Plays: The Comedy About Spies & A Manchester Anthem

Last Tuesday, the end - for the moment - of a slew of Meetups - I was back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for The Comedy About Spies, from the excellent Mischief Theatre. Playing at the Noel Coward Theatre. And as that isn't very far from Bella Italia.. well, I didn't mind eating there twice in a row!

Got there quite early for my booking - and it was packed. A lot of exam students and their families, I'd say - results are out around now. Anyway, the waiter who knows me best was there again, and asked with some alarm whether I had a booking - well of course! They usually have availability, but not always.. This time I had the chicken fries, with a spicy coating, for starter - it's been so long since I did, he'd forgotten I'd ever had them before, and started to warn me about the spiciness, but I reassured him that it was fine. I wasn't quite finished them when my main came, which was fine, and indeed worked well, as I was rushing to the theatre to meet the group. So, sadly, no dessert that day..

A short walk, and I was in the wrong queue to get in, given that I was in the Balcony - but I explained I was meeting people in the Stalls bar (they'd booked earlier than I had) and the usher just shrugged it off. I had a brief, nice chat with them there, but had to leave early for the hike upstairs - made even longer by the fact that the Stalls bar is actually a level below the Stalls! Phew, well, it's exercise.. and when I finally panted my way up there, it turned out I was at the other end of the row, but gee, they only open the door on that side to exit. So I had to disturb a row-ful of people. The guy beside me turned out to be from Harrogate, in town on business, and all jealous about the variety of stuff we get here..

I was at the end of the row, so plenty of room for my stuff - and decent legroom anyway. As for the view, I was a bit far back, but there was no real obstruction. The main problem I encountered was when they're showing multiple bedroom scenes, two stacked on top of two others, and from where I was, you couldn't see anything but the feet on the top level. Mind you, I later learned that was a problem for the rear Stalls, where most of the group were, too! Happily, they've thought of that, and have screens to the side show the rooms currently in action.

Ah wow, it's years since I saw anything this funny. You do occasionally come across humorous plays - but something this side-splittingly funny doesn't come around very often. I'm not exaggerating - these people know comedy, and this is them back on full form. Some of the jokes are predictable, but none the less funnier for that, they're done so well - and some are completely unexpected, delivered with the confidence that only experienced comedy makers can muster. Timing is razor-sharp, dialogue is delivered rapid-fire - and it's clever. In summary, the setting is a hotel near Piccadilly, whose guests include a pair of Russian spies, an American spy accompanied by his overprotective mother, a hapless baker hoping to propose to his girlfriend, who's there for a conference, and a has-been actor hoping to audition for the new role of James Bond (the year is 1961). Throw in the harassed concierge and you have a full set.. and of course, crossed wires, combined with actual spies and some seriously surreal plot twists - and some great running jokes - make for a side-splitting result.

It was really too far to traipse down to the Stalls bar again at the interval, but - exiting by the previously closed door - I caught up with the group afterwards. And it was a universal thumbs-up.. I really think you'd have to have your funny bone surgically removed not to enjoy this. Of course, the cast reminded us at the end that they currently still have another play running - The Play that Goes Wrong - which, again, left me in stitches. And, as the organiser pointed out, time was they had several running at once.. Anyway, run and see this - highly recommended for everyone who's actually still breathing. Runs just till the 5th. I was way too tired to blog that night though - been very busy lately.

Yesterday, back with TAC for A Manchester Anthem, at Riverside Studios. So, all the way to Hammersmith, on a cramped and over-hot Tube. Now, out here I've been in the habit of eating in Wasabi - but last time, the portion was too small, and the chicken was tough and chewy. So, looking around for an alternative, I found myself right in front of Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen.. and said, why not? Using the same model as KFC, you can order online, at a kiosk, or at the counter - I used a kiosk, which was a bit buggy, but I managed. And I see they have almost the same menu - so I got the closest to what I normally get there, a boneless box. They don't have as many trimmings, and you can't increase the amount of chicken, but they allow you to choose the size of fries and drink individually, and choose the dip. Oh, and they have "table tents" - but of course, after my last visit to KFC, I know what they are now! So I grabbed one of those and added the number to my order. 

Service wasn't too long, and with the table tent, they bring it to the table. And gosh, from the first bite I was hooked. The chicken was amazing, really succulent - much, much better than either Wasabi or KFC (and don't trumpet KFC's "special flavouring" - their coating has been tasteless for years). And the fries were gorgeous, nicely seasoned.. I'd chosen a dip, but ended up not using it, everything was so good. Portion was decent too. And a video of New Orleans plays to the side, on loop. Oh yes, this is a real find.. keep an eye out for this chain if you see it. Not to mention they just have a single point of rubbish disposal - kudos to KFC for attempting to get us to sort it, but it's so freakin' complicated - it was such a relief just to chuck everything in the same bin.

None of that took too long, so I made it down to Riverside in good time, and used the toilet - with its pathetic flush. Afterwards, grabbed a drink - and I see they've dispensed with the side ordering system: guess it didn't really work. Certainly, I found it annoying. So, back to normal, and I got a drink - in plastic - which I hadn't quite finished when we could go in, so took it in with me.

Seating is a bit weird - Row A isn't the first row, it's the second. But I found my seat - and found myself listening to a selection of Manchester music, appropriately! First up when I arrived was The Shock of the Lightning by Oasis, then a couple of Happy Mondays tracks. The stage is bare-bones, just some cardboard boxes at the back.

The play concerns a young Mancunian, first in his family, indeed in his street, to go to university. And he's not doing it by halves - he's going to Oxford. Might have something to do with the posh grammar school his mum sent him to - not easy for her either, she's a nurse and a single mother. When we meet him, it's his last night in Manchester before he sets off - and over the course of the play, he is conflicted, sorry to leave his pals behind, and worried about entering a world that he neither knows the rules of, nor wants to be changed by.

It's only just a little over an hour long, and it did occur to me that I spent more time travelling to and from this than sitting watching it - but my goodness, it was worth it. The writing sparkles - and it has to be a lived experience, it describes the night in such minute detail. Working his last day at a coffee shop, he runs into a couple of upper-class snobs from the grammar school - hearing that he's got into Oxford too, one of them invites him to the little shindig he's throwing at his place that evening. So, on a whim, he goes - not keen really, but when he meets one of his mates later and tells him, he points out that it'd be a good chance to see what he'll be getting himself into.

So, off he goes - and we get such gloriously detailed descriptions of every character, both his own mates and the posh kids he meets that evening, and all realistically acted in this one-man show. They start at the flat, then move on to a posh nightclub - and the whole evening is set to a musical backdrop - some of those boxes at the back turn out to be lightboxes. Glorious! We lived every moment. Very highly recommended - runs to the 13th. Crikey, two really good nights in a row! (Caveat, both have flashing lights.) Definitely makes up for Monday. Didn't have time to blog last night though, with having to be in the office today.

This evening, thinking film again.. not as close to the office, but it's the closest to home, and I should manage it, if I take the Tube - The Life of Chuck sounds good, and is playing in the Curzon Aldgate. Based on a novella by Stephen King, it's billed as the new It's a Wonderful Life, stars Tom Hiddleston as the adult Chuck, and also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Mark Hamill.

Tomorrow, back with The Hideout for Together - a new body horror about an unsuspecting couple on holiday in the wilderness. Showing in the Vue West End, whose listings were finally released on Tuesday. And now that I know what we're doing, I've booked for Bella Italia again.

On Saturday, my monthly ex-colleagues' meeting again, probably at The Phoenix - and probably just James again, as Ivan is distracted by family matters, and there still is no word from Martin.

On Sunday, back with LoMAZ.. dependably busy on weekends, on that day they're off to Dover Castle. This time, Uber didn't seem to recognise the journey - I booked on Trainline instead. My sometime travel companion has decided to come along, but she'll be driving.

On Monday, thinking film again - and top of the list is another Palestinian documentary, Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk - the photojournalist interviewed in the film was apparently killed the day after the film was released. The Garden Cinema has the closest showing to me.

Tuesday, also thinking film - best up seems to be This Is Spinal Tap, a mockumentary about a fictional rock group. 40 years old, and I haven't seen it yet - it's about time! Showing in the Prince Charles (PCC), and I'd better keep an eye on it, because the later showing sold out already - neither of these films is selling out yet.

On Wednesday, back with CT for a play called Saving Mozart at The Other Palace - hoping for a musical accompaniment to that.

On Thursday - the first monthly social in months held by The Hideout and their sister group, Movie Roadhouse London (MRL).. whee! The organiser has been busy with family matters, you see - and there's really nobody like him for organising a social. Happening in the Balcony Bar of the Riverfront Bar at the BFI, as usual, and I've booked The Archduke for beforehand.

On the 29th, back with UITCS for The Pitchfork Disney. Showing in the King's Head Islington, it promises to be a rather weird, and thought-provoking, look at the nature of fear. Goodee!

On the 30th, back with The Hideout and MRL for the 50th anniversary showing of Jaws - at the BFI Imax! Now, that should be spectacular..

On the 31st, back with The Hideout for The Toxic Avenger, at the PCC again - well, the organiser plumped for a free ticket for me.

And on the 1st, I'm headed to Every Brilliant Thing, a play about depression at Soho Place. Four different actors are taking the part in succession - I'm getting Jonny Donahoe.