Comedy: Re-Creation

Last night, went to see Dara O' Briain, yay! Booked ages ago - he was in the Hammersmith Apollo (two Apollos in a row). I tell you though - my ticket was on the app, and it took me four goes the day before, just to log in! Happily, it left me logged in for yesterday, so that was the last of those problems - but it was good that I got the ticket out in advance, because when I did finally log in, it said I had no tickets - it took it a minute.

The other problem, of course, was that I was in the office yesterday - and it was lucky I peeped at the ticket before I left, because the Apollo doesn't accept large bags AT ALL. If you're standing, you have to leave your bag in a small cloakroom - large bags aren't allowed in the building. Which meant I had to run home with the laptop first - and there's no Tube option for that, I had to take the bus, drop the bag, then Tube to the gig. Happily, I got a seat once I got to the Piccadilly Line.

I also needed to eat - Popeyes was full, so I ended up in Wasabi again: and boy, was it delicious. Finished in good time - passed Popeyes on my way out, and there was plenty of space, huh. I arrived at the Apollo about the time of door opening - there was no queue, I got in very quickly. Ran to the toilet (very swish, handsfree soap dispensing taps beside the identical, handsfree water ones), then got a drink - I see they also have "Nice" wine, which I recognised as the one they have in the Lyric Hammersmith, and which comes in a can - Hammersmith is the only place I've seen it. The plastic they serve it to you in is rather fetchingly designed, stem and all - looks like a champagne flute.

O Lordy, what was I doing, getting a seat front row centre?

Not only that, but I mentioned to the bloke beside me that I'd been in the same class as Dara in college.. and he was just the sort to run with it.. Dara, of course, spends the first half of his shows bantering with the front row, and here was this guy exaggeratedly pointing at me! Even Dara told him to stop doing that - chatted to me briefly, we ascertained that we'd only been in the same class for a year, and there was no call for him to remember me. He asked what class it was - mathematical physics, as I told him. He asked whether I was still working in the field - I said no, of course, and as he remarked, jeez, the college must be very proud of its graduates, with none of them carrying on with what they studied..

The second half of the show deals - again - with his search for his birth father. I have heard it before - but that's probably because I've been to so many of his shows, including previews, where he's practiced it. It is hilarious, and worth hearing twice. What I did find interesting about seeing him up-close in a large venue - which I hadn't before - is the way he so obviously assesses the audience reaction to every story he tells. He doesn't do that so much in small venues - but it's interesting to see the kick he very obviously gets out of a good reaction from a large crowd. Well, another great night from Dara - roll on the next one.

Ran too late to blog - the more so since I got a new laptop in the office yesterday, forgot to bring the charger home with me, and of course the old one wouldn't fit.. so I had to go in early this morning, drop off the old one, and pick up the new one, which I'd left where I'd been sitting. I tell you something, that office is dead on a Friday.. the lights are on motion sensor, and my whole side of the office was in darkness when I arrived..

I'm finishing off the month with three more Meetups - tonight, back with La Isla Flamenco Club, ole! Back in the gold Bar in the Colab Tower for a show called Identidades. Might have a nap first.

And tomorrow, back at last with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies for his rescheduled Southwark: Seedy and Sublime walking tour. We're eating in Ye Olde Cock Tavern afterwards. And in the evening, I'm joining The Hideout again for Scream 7 - stars Courtney Cox as usual, and Neve Campbell, the original protagonist in the franchise; this time, the intended victim is her daughter. We're heading to the Vue Leicester Square, drinks beforehand in Victory House.

On Sunday, thinking of a film - what's coming up is The President's Cake, set in Iraq when Saddam Hussein was in power, and schoolkids had to prepare a gift for his birthday.. it's that or All That's Left of You, which is Palestinian, and I might have considered, but honestly, I've seen so much Palestinian cinema lately, Iraqi will make a change! The President's Cake is showing in a couple of Curzons - I'll go for the Curzon Bloomsbury, it's handy for shopping.

On Monday, back with Shake it Up! The Improvised Shakespeare Show, at the Hen & Chickens. And my dinner companion from last Monday is coming too. We'll be trying 314 Bar and Kitchen, across from the pub, for dinner.

On Tuesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Ukraine Unbroken, a set of five short plays at the Arcola, incorporating Ukrainian music.

On Wednesday, back with storytelling - and the Crick Crack Club has a new idea, the Story Pick + Mix - apparently rough cuts, experimental work. This one, The Bodies on the Beach, is the story of the legendary Irish hero, Fionn MacCumhaill, and is said to combine elements of 15th-century manuscripts, archaeology, and folklore. And these shows are happening at some place called Theatre Deli, right in the City. Eating in La Spezia restaurant next door beforehand.

On Thursday, back with UITCS for Blink, at The King's Head. A romcom that asks, in the digital age, when we can see everything someone is doing, what does it actually mean to know someone? And then I'm heading back to Ireland for the weekend - a little earlier than anticipated, but I'll be busy for the rest of the month, so might as well go now, before things hot up!