Musical: Ancient Grease

Just started two nights of cheap shows courtesy of CT. Tonight, I saw Ancient Grease, a parody of the famous musical, Grease, but - well - set in Ancient Greece! specifically, on Olympus, and focusing on the love affair between Hera and Zeus. Showing in the Vaults Theatre - which I could walk to, in a pinch, considering we had another Tube strike today. Happily, we were absolved of the duty of going into the office this week, because of the strikes.

I left in ok time.. headed for Dockhead, since there were two buses that could get me where I was going, both of which stop there. One of them had just left the stop.. mind you, there was such a traffic jam that I figured I could beat it to the next stop. Not only did I manage that, but to play my game for a bit while I waited..

Well, traffic improved after that bottleneck - but by the time I alighted, it was still a bit late for a proper meal. Now, Google Maps showed a Pret en route to the theatre - so I searched in that direction, but couldn't find it; I think it was in one of the office buildings. Instead, I found myself in M&S, where I got a tasty ham & coleslaw sandwich, and ate it on the side of the road. I might have eaten it in Leake Street, but the stench of the aerosols they use for graffiti is a bit strong.

After that, I went in search of the theatre - and was glad I was early, because I couldn't find it! Coming to where I thought it'd be, I came to the entrance to Dark Secets - the Esoteric Exhibition! Crikey, I saw that last year, but didn't think it'd still be running.. mind you, it is excellent. Seems from the website that it'll finish on Sunday - I strongly recommend you see it, if you haven't, and if you have the chance - it's such a comprehensive collection of items related to the occult. Absolutely fascinating.

Well, Google Maps showed the entrance to the theatre was actually on Launcelot Street, out the other side of Leake Street - and sure enough, as I walked past the exhibition again, a group of people who'd asked there were being directed the same way. And there it was - in the same space, just a different entrance: doubtless because of the exhibition, but we shall see. Pity I didn't know, I could have got off the bus closer, while it was changing drivers. Anyway, the lady found my name on the computer - and gabbled information at me so fast that it was a minute or so before I could get a word in edgeways to ask her where exactly I was seated again? So, they have "gold", "silver", and "bronze" seats - "gold" near the centre, "bronze" at the edge, "silver" kind of in the middle, as she said. Sure enough, when I got in, not a single soul knew where they were supposed to be. I think the cushions on the wooden benches were supposed to be colour-coded.. frankly, in that lighting, there wasn't much difference..

I got a space pretty much in the middle:

There's a kind of gold catwalk down the middle, leading to a raised central piece, where the action is centred. The bar is at the other end:

So I went and got myself a white wine. There are two choices - neither of which I'd heard of. So I went for the French first - which wasn't great. Appropriately, the other is Greek - it's more expensive, but also nicer, as I found out when I tried it at the interval.

Ah man, this is great.. they take the original music (I, for one, had forgotten how great it is) and rework the lyrics. Completely irreverent - and not suitable for kids, shall we say! Most of them multitask as multiple deities.. and beware if you do have a "gold" seat, you are likely to be.. interacted with.. nothing too scary, although one guy was interviewed..

The basic story is also replicated - two youngsters meet over the summer, then meet later in school, and find their budding romance is more complicated because of peer pressure. In this one, they bring in Zeus' philandering, and Hera's insistence on waiting for marriage.. we also meet a sassy Aphrodite.. and yes, two gods associated with her, Hephaestus and Ares. And Athena, who has the hots for Hera.. throw into the mix the bad kids on the block, Hades and Persephone.. and the Fates, watching over it all.. and watch it all catch fire..

It's hilarious, it's catchy - the singing is amazing, and it's great fun. Had a terrific time - highly recommended. Runs to the 22nd. And on the way out, I spotted one of the motorbikes used as "chariots" in the play, and referencing the cars in the original musical - you can use it as a photo op! Just, as they say, don't touch..

And then, as I went in search of my bus, I ran right into someone from LoMAZ! Took me a second to register her - you know, when you see someone out of context, it can be confusing for a minute. Anyway, we had a bit of a chat before heading off. And I ended up on a bus whose display displayed neither the right stop, nor the right time, even.. and constantly said we were changing drivers. Huh - just as well I'm familiar with the route!

And tomorrow, Down to Chance is a comedy play about the Great Alaskan Earthquake of 1964, and a local radio operator's role in helping. Showing at the Pleasance Theatre. Again, the strike is to be over by evening - just as well, considering Tube is far and away the best way there! And it was just now that I realised I hadn't thought about food - been too busy, I guess! Well, turns out The Depot pub is right next door, and does food. I've emailed them to book - here's hoping.. this week has been far too erratic already..

On Saturday.. well, someone from LoMAZ suggested creating an event to eat sachertorte. Apparently the Lanesborough Hotel is hosting a temporary pop-up, giving you the chance to eat sachertorte and apfelstrudel prepared to the original recipe of the Hotel Sacher in Vienna. However, wouldn't you know it, that's the only day this month that suits James to meet! And he, Mark, and Martin aren't members of that group, and it's a private group event.. the group is headed to a ceilidh that evening, but I said I'd skip it and hang out with James and Mark and Martin, if it suited.. ah, the difficulties of scheduling!

But then, when I asked about timings, the organiser said he'd completely forgotten about it - and was it on Saturday or Sunday? Well, I didn't have anything for Sunday, so asked for that, and he was fine with it.. but a couple of others weren't. Unfortunately, I was outvoted.. and then someone else couldn't do Saturday, so now it's on Sunday after all, phew! Sorted.

On Monday, I'm headed to an interview with Michael Palin at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, dinner beforehand in the Prince of Wales. And my sometime companion is coming too. 

On Tuesday, thinking of film - and what's coming up is The Blue Trail (O Último Azul), a Brazilian film set in a dystopian future where the elderly are shipped off to a colony.. except for a rebellious old woman who's decided she's got too much left to do to be bothered with that! Unfortunately, the closest showing to me is in the Rio, which is quite a ways..

On Wednesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for The Authenticator, which is described as a Gothic psychological thriller. Love anything that describes itself as "psychological". Showing in the Dorfman - and all seats left at the cheapest price were described as "severely restricted"! so I went for the next price bracket up, which was just "restricted". Eating in The Archduke beforehand - wow, it's months since I was last there!

Next Thursday, delighted to be back with Spooky Isles! Well, when I say "back".. once upon a time, I knew them as "Spooky London", when they were a great Meetup group, we'd meet in pubs with a spooky history and conversation was fascinating. Sadly, it died a death over the pandemic.. but was resurrected (appropriately, I guess) as Spooky Isles on Facebook! This is their first face-to-face event since, a social evening in honour of Walpurgis Night and Beltane, featuring a talk by a paranormal researcher, and is happening in my old stomping ground of the King & Queen - I used to live right next door! Tickets from Eventbrite.

And on the 1st, back with The Hideout for Deep Water, a thriller about a plane that crashes in shark-infested waters - Ben Kingsley is one of the pilots. Details TBA.