Play: Jurassic

Tonight, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for a play called Jurassic, at Soho Theatre - the first of two plays in a row. Lovely and late, so plenty of time to eat beforehand, and to get there - and for once, the bus caused no problems! My plan was to eat in the Nellie Dean - but they were absolutely packed. Standing outside again, I found myself right outside Pizza Express - why not, sez I? I checked, and they had no problem at all seating me.

I had a glass of decent wine - found a marvellous starter, buttermilk coated chicken goujons, complete with a lemon slice and a moreish pot of sauce! Just under £10 gets you four of them - and I would happily have them again! For main, I had the same as last time - the BBQ chicken Romana - and while it was tasty, I did feel they'd overdone it on the sauce; the middle was drenched in it, making the ends of slices too soggy to eat with my hands, so I had to use the knife and fork. The whole thing was a bit messy and sticky. It also took forever to arrive - I got there about 7.10, had my starter eaten by 7.35.. it was 7.55 by the time I got the pizza. I ended up being able to eat about 3/4 of it - and to be fair, I'd had enough.

When I asked for the bill, he asked, "No tea or coffee? No dessert?" to which I replied, "No time". Honestly though, service was wonderful - they were just very busy. It was also rather cool, from 8pm on, to have the floor vibrating with the jazz music we could just about hear from the club downstairs. When I'd paid, I trotted the short distance to the theatre bar, where the group gesticulated frantically so I could see them past the crowd. I got a drink, which I took in - and it turned out one of them had been in Pizza Express too. Well I never..

We chatted away for a while - we weren't let in until nearly the scheduled time! Have to give them a shout out for the convenience of the ticket link, texted the day of the performance, and ticket addable to the Google wallet. And it would be in the Upstairs theatre, right at the top.. well, it's good exercise. With unassigned seating, we plonked ourselves in the third row, to be confronted by a guy in a shirt, sitting ramrod straight at a desk in the dark, cages placed around the stage..

Turns out the play is set in the Paleontology Department of an unspecified university, and this is the new Dean. Called Dean. He's having a meeting with one of the teaching staff - unfortunately I can't remember his name. Anyway, he's under the impression that it's about his application for Head of Department - Dean is there to disabuse him of that notion..

What happens for the rest of the hour-long duration of the play is a game of strategy between these men, of very different personalities. During the pauses between scenes - when the stage lights dim - they take on the characteristics of dinosaurs, start squaring off and roaring at each other. Outside of that, they're rather more civilised - outwardly. But it becomes clear that Dean has it in for the other guy.. and with a terrific script, they do verbal battle. But if you're on the losing side, you might have to resort to more extreme measures..

The script is excellent - and as one of the group remarked afterwards, it was miraculous how Dean kept a straight face, with some of the things he had to say. Personally, I was put in mind of two things - firstly, how very glad I am to be done with academia and its pettiness, and secondly, the sheer futility of trying to persuade someone that their core argument is off the wall. The dafter the argument, the harder it is. I've tried, believe me.

In this, however, the stakes are too high for either to walk away - and the outcome is hilarious. Without giving any more of the plot away, let me compliment them on the excellent surround sound, which greatly adds to the experience! Duration 1 hour - runs till Saturday. Recommended!

Tomorrow, headed with TAC to Maybe I Should Stop, at the Drayton Arms.

On Thursday, the Crick Crack Club is in action again, in the form of Ben Haggarty, who's performing The Blacksmith at the Bridge of Bones, at the Story Museum Oxford. Happily, they livestream it - available for a week afterwards - so I'm free to go with UITCS again that day, making it the first of four days of Meetup in a row - they are headed to Sadler's Wells for Ballet Black, performing Shadows. I'm eating beforehand in The Wilmington.

Then, two days with Movie Roadhouse London. On Friday, we're off to Pillion - showing in the BFI, this is a love story between a man and a handsome young biker.. starring Alexander Skarsgard (most memorable for his role as vampire Eric in True Blood, woo!) Booked for the Archduke again beforehand..

On Saturday, we're going to Winter Wonderland! Oh, I've been to this so many times on my own, it'll be great to go with a group.. we're all going to The Ice Palace, then skating is scheduled - not my thing, I'll be going to Cirque Berserk shortly afterwards. Then we hang out together, doing whatever..

On Sunday, back with LoMAZ for a LoMAZ unlimited - they generally limit their numbers, but have the odd event with unlimited numbers. British Museum - on this day, focused on a Nordic Noir exhibition - and afterwards to Penderel's Oak.

On Monday, off with CT to Shake It Up - The Improvised Shakespeare Show, at the Hen & Chickens.. My sometime travel companion is coming too, and we're eating at La Pasta beforehand - handily, it's quite a late show, which gives us plenty of time.

Next Tuesday, thinking film - finally thinking of The Mastermind again! A 70s art heist film starring Josh O' Connor, it's now showing in the Curzon Bloomsbury.

The third is our work Christmas party, this year in Brasserie Blanc, pretty convenient to me, but which I've never tried.

And on the fourth - well, looks like I'm finally going to get to see Frankenstein, as per Guillermo del Toro! Looks to be a supremely gothic epic, with Jacob Elordi as the monster, Christoph Waltz, and Charles Dance as the father of the scientist, Oscar Isaac, who brings the creature to life. Well, I've seen the exhibition, it's about time I saw the finished product! Showing in Hackney Picturehouse - and since everywhere was full the last time I was there, I've made sure to book for Pizza Express beforehand.