Play: Tambo & Bones

Tonight, I headed with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) again, for Tambo & Bones, at the Theatre Royal Stratford East. And damnit, I would be in the office, which is in the other direction. In the event, it worked out just as handy - for the same price as the Tube, I could take the Elizabeth Line, which is quicker. And was crowded, but doable.

Now, it's over two years since I was last here! but some things you don't forget. Such as, take any direction that is not Westfield! Nothing against the place, but if you go there, you're in Westfield shopping centre - for anything else, take the other option. Which was how I came out to the smaller shopping centre - which you can take a shortcut through to the theatre. And, indeed, to the Sichuan Grand, where I'd agreed to meet a member of the group for dinner.

I arrived first, and took a table - had a glass of wine, but waited to order food until he arrived. I think they must have had a different menu before - I found myself a bit stuck for choice tonight! In the end, I braved the beef strips in special sauce. The waiter nearly had a conniption, suggesting they could make it "a little less spicy". I agreed - and I have to say, she was dead right - it ended up being quite spicy enough for me. She's clued-in, that one - also took the initiative of asking whether we were all right with chopsticks.. same decor as before, reasonably attentive service, and a good experience.

From there to the theatre bar to meet the others - plenty of familiar faces, and the drinks come in plastic, so you can take them in. I'd bought a ticket from someone else in the group who couldn't go - and lo, it was in the front row! Most of us were in the front two rows, in fact:

Not to mention the most curious companion, two seats over from me:

Now, I hadn't been expecting much from the play - didn't really know what to expect from it, in fact! What can you expect from a play that talks about time travel, through 500 years of history..?

It starts with a minstrel show, our two title characters hamming it up in a comic skit. Soon, "Bones" is trying to cadge money from the audience. One of the group - sat between me and our besuited, pictured companion - remarked that he was a bit worried by the sets of stairs leading down from the stage on either side - worried by the prospect of audience participation. Sure enough, the stairs are used - and you can be sure that the little chap in the suit comes into it..

What makes the play good is its true originality - you never have any idea what you're facing next, and each scene is spectacularly different from the others. As discussed in the Q+A afterwards, which some of us stayed for, the theme is freedom.. slavery is discussed in the first, minstrel scene, and that concept, in one form or another, carries through them all. But there's also a progression of the characters, which you can extrapolate to say something about the progression of people from being oppressed to.. 

Afraid I can't really say much more, for fear of spoilers - but this is a dramatic production, well worth seeing! Much better than I thought it'd be.. caveat, you should like hip-hop. Runs till the 10th - very highly recommended! Back home on the Jubilee Line - less crowded at that hour, but still more crowded than most.. never one of my favourite lines, but what can you do..

Tomorrow, off to Ireland for the bank holiday weekend - and again, no films to speak of that I can watch while I'm there. Just as well really, as my mother has just gone into hospital - think I'll be a bit busy.

On Tuesday, back - after too long - with North London Friends! We're headed to House of Games, in Hampstead Theatre. And what a tragedy it is that Ye Olde Swiss Cottage seems to have closed..! It was my go-to, there, and they served excellent food..

On Wednesday, back with London Literary Walks for the 101 Dalmatians walk! We're meeting in The Globe - I've booked to eat there beforehand. 

Next Thursday.. flamenco!! Which I love. Found a group, Flamenco Events in London, and have requested to join - no word yet, and there probably isn't going to be! Anyway, have booked for this concert in St. John's Church Hoxton. Tickets from Eventbrite - free after-show party, but I'm passing- have work next day, of course. Have booked with Schnitzel Heaven for beforehand. 

On the 9th, back at Sadler's Wells with UITCS again, for Oona Doherty-Specky Clark. Which sounds.. curious, being an interpretation in dance of a family history involving a family of butchers and, on the other side, working in an abattoir.. Anyway, eating at The Wilmington again.

On the 10th, I was to be back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies.. this time, for The Wallace Collection. But sadly, he's now postponed it till June. Never mind, it isn't a complete loss - Helen is coming to town! We have a rough plan to have lunch at The Archduke, then follow our noses for the afternoon..

I was leaving the 11th free in case my ex-colleagues could come to a consensus to meet that day! But as it happens, Ivan can't make it that day, and with the sudden news of a cousin visiting, James isn't sure what he's doing for the whole month. So, for that day, I spotted an event from London Museums A-Z: for Gen Xers and Millennials (LoMAZ). I never heard of them before, but they're already up to T - for Tutenkhamun: The Immersive Exhibition, which apparently uses VR to put you right back in Ancient Egypt. Booked through an outlet called Fever, which I'd never heard of - also available on Eventim. Sounds interesting - and I do love VR. No problem in joining straight away, either..

And on the 12th, heading with my companion from the Swiss trip to a classical concert in St. John's Waterloo - booked with Eventbrite. We're eating at The Archduke beforehand.