blog last night though, with having had to be up so early..

These two days are film again, which is featuring strongly at the moment - this evening, London Social and Cultural Meetups are headed to see Shanghai Express, with Marlene Dietrich, at the Cinema Museum. Seemed to be the best thing on, and it'll be great to see them again! so I'm going to that too. We're meeting a bit early, to hang out - a lovely way to start the long weekend. And the organiser is also in the London European Club, where she's advertised it as well.

And tomorrow, headed with Movie Roadhouse London (MRL) to The Phoenician Scheme, at Regent Street Cinema. This isn't terribly highly rated - but it's Wes Anderson, so I'll probably love it. Stars Benicio del Toro, Michael Cera, Scott Shepherd, Willem Dafoe, F. Murray Abraham, Rupert Friend, and probably lots of other people I'll recognise and wonder from where.. Eating at Cote St. Christopher's Place beforehand.

On Sunday, a long-booked return to storytelling from the Crick Crack Club (CCC) at the British Museum - this is Psalms from the Horse's Mouth, by Hugh Lupton.

The next two days, thinking of film again - on Monday, thinking of Stray Dog, a 1949 Kurosawa film set in Tokyo about a young police officer whose guns is stolen. Showing in the Garden Cinema. And wouldn't you know it, MRL has now picked it up! So I'll be going with them. Wonder where they got the idea..? So I've booked now - it was beginning to sell out anyway.

And on Tuesday, thinking of heading to The Marching Band at last, which by that stage is showing in the Cine Lumiere.

Wednesday is the May Social from The Hideout and MRL, in the BFI as usual - upstairs at The Riverfront.

And on Thursday, storytelling from CCC again! This time at Folklore Hoxton - and it's Maui Trickster. Where, considering what a nightmare it is to get to the understaffed bar, I might get two drinks to be going along with.. Eating at The Blues Kitchen beforehand. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend - it was booked already, and I have stuff to do there.