Film: Passenger & Play: Player

On Sunday, I thought about heading back to The Lanesborough for sachertorte, this time with Mark and Martin.. our monthly catch-up. But Lordy, this hot spell continued, and both bailed!

Never fear, The Hideout came to the rescue - they were going to see Passenger. Now, the trailer gave me some misgivings - but I liked the concept, and was delighted to be seeing the group again anyway. Booked Bella Italia for beforehand, and as usual I'd then be meeting them in Victory House before going to see the film in the Vue. Third Meetup in a row, therefore!

I was apprehensive about the bus ride in - but the aircon was on, and it was deliciously cool. Arrived at the restaurant pretty much exactly on time - and as usual, in time to beat the rush! Sat well inside, out of the heat. I was thinking of doughballs to start - but was sad to see they only have the cheesy ones now! Guess that rules them out for me then - just as well I have another option: and the crispy chicken fries were delectable, as was the tortellini. And as I had tons of time, I had ice cream.. with chocolate sauce.. and more wine..

And so to Victory House, a little early - came in with someone else, and we found the organiser around the corner of the bar! He'd anticipated a larger crowd, and so it proved. Again, old faces and new, and we had a great chat before heading to the cinema.

Ah well.. I had been a touch apprehensive about the film, and was proved right. This is another of those films made by people who haven't the first clue about horror films. They see stuff they figure they can use, throw together some kind of plot, and some jump scares (the ones in the trailer are pathetic), and figure that'll do. Nope. It's predictable, it's unscary, it's boring. I was groaning at every scene. Sure enough, when we rated it afterwards, it got a lot of 5s.. mine was a 2. Ugh. Don't see it, there's much better out there.

Anyway, off to the W Hotel afterwards - where I just had one drink, there being no sign of the waiter thereafter. And just as well, when I got the bill and saw I was being charged over £20 (£19 on the menu, which I checked afterwards - they added service). I won't be getting the Sauvignon Blanc when I'm there again - perhaps the Rioja Blanco, which comes in at less than half the price..

Anyway, another good chat before we headed home - and I was too tired to blog.

Yesterday, I was going to see Player with CT at Riverside Studios. I did get the last post started before leaving, but not finished.. there was a bit much in it! Now, I seriously considered not going to this.. Tube, on an even hotter day than the last few, didn't sound appealing. Not only that, but my normal way there would be Jubilee Line followed by District Line - but the District Line was closed past Earl's Court in the Hammersmith direction, for engineering works, and wouldn't you know it, just as I was thinking of leaving, there was a warning of severe delays on the Jubilee Line because of a fire! 

Avoiding the Jubilee Line, the best option was the Circle Line (in the wrong direction, because it doesn't go all the way to Hammersmith westbound, and there was nothing to take me the rest of the way!). Taking it Eastbound, it would circle around, and I could ride it all the way to Hammersmith. It'd take slightly over an hour, but what the hey. I thought about walking to Tower Hill to catch it - but given my experience on Saturday, I opted for a bus instead.. which wasn't air-conditioned, but despite Google Maps telling me it'd only be one stop, it was two. A short trip, all the same.. and the Circle Line is known for its air-conditioning - just as well, considering I was nearly halfway there when I got a seat, a number of us looking daggers at the two young latino blokes sitting oblivious next to us..

I was thinking of checking Popeyes for food - loved them before, and although they're usually full, on a sunny day I figured this place might be like the rest of town, slightly less busy with people elsewhere. And wouldn't you know it, I was right! Ordered at a kiosk and picked up a table number - the last one, although you can alternatively opt to collect it at the counter yourself. As I took a seat, I noticed there are QR codes on the table as well, which is handier.

It arrived in a flash, and oh! how good is their chicken - less salty, and much more succulent, than KFC. Good fries too.. I was well fed by the time I headed on a short-ish, but hot, walk down to Riverside Studios. Got my ticket at the desk, got a drink - I was really early, so the exceedingly relaxed service didn't bother me. As showtime approached, sundry people approached the door, figuring they must be able to go in now - oh no, everything is relaxed here. Wait for them to open the door, for a person to stand there and let you in. Which they eventually did - a bit late.

Seating was unassigned, so I took the front row, which is easier.

It's a two-hander, a man and a woman - he's actually the playwright. His writing, as he says, owes a lot to Berkoff - a mixture of Cockney slang and Shakespearian dialogue. 70 minutes long, without interval, it's a hilarious trip through the life of a jobbing actor - or as the quote explains on the free programme that is given out, "A most lamentable tragedy on the comings and goings of one with thespianic tendencies". His co-star plays a number of characters with whom he interacts - his mum, a teacher at drama school, a couple of casting directors, a woman he tries to chat up, who rejects him for his financial failings.. It's funny, it's quick, and it's astute, far as I can tell. Runs to Sunday, highly recommended.

I tell you what though, I wish I'd noticed the promo code..! PLAYER5 gets you £5 tickets, damnit..

Well, it ran too late last night to put out this post - especially since I was doing a bit more booking ahead. Read on..

Tonight, back at last with Rune for a medieval concert in St. Bartholomew the Great - this one is Saints and Miracles. I've booked to eat beforehand in the Old Red Cow.

Tomorrow, taking instruction from LGBTQ Culture Lovers again, who kindly shared that CT has cheap tickets for a performance of The Creation by Haydn, in the Royal Festival Hall. So, headed to that (solo), and eating in The Archduke beforehand.

Then I have two appropriately vampiric days! On Thursday, I'm back with The Hideout for Vampire's Kiss, an old comedy with Nicholas Cage, in which he thinks he's been dating a vampire, and is now turning into one himself. Showing in the Prince Charles of course, and we're meeting in Victory House beforehand. I've booked to eat in Bella Italia before that - took two goes though, the site was down the first time!

And on Friday - well, one of the things London Museums from A-Z (LoMAZ) were talking about doing for their series of Dracula events was going to a ballet - and sure enough, there is a Dracula ballet in town! Supposed to be good, with a classical soundtrack - and sure enough, when I checked, it was almost completely booked up. The only tickets left were this evening - which I couldn't manage - and the matinees tomorrow and Friday - so I'm taking Friday off, and will go to it that day! Can't see I'll persuade anyone to go with me though - they'd either have to take time off work, or if not, they might not be in work, and might baulk at the price! Showing in the Palladium - I had to take the Second Circle to get the lowest price, and as legroom is reportedly tight, I made sure to get an aisle seat. Oh, and CT just advertised cheap tickets for Thursday's matinee.. ah well..

Had booked to eat in the Shakespeare's Head (Soho) afterwards - but then London Social and Cultural Meetups (LSC) advertised social drinks for that evening in The Rugby Tavern, so I've cancelled dinner and will meet them instead, after the ballet - I can eat there.

On Saturday - back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies for his Nooks and Crannies of London walk - and damnit, Meetup is charging for RSVP again! (plus an extra charge, of course). And afterwards, back with The Hideout for Backrooms - the film version of Backrooms on Creepypasta, a series of liminal horror stories about featureless, unending rooms and corridors, sometimes with hostile beings in them.. stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, as his psychiatrist, as - well, he might be expected to need one, with this kind of tale. Same details as before, except I won't need to book a restaurant - we'll be having lunch after the walk. Which makes it three Meetup days in a row. (And three days in a row of horror..)

On Sunday, I got a cheap ticket with CT for the Sunday concert at Conway Hall, with Francesca Dego and Alessandro Taverna. But with Mark and Martin cancelling last Sunday for sachertorte, we've decided to do it that day instead - the last day for it. And the weather is supposed to cool down a bit that day!

On Monday, back with Shake It Up: The Improvised Shakespeare Company, first Monday of every month in the Hen & Chickens.

Next Tuesday, back with London Fun for Churchill's Urinal, about a female Chancellor of the Exchequer wanting the urinal in No. 10 removed.. showing in the King's Head. The organiser bought the tickets - and later informed us we'd been upgraded. As he says, another reason to buy the cheap tickets! (Much discussion in the group recently on the relative merits of Churchill himself.. always a heated topic.)

On the 3rd, the last scheduled from the Crick Crack Club's Story Pick + Mix in Next Door at Theatre Deli - this time, it's We Are Fox, with Alys Torrance and Lucy Lill. And it's a good job that they invited me, today, to buy a ticket - I'd completely forgotten to do so! Now sorted.

Then it's five days of Meetup.. on the 4th, I'm with Up in the Cheap Seats for a reggae musical called The Harder They Come at the Theatre Royal Stratford East - the story of a young musician trying to make it in the business. 

On the 5th, back with The Hideout for the latest Scary Movie, yay! The trailer looks hilarious, with its references to horror films and popular culture.. and as usual, it'll be interesting to try and spot them all. Only thing is, it's run by the Southeast London branch.. and while I'm in the Southeast, this is far, far southeast.. we're headed to Vue Bromley. I'll have to get a train..

Then it's a LoMAZ weekend - the 6th is their bimonthly birthday bash, in the Union Jack as usual.

And on the 7th, I'm headed with them to see an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, of Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures. Off to the Brewmaster afterwards.

Finally, on the 8th, I'm back with LSC (also advertised, again, with the London European Club) for a talk at the London School of Economics - this one is Ten Years On: Brexit and Britain's Political Future. Rumours of drinks afterwards.