Play: The Day I Accidentally Went to War
Tonight, back with Up in the Cheap Seats 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! Nice late start anyway, which gave me time to get lots of work in. I was perfectly in time to miss the bus - which, after a very hard day, was the last thing I needed. In fact, I could still see its rear end, stuck in traffic. And then it occurred to me.. I wonder how stuck it is.. because I know where the next stop is.. sod it, off I went. Walked past the bus, down the street and around the corner - traffic did move briefly, but then the lights changed again and they were at a standstill again. I didn't even break into a trot - made the stop, and had time to sit down for a minute before the bus materialised, round the corner. Hah. And happily, that was the worst of the traffic..
And then, of course, the "destination of this bus has changed. We apologise for any inconvenience caused" announcement came. Aldwych, I guessed. Aldwych it was. That's twice in a row now - and I have to wonder why it keeps stopping short. It can't be that the driver has worked too long a shift - they had a change of driver en route. It's hardly due to congestion - as I passed the terminus for that bus on foot, there was a bus parked there, so they must be managing. Anyway - isn't it amazing how unobservant passengers can be? After the destination change, every time the bus started from a stop, the automatic announcement said we were heading to Aldwych. As we approached Aldwych, the driver activated the signal for the final stop, and that was announced. And STILL, as I got up to get off, the woman sitting outside me swivelled to let me out - then turned back into her seat again, oblivious to the fact that she'd have to get off too. I dunno..
Well, today's was a longer walk for me, but not much longer than taking a bus the rest of the way - and I did get there in time to have something to eat. I was headed to The Nellie Dean, a Pieminster pub that does decent pies, and is (almost) right across from the theatre. It was rammed - but for some reason, the upstairs never is, and it was there I headed, then back down again to order. I ordered the "moo" pie, and for some reason, when she asked was that it, I said yes. And then it occurred to me that the sides were optional, so I asked for mash, and the poor woman had to return to the till to add that. And then I realised I hadn't ordered a drink! So I did that, and back she had to go again. Bless, she has great patience.
It didn't take long to arrive, and was quite tasty - not up to the exalted standard of Greene King, with their award-winning sauce made with merlot, but perfectly fine, and anyway, I was starving. Would you credit it though, what looked like a tour group came and took a large table near me - the guide sounded English, the customers American. Seemed to be a food tour.. a few of them were eating, and I had to wonder, do they eat at every stop?! She was telling them that the next stop was a "Chinese street food place".. The mind boggles,
Anyway, I was finished in plenty of time to trot over to the theatre, where I got a drink - and found two of the others already there, at a table in the bar, which was as empty as I've ever seen it! Our fourth member joined us, and we had time for a bit of a chat before heading up - all the way to the Upstairs theatre. (whimper) I did manage it without collapsing, but yes, it's been a while.. on the way in, we were given badges that read PVT, which of course stands for "Private" - we were told we could stick them on whenever. This, of course, was because we were being inducted into the army. As we went through the door, another lady was giving out little sparkly stars - never did find out what they were for, perhaps something to do with the American flag..
We sat in the front row, isn't that nice. A tv screen, the remote control in the performer's hand, mainly shows pictures and video that relate to our performer's life - because this is all about his stint in the military. In fact, he comes on in drill sergeant mode - expect some small audience interaction, as megaphone in hand, he actually picked on me first, asking me my last name, where I was from, and my favourite colour. He was dead chuffed to hear I was Irish - and when he found an American in the audience as well, why, he was over the moon. "All these people flying in specially to see me!" He then gets everyone in the audience to ask the same questions - of someone they didn't come with! This is the heaviest part of the audience interaction, don't worry..
He's great. He's funny, he's animated as he talks about his experience - and as we hear how his father was also in the military, and how this was the only way he could afford to go to college, it's quite moving. He joined the least militaristic branch of the armed forces - the National Guard. And wow, he gives a vivid description of the tough regime that saw him lose all his extra fat within the two months of basic training! Anyway - the title comes from the fact that he and his squad graduated on the very day that 9/11 happened - and America went to war. (It just occurs to me that we're very close to the anniversary of that..)
There's plenty of humour - but we also get a really balanced perspective. I was worried that it might be a bit tub-thumpingly patriotic - and yes, he is patriotic, but standing in front of a picture of the American flag, he describes how the nation is divided. And how the military lied to him about the Iraqis, who were just like us. Which leads him into a very interesting bit about misinformation.. so we get a really full picture, from a description of training, and of the camaraderie in his unit, to the horrors of war, and his realisations afterwards about politics, and about PTSD, and how veterans are treated. So as well as being royally entertained, we were very well-educated this evening! and all in about 70 minutes (straight through, of course). Couldn't recommend this highly enough - and he was available afterwards, if you wanted a word. Runs till Saturday - really, go see it if you have the chance.
The bus back (which, yes, came from the terminus) was packed - but having got on at the very start of the route, I was happily seated the whole way.
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