Film: NT Live - Inter Alia

Well, I hadn't been able to preview what I was doing today, before last night - because I simply didn't know! You see, I wanted to go to a film on my own - but with the NT Live production of Inter Alia released (in the UK only) last Friday, I knew that'd be highly rated, was very interested in seeing it.. but needed it to be rated. The rating didn't come out till that night - and then I needed to redo the film list - that blasted screening site never gets its content complete in time, and the listings had completely changed since I'd looked, even for the same period. I simply haven't had time to catch up with the blog until now.

Yes, Inter Alia came out top - after the usual cull of overrated Indian films that I don't think I'd like. It actually increased in rating since Friday night - handily, since it was, until then, facing stiff competition from Dead to Rights. But never fear, as I say, Inter Alia's rating went up quite a bit - so I booked it late last night: by which stage there were only two seats left in the Curzon Bloomsbury, the closest venue to me! Couldn't get a free ticket (although I have some left), but I got a couple of quid off this, which was classified as a special event. And it seems that today was the only day for it, for the moment. I was delighted to get it - you see, it's by the writer of the amazing Prima Facie, which I also saw through NT Live - on both occasions, tickets were just too expensive to see it in the theatre. Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) actually saw Inter Alia (live) just on Tuesday - but sure enough, tickets were, by the time I looked, prohibitively expensive.

Tired last night, I did start the blog before I left today - just couldn't get it finished. I was going to take the bus - but as usual, Google Maps was acting as though the bus had already been and gone, while I was standing there. Uneasy, what with the Tube strike starting today, I strolled up to get a better look at the line of traffic cones on the main road - they weren't blocking access to my road, though. Still, I was uneasy - my alternative route was to take another bus from London Bridge Station.. and I did notice that those cones would block traffic going in that direction. Blast, why do they have to do this on a Tube strike day..? I set out on foot in that direction.

When I got there, it did occur to me that some Tubes might be running - I could take the Jubilee Line, then change to the Piccadilly, which would take me practically to the cinema door. Off I went - and on an unseasonably hot day, it was uncomfortable on the Tube. Announcements warned that the Piccadilly Line was suspended, because of the strike, between two stations that I knew were on the outskirts, but I wasn't sure where - with no phone signal, when I got to the platform, I had a look at the Tube map, to check. Whereupon someone took it upon herself to point out to me that there was a map of the stations on this section of the track, right over there, large format. As I said to her, "Thanks, I'm actually looking up something else.." I was just worried that the stations were on opposite sides of the line, so practically the whole line would be suspended. No fear - they were close to each other, most of the line was fine. Ironic, to be saved by the Tube on the first day of a Tube strike. And I made it to the cinema in time to buy a glass of wine.

There were a few empty seats - travel issues, I'm guessing. The film had technically just started - a presenter, on screen, was explaining how, for now, this is just a UK release. Now, its predecessor, Prima Facie, had Jodie Comer in a one-woman show, playing a hotshot barrister, who finds herself on the other side of the legal system when she is date-raped by a colleague. Inter Alia, in contrast, has Rosamund Pike as a female judge, juggling her work - primarily rape cases - with family life, who finds everything thrown into disarray when her son is, himself, accused of rape. And this time, there are other characters on stage with her, most of the time.

It's not a great surprise to discover that the writer, Suzie Miller, used to be a lawyer herself, and worked extensively with rape victims. Both plays have strong female leads, and deal with the intricacies of the law, particularly as it pertains to rape victims; in Prima Facie, the character has to turn from being the hotshot at the top of her game, to being mistrusted and reviled by the same people she used to depend on for support and affirmation. In Inter Alia, in contrast, the judge who always took the side of the victim has to reassess her priorities when the accused is her own, beloved son.

Someone who had seen it with UITCS remarked to me that it was good, but kind of a reprise of Prima Facie - it did occur to me, watching it, that it's an excellent play, and no-one would have a bad word to say about it if not for Prima Facie. But it is, actually, a different play - there are more characters, there are more conflicts, the lead character is pulled in more directions. And for all that you think you know how it's going to go, I found myself absolutely floored by how it turned out - the writer has managed quite nicely to wrongfoot us, and give us a surprising, satisfying, and quite moving ending! Absolutely another memorable play from a very accomplished playwright. 

Afterwards, a very satisfying meal in GBK, and I managed to shop on my way home. And walking past the Tube station, I saw the last passengers leaving as they closed the gates for the official start of the strike, there.. I had no problems with the buses though, and the traffic cones seemed to have gone, when I made my way back.

Tomorrow, heading to Born with Teeth, an RSC production at Wyndham's Theatre. 'Tis a story of Shakespeare and Marlowe, who in this, are imagined to be forced into working together.. and indeed, there is a theory that they collaborated on the Henry VI plays. The title comes from one of those plays, in fact. I got my ticket with Seatplan again - and am eating in Bella Italia again. (They must wonder where I was, today!)

On Tuesday, back with UITCS at The Day I Accidentally Went to War, a one-man show at Soho Theatre - Lordy, it's nearly a year and a half since I was last there! 

On Wednesday, storytelling is back, whee! The show is Hot Crones & Other Revelations, and it's at Folklore Hoxton, courtesy of the Crick Crack Club. Tickets from Dice, as usual. And I've booked at The Blues Kitchen beforehand.

And on Thursday - couldn't find anything really appealing in person, but Watkin's, which I haven't been at an event with in years, have a free online discussion about The Devil in the 19th Century, the book discussing a publication that was a hoax, designed to convince the Catholic Church that there was a secret society of Satanists. Now, I'll be in the office - but with the strike, there just might be nobody else there! so I might just have the place free to watch it before I leave. And I could help myself to their biscuit stash..