Last night, with CT at the Backyard Comedy Club, for the first time in an age! They had an Irish night.. Now, I know the place opens at 6, so timed it so I wouldn't get there before that. Indeed, I made it at a couple of minutes past - to find one of the staff trying to get in, the door still being locked! Well, after she got in, I changed out of my sunglasses and into my regular glasses to give her a moment, then followed her, and ordered a drink. I remembered they don't do Sauvignon Blanc by the glass - couldn't remember what they actually have, so just asked for "white wine". Of course, I was the first there - picked a table and checked the menu. Sure enough, they only have one white wine by the glass - and it's Pinot Grigio..
I'd also ordered food, and they'd given me a buzzer - but then the one in the kitchen had a word with the one behind the bar, who came over to tell me the kitchen wasn't open yet, as it wasn't busy. I said I had no problem waiting - indeed, the food arrived at 6.30 anyway, and she was good enough to bring it down. I was finished long before the house opened - indeed, it was 7.30 before anyone else at all arrived! The staff sat in the bar, read books, checked their phones, chatted in the meantime. The show was supposed to start at 8, but it was after that when someone decided to let us in - and 8.10 when it started.
They didn't have the setlist up before we went in - I snapped this picture as I was leaving:
A really small crowd meant they hadn't put out much seating - and despite being first there, it took me a while to get in. So I ended up in the front - but at the side, and they hardly ever pick on singles anyway. Peter Flanagan was MC - OK in general, came into his own when he asked whether there were foreigners in the audience and found a German lady, over for a conference.As to the scheduled comedians, first up was Eleanor Tiernan (Tommy's cousin). She had a couple of good ideas - one was that Irish people in London are kind of Schrodinger's immigrants - much like the cat, simultaneously immigrants, and not immigrants. She also had a good point when she mentioned that her retirement plan involved falling into potholes and suing the council for compensation.. She seemed a bit off in general, however - I've seen her better.
Next up was Ruari McInerney, a gay comedian from Letterkenny, as he informed us. Very sure of himself, perhaps a bit much so for my liking.. I didn't gel with his comedy - and the (small) audience was pretty quiet.
Boy though, am I glad I stayed past the interval - Paddy Young salvaged the whole night! One of those naturally funny guys, he rolled on a bit dishevelled, and his whole demeanour gave the impression of someone who's just rolled out of bed, and is struggling to figure out what's going on. He's one of those comedians who, happily, don't have to memorise jokes (although there's nothing wrong with that) - he's just a natural, every second word out of his mouth causing us to crease up in laughter. Look out for this guy - he'd be a credit to any lineup. (Oh and BTW, he's English.. but, like with the Irish soccer team, he qualified for participation by having Irish grandparents..)
My outbound buses had been prompt - heading home, I was dismayed to see my bus leave as I approached: only to have another come, a minute later! Things ran too late to blog, though. Now, two days with Meetup. This evening, back with Up in the Cheap Seats - this time, at Southwark Playhouse, for The Frogs. Based on a play by Aristophanes, this version actually has music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Got a free ticket on my PAYG subscription. Funnily enough, also starting tonight in the other theatre there is Who Is Claude Cahun? starring Amelia Armande, who was at the storytelling.. and promoting it..
Tomorrow, back with London Social and Cultural Meetups, who are headed to the Prince Charles to see 10 Rillington Place. Based on a true story, it stars John Hurt as Timothy Evans, a man of diminished mental capacity who was wrongfully hanged for the murder of his wife and daughter at the address, where he lived. The actual murderer, it later transpired, was his neighbour, John Christie, who was also responsible for other murders there.. he's played by Richard Attenborough.. the case played a large part in the introduction of the idea of diminished responsibility, as well as the abolition of capital punishment. Eating beforehand at Bella Italia Cranbourn Street (must remember to use my voucher), and we're heading for a drink afterwards.
On Saturday, I'm back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies, for the rescheduled tour of the Wallace Collection, yay! And what's more, Helen is coming to town.. and I doubt not that much of our chat will be about the Hurtigruten cruise I've booked for later in the year, and which she's been on.. ;-) Not to mention the one she's going on next month.. Might just be the three of us on Saturday, but what the hey.
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