Play: Fatherland

Tonight, eighth Meetup in a row, I was back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Fatherland at Hampstead Theatre. The story concerns a father and daughter heading to Mayo ("God help us", as the saying goes, due to its poor land..) to search for their roots..

Jubilee Line, of course - it's too far for bus. Again, no bus passed me as I walked to the station. And although the Tube was crowded, I managed a seat, which was handy for such a long journey. I still don't have a decent alternative for food here, since the Swiss Cottage pub closed - so off I went to KFC again, where I was fed quickly and cheaply, at least. I then headed straight over to the theatre - where they had erected a marquee at the front, where they were performing bag checks! Someone in the group later surmised it might have something to do with the weekend train stabbing.. it's certainly unusual for here.

I was first of the group to arrive - figured I'd probably get my drink finished before start time anyway, but had it in plastic, just in case. I managed to grab the last free table - then another came free, and we pulled them together and pulled over some chairs - as our organiser had guessed, the place emptied out once the play started in the main theatre, many of the audience for that choosing to sit downstairs, what with the crush in the lobby. And we had a good chat down there until the downstairs theatre opened (I'd just finished my drink.) We had some fun going in, as the usher - who explained it was only his third day on the job - mistakenly told us there was an interval..

Nope, 1hr 40min straight through. Seating is on two tiered rows to either side, and is assigned. I might have taken a photo of the stage - but honestly, there's nothing to see, just a plain, flat surface at the start..

Oh Lordy, the guy in this play is annoying. He turns out to be a life coach - and is a real ball of energy, to the dismay of his daughter, who eventually bursts out and tells him that she's not going along with his crackpot ideas because she wants to, she's forced into it - when he protests that she doesn't say as much, she points out that it never made a difference, so she stopped saying no! He's so frantically energetic - and so addicted to this mantra of "Only good things happen to me" - that it occurred to me that he must be bipolar, desperate to hang onto the highs because he can't deal with the lows.

His daughter, in perfect contrast, does a marvellous job of portraying a mix of boredom and dismay throughout. Meantime, there are intermittent scenes with a lawyer - it turns out he's being sued for negligence by the family of one of his life coaching clients who committed suicide..

It does raise an interesting question of liability for someone in his profession, who doesn't have a professional qualification. And as his daughter wonders, when he tells her about how an enquiry from a long-lost relative in Swansea led him on this trip, why didn't they just go to Swansea..? They never do make it to Mayo, you know.. instead of a destination, it becomes a kind of symbol of escape. 

It's enjoyable enough, but someone from the group, as we were talking afterwards, pointed out the inconsistencies in the legal descriptions, which the writer doesn't seem to know anything about. We also found it strange that we are given snippets of information about the lawyer, to no apparent end.. No, we weren't much impressed with the writing. But the acting is good, and it's watchable. Runs to the 29th.

For tomorrow, thinking film again, and thinking of The Mastermind (which Movie Roadhouse London saw on Wednesday), a 70s art crime heist drama starring Josh O' Connor, closest showing in Genesis Cinema, where I've never been before. 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! Next Monday, 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 to scatter their friend's ashes.

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 - 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.