Tonight, more storytelling with the Crick Crack Club (CCC) - this was a Story Pick+Mix, with Laura Sampson and Minnie Wilkinson delivering Beowulf, at Next Door at Theatre Deli - an unusually early start, so we could have an interval in what is a long piece.
Well, I did my required hours in the office and, work completed, headed out - perfectly in time for the bus! And as that was the terminus, no problems getting a seat. And just as well I dressed for rain today - it poured on me as I walked the last stretch to Nando's. Where I was most excellently fed - and had time for their delicious choc-a-lot cake. In fact, as I was preparing to leave, the girl at the next table asked me all about it - and I raved about it! Hope she had it, she certainly seemed interested..
A short walk to the venue, where Laura Sampson was pacing up and down outside, having a fag. I got there about 15 minutes early - and they took some care with tonight's sweet display, depicting a treasure trove, as in the story they were about to tell!I found it quite easy to get a seat.. unfortunately, as it turned out, I ended up beside a woman who - perhaps she was hungry - treated the event as a picnic, chowing down for almost the entire thing. She had a fizzy drink, she had gum, and of course there was plenty of sweet stuff for her to pig out on, if she ran out. She spent most of the time chewing and slurping, and the rest of the time picking bits out of her teeth.. oh Lordy, you know when someone just gets on your wick..So anyway, the first half dealt with Grendal and his mother, the second half with the dragon. As Laura explained at the end, they shortened the story for this show - it used to be three hours long, and spread over three nights. And they added music - a kind of squeeze box provided a sonic backdrop for much of the piece, while Laura took to the guitar at one point. They had even rehearsed a duet in praise of the hero!
It's a truly epic piece.. and people do have to find ways to adapt it for modern audiences, for whom simple tales of chopping up people and monsters just won't cut it. It's always a good idea to have it as a two-hander, for one thing, so people don't get bored of the repetition. Mind you now, the last time I saw it, a few years ago, was hilarious.. this one was played straight, mostly, with a suitably epic tone. I hadn't heard of Minnie Wilkinson before - and frankly, for all that she has her own website, she seemed inexperienced to me, didn't project enough. Perhaps this just wasn't her kind of material!
Yeah, it was well done - but didn't exactly set me on fire. You need to go above and beyond for this, it's difficult material - and I just didn't feel they did. Never mind, it was decent. A guy was going around at the interval with brandy and mead - pity he never got around to me! Ah well.. anyway, it was good to get home early.
Tomorrow, I'm finally back on an overdue trip to Ireland for the weekend - first in two months..! (And it's looking likely to be something the same before I'm back again.) Have arranged to have lunch with my friend from there on Saturday, in Jade Cottage as usual.. and afterwards, I might well head to The Sheep Detectives, with Hugh Jackman as the farmer who reads detective stories to his sheep, which then use their learned skills when he is murdered! They are voiced by Patrick Stewart, Chris O' Dowd, and Bryan Cranston, among others. Showing in Ennis.
On Monday, back with UITCS in Soho Place for The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - a musical based on the true story of a boy in Malawi who built a wind turbine from scrap materials and provided necessary power to his community. Chiwetel Ejiofor, who starred in, and directed, the film, is executive producer. I got my ticket on Seatplan, which I used a Seatplan voucher for, and which garners me extra Seatplan points! Eating in Bistro1 beforehand - and I must remember not to have the calamari..
On the 22nd, Movie Roadhouse London are finally having a social again! Ah, it's been so long.. so, back at the BFI Balcony Bar, and I've booked to eat at The Archduke beforehand. I tell you, without the main organiser in town, these things don't happen.. strange that numbers are limited, mind- never happened before.. Sadly, it isn't in conjunction with The Hideout any more, and also the cap on numbers means some were excluded..
On the 23rd, The Hideout organiser is talking about heading to a cat cafe.. watch this space. Anyway, that evening I've signed up to go with him, and The Hideout, to a new slasher, Corporate Retreat - details TBA.
On the 24th, talking about heading back to The Lanesborough for sachertorte, this time with Mark and Martin.. our monthly catch-up. Waiting on Martin to confirm a time.
Then I have two appropriately vampiric days! On the 28th, 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 the 29th - well, one of the things LoMAZ were talking about doing for the 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 on the evening of the 26th - which I couldn't manage - and the matinees of the 27th and 29th - so I'm taking the 29th off, being a Friday, 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. Eating in the Shakespeare's Head (Soho) afterwards.
On the 30th - 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. Details TBA.
On the 2nd, 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!
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