Musical: Beautiful Little Fool

Back in London - and bah humbug, the cold weather has followed me! Anyway, two more nights of Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) in progress. Last night, we were at Southwark Playhouse again, and again with their now-expired PAYG discount, for Beautiful Little Fool, the story of F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, as told by their daughter. 

I planned to eat in The Rockingham Arms beforehand - but it was completely full! Pretty good, for 5.30pm on the Monday after Valentine's Day - they must be doing good business. Never fear, there's a Nando's right next door - I ate there. Found myself sat beside an elderly man and a young boy - got talking to them when I realised they didn't know you have to get your own cutlery, and told them where it was. Of course, it was a grandfather taking his grandson out for the day - he informed me they'd been to the War Museum. Not my idea of fun, but I'm sure they had a good time.

They're fast in Nando's - I was the first of the group to arrive at the theatre: but only just before the organiser. I found us a table down the back - mind you, it wasn't large enough for everyone coming last night! Never mind, the earlier theatregoer catches the seat.. meantime, as observed on the bar counter, the Barbie doll they have perpetually reclining in a tin bath of water is no longer accompanied by a polar bear! No, she has a rubber duckie - the polar bear has moved to the tip box. Whether this is a political statement, I didn't ask..

Funnily enough, I ended up chatting a lot about London Museums A-Z.. I'm not the only person to be in several Meetup groups! Anyway, I was just finishing my first drink when the time came to go in - I grabbed another before following the group. I was in the front row, right in front of quite a complicated set:

When the person playing the daughter comes on, she explains that this is her parents' archive - as the show progresses, they make an appearance, along with friends at the numerous parties they threw or attended. Apparently, she was known as the first American flapper! The show's title is taken from what she said she wanted her daughter to be, when she was born - a "beautiful little fool". That phrase even made it into The Great Gatsby. Essentially, this is the story of their lives together - fun at first, then as F. Scott Fitzgerald's star rises, his wife's wanes; she was to suffer from mental health issues.

Hard to take to them really - the party scenes at the start are fun, but things go wrong quickly. And that's kind of all that happens - hardly any plot points to speak of, and as someone mentioned as we chatted afterwards, the music isn't very interesting either. He may have written good books, but I can't say I took to the story of his life much. I kept expecting something to happen - it just didn't. Runs for an hour and a half without interval - on until the end of the month, if you're interested.

Headed for drinks afterwards with last year's travel companion - we had discussed going to the wine bar in the Mercato, across the road, but lo, when we came out (at not even 9pm), the Mercato was closed! Not what they say on their website.. Anyway, we headed off to The Rockingham Arms, where we now managed to find a table, in front of the telly - so we could watch the figure skating in the Winter Olympics. And we consumed quite a lot of alcohol - when I got home, I crashed, hence no blog. Certainly slept well, though!

And tonight, we're going to Bird Grove, the story of George Eliot, in Hampstead Theatre. My companion of last night isn't coming, so not as much alcohol is due to be consumed.

Tomorrow, back to Winter's Night Wonder Tales, at The Palmerston. Tickets from Eventbrite.

On Thursday, a Meetup group called LGBTQ Culture Lovers is headed to a performance of Bruckner's 8th symphony by the Philharmonia at the Royal Festival Hall. Now, I don't want to go with them - I don't swing that way - but hey, nothing to stop me going on my own! Heading to The Archduke for food beforehand.

On Friday, heading with a friend to the Menier Chocolate Factory to see Fallen Angels, by Noel Coward.

Now, Saturday is our ex-colleagues' monthly get-together. There was talk that it might clash, but now it looks as though it won't. Phew. Sadly, Martin is, as usual, too busy to make it.

Then, four nights of Meetup. On Sunday, I start two nights of horror, with The Hideout again for the first time in over two weeks, for Psycho Killer (stars Malcolm McDowell).. location and time TBA, but it'll be around Leicester Square for sure.

And on Monday, when I saw UITCS were going to Dracula, well.. showing in the Noel Coward Theatre, by the time I came to book, "cheap" seats were in short supply. There was one left in the Balcony - £50, and predictably, no legroom. There was one left in the Grand Circle - decent seat. £85. I got that one. Eating beforehand in The Salisbury, nearby.

Next Tuesday, I'm trying out a new Meetup group; London Music Showcase - Gigs & Drinks specifically exists to promote the Piano Smithfield bar. So I'm trying out the gig there that night - cheap tickets on TAC, as apparently with all theirs. I'm eating in The Old Red Cow beforehand - gee, seems you know there's a place for you if they respond immediately to your booking enquiry; if you don't hear, it's a no.

And on the 25th, back with UITCS for I'm Sorry, Prime Minister in the Apollo Shaftesbury Avenue. Eating in Bella Italia Strand for that one.

On the 26th, going to see Dara O' Briain, yay! Booked ages ago - he's in the Hammersmith Apollo.

And I'm finishing off the month with two more Meetups - on the 27th, back with La Isla Flamenco Club, ole! Back in the gold Bar in the Colab Tower for a show called Identidades.

And on the 28th, back at last with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies for his rescheduled Southwark: Seedy and Sublime walking tour.