Musical: Gwenda's Garage

Last night, was thinking of film again - as my co-worker says, it's my movie night - Urchin is at the Curzon Bloomsbury. BUT then Mandy got in touch - her Meetup groups (BoB in London and London Herstory Walks) were headed to see Gwenda's Garage, in Southwark Playhouse. Now, I'd seen this advertised a couple of weeks ago, and wanted to go with them - but it was already sold out. However, someone was now unable to go, and Mandy wanted to know whether I wanted the ticket! So I said yes please - I hadn't booked anything else - and waited for the ticket; I didn't want to commit to travelling down there without confirmation that I could have it.

About 5.40pm, it finally came through - and I legged it, catching the bus, which came before too long.. and it duly stopped for the essential change of driver that happens nearly every time. I wasn't in time to eat - headed straight for the theatre bar, where I snaffled a couple of packets of Tayto and a glass of wine, and found the others down the back. Met one guy who couldn't come initially, and had asked the box office to sell his ticket, then got a phone call to say they couldn't sell it, simultaneously with an e-mail to say they had (that wasn't the ticket I bought)! Anyway, now he could come - so when we met him, he was waiting anxiously to see whether he could now get a ticket for last night. Managed it in the end. Another person there was asking me what's happened to London Literary Walks - I had to tell her I don't know, haven't heard from the organiser since June! and he usually runs walks right through September. I've tried contacting him, no word yet..

Well, we were all sat up the back - which isn't very far from the stage, so that was fine. The set represents the eponymous garage, and the all-female cast represent the garage staff, plus one more they recruit on the way. As made clear at the start, this story is both true and not - everything in it did happen, but not necessarily to the same people, not necessarily at the same time..

It's set in Sheffield in the 80s, with Thatcher in power, the local economy in tatters with the decline in manufacturing, and a group of gay ladies running their own garage, because, despite them being trained mechanics, nobody will hire them as such. They're also practiced protestors, a pile of placards taking pride of place in the corner - back in the days when protestors tended to be ordinary people who were passionate about something, and before many of the protests were taken over by professional groups..

Ah, I remember the 80s fondly - and it was nostalgic to hear 80s music as we came in and out, at the start, end, and the interval. Much of the story concerns itself with Section 28, which I wasn't familiar with - I was still in Ireland at the time - but which barred local councils from promoting homosexuality. The characters of this show are, or course, incensed at this - and it affects one in particular, when she wants to foster children.

It wasn't to everyone's taste - one of the group left at the interval, saying it was amateurish, another remarked that, unlike other shows here, this wouldn't have a West End transfer! Well.. it's enjoyable, it's catchy, the characters are likeable. And it's obviously popular! But no, as a show it's nothing special, the singing pleasant but not exceptional, and there's practically no plot. I did enjoy it, but wouldn't put myself out to see it. Runs to the 29th. It was good to see the group though - on what became the fourth in what is going to be a straight row of eight Meetups!

Afterwards, I took myself for food to The Rockingham Arms, being in the direction of the bus.. and just as we walked up to it, someone was being stretchered out of there to a waiting ambulance! Inside, it was manic.. Obviously, Hallowe'en was starting early, many people in costume, and the place was was hopping. I managed to get a table in a corner, and ordered on my phone..

A long wait ensued. Now, they'd advised on the app that food would take about a quarter of an hour, drinks just a couple of minutes - no sign of my drink though. When my food duly arrived, I asked the waiter about my drink, which she said, with a wide smile, she'd bring shortly. I figured I'd better start eating.. sure enough, as I suspected, I'd finished eating and still no wine had come. I ended up having to queue at the bar, and when I finally got someone's attention, I showed him the itemised receipt on my phone. He muttered something I didn't catch, but I think the gist of it was that drinks were being served to the side, and I should have come and got it! Well, it would've been nice if someone had told me that! He grabbed mine, and I took it back to the table to drink it - to find that someone had dumped their stuff on my seat. Which I unceremoniously dumped on the floor before taking my seat again. Needless to say, I didn't bother with a second drink.. Anyway, it ran too late to blog last night.

Appropriately, Hallowe'en weekend is all about The Hideout/Movie Roadhouse London (MRL)! Today, on Hallowe'en itself, The Hideout booked another field trip - following the success of Shocktober, we booked for Haunt Fest. However, disaster.. just a couple of days ago, we found out the company behind it has gone into liquidation! The organiser, who booked on our behalf to get the group rate, still hasn't got his money back, last I heard, but has already refunded us! Anyway, he's a bit under the weather, so staying in tonight, but a number of us are headed to the Science Museum Hallowe'en Late, including an optional screening of Bride of Frankenstein! I'm heading off early to eat at the nearby Stein's Berlin, before joining the others in what is expected to be a long queue - just hope the rain holds off, it's not a great day!

Tomorrow, planning to go with MRL to the 40th anniversary screening of Back to the Future in the Cineworld Imax - finally got a ticket booked, after some internet trouble. As usual, eating in Bella Italia, meeting the group in Victory House.

And on Sunday, I'm back with The Hideout for a new horror, Shelby Oaks, in Cineworld Leicester Square. Now, someone just reminded me of the Selfridge's exhibition around the new film, Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein - tickets are free, but going fast! It's only running to the 9th, and the best option I could find was early on Sunday afternoon.. when the time was announced for the film, I actually had to change my exhibition time - no problem, tickets are free (with Eventbrite) and were still available - I'm now going an hour earlier.

Finally, on Monday, eighth Meetup in a row, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Fatherland at Hampstead Theatre. Set in Mayo ("God help us", as the saying goes, due to its poor land..)

For Tuesday, thinking film again, and thinking of The Mastermind (which MRL saw on Wednesday), a 70s art crime heist drama starring Josh O' Connor, closest showing in the Genesis Cinema, which I've never tried. Funnily enough, after my terrible review of Flat Iron Denmark Street, the management offered me a free meal for two at a Flat Iron of my choice! Closest to the cinema is Flat Iron Spitalfields - so I'm headed there with my companion who so loves them, before the film. Given their miniscule steaks, management advised me to order several sides. Huh, at £4 a pop! So much for "reasonable prices". I actually think I'm going to order two steaks, that night.. they don't publish the weight on their menus, but I looked it up online and management confirmed it - their steaks weigh just over 7oz.. that's the smallest steak I've ever seen in a restaurant.. I'll easily manage two!

On Wednesday, I'm back with Over 40 Living the Life, for the first time in a few months, to see a musical called The Coven, about a famous English witchcraft trial! Showing in The Kiln - and it's nearly two years since I've been there!

On Thursday, thinking of getting to Urchin - only reasonable showing time that day seems to be in the Picturehouse Hackney.

Then I'm heading back to Ireland for the weekend, on my last trip this year, my weekends are looking so busy! On the 10th, a Meetup group called London Loves Jazz is advertising a concert by Kim Cypher in Pizza Express Soho. I liked the music I heard online, and bought a ticket - but baulked at joining the group, what with the joining fee, and the intensive questionnaire, including whether I was prepared to be "an active member".. so I'm just going alone. I didn't have a great experience with my last jazz group.

On the 11th, back with UITCS for Kindling in the Park Theatre. It's a comedy about a group of perimenopausal women who go on a camping trip.

On the 12th, back with storytelling - Winter's Night Wonder Tales, with Alys Torrance, is back at The Palmerston. Tickets through Eventbrite.

On the 13th, I'm with yet another new Meetup walking group - Walks and Tours - for a Xmas Lights walk around Mayfair. Meeting in the Mercato Mayfair. And as it's a Thursday, I'll be lugging my laptop, ouch!

On the 14th, back with The Hideout for Keeper, directed by Osgood Perkins - again, details TBA, but it'll be somewhere around Leicester Square.

The 15th is another ex-colleagues meeting - or probably just another meeting with James! We haven't seen Ivan since June, and Martin since last Christmas.. Probably in The Phoenix again.

And on the 16th, back with Mandy and London Herstory Walks for Rebel Women of the South Bank.