Play: Bird Grove

Tonight, second night in a row with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS), we were going to Bird Grove, the story of George Eliot's relationship with her father, in Hampstead Theatre. This far out, it had to be Tube.. and with a bus that would take me to the station imminent, I thought it'd simply be silly not to take it. So I did.

Now, as often happens at busy periods, we were made to enter for the Jubilee Line via the Northern Line route, at the end of which you go down a staircase that has steps to the left and right. I usually go down the right, whereupon the Jubilee Line to the city centre is to my left. Tonight, I went down the left staircase.. and, distracted, took the train that was just pulling in. To the left. It wasn't for a couple of stops I realised I was going the wrong way and changed - just as well I saved time getting that bus!

Not that dinner was going to take long - I was at KFC, as usual for this venue, these days. And it was very nice.. although with my meal deal, which included three chicken fillets, I ordered an extra couple of fillets - which were much more burnt than the ones in the meal! Wonder how that happened..

And so to the theatre bar, where the Sauvignon Blanc seemed nicer than before. There were only four of us, all of whom arrived a little early - unfortunately, the downstairs was closed (mustn't be anything on in the downstairs theatre), which meant the lobby was very crowded. Anyway, when it was time, in we went. I had a seat in the last row of the Dress Circle - as I went in, the usher helpfully informed me that there were about six free seats in the second row, if I was interested - so I watched from there! That seat would have cost £55, imagine - higher than I'm generally willing to pay..

Well, the stage is set up to represent the entire ground floor of the rather grand house in which they live - the left rear stage represents both the area immediately outside, and inside, the front door. The bit of the rear stage beside that is the drawing room, the bit on the other side at the rear is the dining room, with the kitchen in front of that. The central, rotating part stands in for the father's study, lined with books.

Oh my but this is marvellous. The script is polished - and witty! Many laugh-out-loud moments. The young girl who will become George Eliot is demure - but don't let that fool you, her mind is whirring feverishly. Her bohemian friends absolutely shock her straight-laced brother, who's brought someone around who has the intention of proposing. Much of the first half of the play, in particular, is hilarious.

But what's absolutely stunning is the relationship between father (Owen Teale) and daughter (Elizabeth Dulau). They're terrific individually - they're dynamite together, all suppressed emotion as she desperately tries to persuade him to let her be what she wants. Utterly believable - by the end, as he's getting older and each tries to salvage a damaged relationship, it becomes very moving. Highly, highly recommended - runs to the 21st of next month.

The journey back was Tube again, but less problematic.

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.. was supposed to be Psycho Killer (stars Malcolm McDowell), but its UK release seems to have been delayed. Hope to see it at a later date, it looks good, some Satanic elements - from the writers of Se7en. Instead, we're headed to Cineworld to see Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die - an apocalyptic thing, the trailer looks funny. Directed by Gore Verbinski, stars an unrecognisable Sam Rockwell as a visitor from the future, here to save us from the hell of AI. Meeting in Victory House beforehand - and yay, that means I can eat in my fave Bella Italia! Ah, I've missed them..

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.