Exhibition: Sufi Life and Art, Ballet: Mayerling, & Musical: Marie & Rosetta
These three days have been Meetups again - last Monday, I was with London Museums A-Z for a trip to the British Museum to see the exhibition on Sufi Life and Art. Admission tickets to the museum for that day all booked out, apparently - although, as the group said, anyone without a ticket might be better off at the rear entrance.
Got a bus quickly enough - as I was saying to someone later, they're infrequent enough that you can't time it exactly, so I often end up early. Now, we had dire expectations of a very busy museum - but no. As we remarked, probably because of the lovely, sunny day. Hardly any queuing time, and I was inside, grabbed a seat by the wall, as usual, and ran into one of the organisers. As I made my way towards their delicious ham & cheese baguettes..
Had it almost eaten by the time others started to arrive. I think it was a little harder for newcomers to spot us this time, as most people got seats - I remember when we were there last, almost everyone standing, and you really couldn't miss us! Well, when the time came, we headed off to the faraway room where the exhibition was.. being exhibited. It turned out to be very faraway indeed, as the group got split, and confusion arose when we ended up tacked onto a completely different group en route, who were listening to someone giving a talk. Nope, that wasn't us. Never mind, on we wandered, and got there eventually..
Some things could apparently be handled, but I couldn't easily see how to get at them, and I didn't bother:
We hadn't much time, really.. for all that only a small section of the museum is dedicated to it, it's got so much in it that I, at least, could have done with half a day..
Ah, the famous "whirling dervishes"!
Books of allegories:
Sacred texts, of course:
Dervishes featured heavily, even when not actually whirling:
Yes, that is a hat:
Speaking of clothes.. the costumes displayed got a ton of attention! This one is a traditional wedding outfit:
Belt clasps:
Gravestones, the script describing the dead person's identity, lineage etc:
Now, this interesting footwear was made for the baths, so you wouldn't slip on the wet floor! Accompanied by a skin scraper:
The Iranian section - and as many observed, how we'd love to see the place in person! Wonder whether it'll ever be safe:
The Palestinian garb was more familiar to me - doubtless from all the films I've seen from that part of the world:
Musical instruments:
Geomancy! Some read the future through tea leaves, some use sand:
Southeast Asia:
Ah, Granada..
And a window shutter that reminded me of the Mezquita:
All too soon it was time to leave - and I was left, once again, dreaming of travelling the Silk Road.
Off to Penderel's Oak afterwards, as usual, with the group splitting in different directions, and anyone who was coming with us was told, if they couldn't make it to the museum, just to meet us there. Which they did. They're renovating the beer garden, so space was a bit limited, and we ended up split into two sections, which was something of a shame.. I ate, as usual, but couldn't finish it, probably because of that baguette! Anyway, we stayed for a good while, and conversations were as interesting as ever. Too tired to blog that night.
Yesterday, I was with London Classical Music and Theatre Group - I just couldn't resist Mayerling, it's my favourite ballet. Showing at the Opera House, and I booked to eat at Cote Covent Garden beforehand. It was to be a day for annoying fellow bus passengers.. on the outbound journey, one guy right in front of me was ranting on and on about some argument he'd had, his companion forced to put up with it as well. I was glad when they got off, finally..
I was five minutes late for my booking, but they sat me immediately. Glad to see they haven't lost their knack of quick service here! I was done and dusted, two delicious courses served and eaten, within 35 minutes.. only a shame I couldn't have had dessert, and their moreish salted caramel ice cream, but the organiser had said she'd be at the venue by a certain time, and I didn't want to leave her bereft of company..
In the event, one other person from the group had arrived before me - there were four of us altogether, and all arrived in time for a good chat. And wouldn't you know it, the organiser was literally just back from a trip to Uzbekistan.. we had a fun time looking at her photos. Didn't too anything to ease my travel itch.. and she was quite surprised to hear they were reading my blog. Yes, as I said, quite keenly of late, too..
Thank goodness for those lifts that whisk you up to the top levels (5 on this occasion) in about five seconds. Man, how often have I been late enough that I depended on them. When I booked, there was quite good availability - I went with the Slips, as usual for me, and specifically for the Lower Slips, which really do have a better view:
Wow though, I was stiff towards the end - it's been a while since I sat in the Slips, and you do have to twist to the side. Plus, as we agreed when we met at the interval, they could do with re-upholstering the seats..
Mayerling, the true story of the Austro-Hungarian Crown Prince, who took a teenage mistress to his hunting lodge at Mayerling and shot first her, then himself. It's a ballet I remember primarily for its almost violent scenes, where he grapples with his wife, and with his mistress - he was a troubled soul. In fact, I'd forgotten just how dark the ballet is, opening with the funeral that it will return to at the end.
This lead dancer, however, lacked intensity - and I wasn't the only one to think it. Not only one of the group, but even the guy sitting beside me remarked that his wife had said the same. Nothing wrong with him per se.. and apparently (according to the guy beside me), this dancer is known as "The Dream".. all the ballerinas want to partner him. Well, never mind - they still have the glorious score by Liszt.. and again, I'd forgotten how ominous the music is. And it must be one of the best ballets for costumes - they have to represent the imperial court, and the outfits are sumptuous, the jewels sparkle. Always worth a look.. runs to the 18th of next month, cast differs by date.
On the bus home, would you believe it, one of life's complainers was sat right behind me.. on the phone, ranting on about all and sundry. Honestly.. Anyway, it ran too late to blog last night.
And tonight, I was back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Marie & Rosetta, another biographical musical about blues music, at Soho Place - stars Beverley Knight, and I booked to eat at Bistro1 beforehand.
Well, as if to confirm this as one of the more interesting weeks for bus journeys, this time the lady that sat beside me was a Spanish speaker - she was the granny, her family all went upstairs but she didn't want to. "Good afternoon," she said, as she sat down. When we stopped to change drivers, she showed me a translation on her phone of what she wanted to ask me.. basically, whether we were waiting for the next driver (yes).
I don't know what app she was using, but she was having great fun with it, and with it we had a kind of pidgin conversation for the rest of the trip. It was her first time in London, she'd left the hubby at home and come over to visit her four sons, who are all working here. We had great fun as she asked me for Barriochino.. it didn't occur to me until she put it into the app, which translated it, that they were headed to Chinatown! She then announced she was a huge Beatles fan, and asked how far it was to Liverpool.. was very disappointed to find out it was at the other end of the country..
At the end of the trip, her family trooped downstairs, and she proudly announced she'd been having a conversation. "En Inglés?!" her bemused son asked her, before apologetically explaining to me, "It's my mom.." "I got that," I said. (Isn't it great though to see someone so keen to try out a foreign language? How many of us would be so willing to try it..?)
And so to Bistro1.. and wow, a wave of nostalgia hit me as I walked there. I used to love living in this area! It's so very vibrant.. As I entered the restaurant, the owner approached me, confirmed I had a booking - and squeezed me into a corner.
I decided on the calamari to start - and perusing the menu, I remembered the beef bourgignon had been very good, back in the day (wow, it's three years since I was last there), so I ordered that. And wine. And when she brought it, I remembered I'd forgotten to ask for garlic bread on the side - but it seems that comes as complimentary! Huh.. had completely forgotten that.
Reading my last post on the place, I see I also didn't like the calamari, which were rubbery. Guess what? They're still rubbery. See now, this is why I need to read what I've written! Anyway, the beef bourgignon is still delicious. Sadly, no time for dessert. Quick service, and excellent value too.. must find more reasons to come here.
And so to the theatre, where the others were waiting in the ground floor bar, and we chatted before heading upstairs. We were all in the Second Circle. Happily, there's a lift here too.
It's the story of Marie Knight and Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Beverley Knight). Musicians, mainly offstage, provide instrumental accompaniment to their singing - when they have to mime playing musical instruments themselves, they have the weirdest way of doing it.. Well now, all anyone is really here for is the music, but they do also tell these ladies' stories: and it's not the easiest thing to listen to, the discrimination they suffered, and the betrayal by men. However, it's kept as light as it can be.
The singing comes into its own in the second half, with both ladies bringing the house down with amazing solos. My, it's like a concert at the end - and it is quite a moving ending. Not quite a jukebox musical, but it does provide the musical payoff you expect. Only runs till Saturday - I'd see it if you can! Highly recommended.
Tomorrow, more storytelling with the Crick Crack Club - this is Island of Love, another Story Pick + Mix, at Next Door at Theatre Deli again. Again, it's related to Greek myth - this is the story of Cyprus, birthplace of Aphrodite, from a Cypriot storyteller. I tell you this though, I won't be eating in La Spezia again after the last time, it just isn't worth it!
On Friday, the second of the year's concerts from Rune medieval music group, in St. Bartholomew the Great! This one is A Merveillous Swevene: Dreams & Visions, and again I'm eating in the Old Red Cow beforehand.
On Saturday, I'm with a new Meetup group called, ahem, Get a Social Life! Well, see, they're doing a daytrip to Glastonbury and Cheddar Gorge - I've already booked my tickets for Glastonbury Abbey and the Cheddar Gorge caves. Sadly early start - but it is a long way..
And on Sunday, thinking of heading to the cinema - and what's coming up is Two Prosecutors, a Russian drama set during the Stalinist era. Described as a Kafkaesque satire on bureaucracy, it does look good.. To get an evening showing, I'll have to head to the Curzon Bloomsbury. Which is no hardship at all, it's via the bus I've been taking all week. I have used all my free tickets that membership entitles me to, though.. probably worth taking up their "bundle" offer to "buy" more free films. Not for documentaries, which are cheaper, but then, this isn't a documentary..
Comments
Post a Comment