Tonight, back with CT for Magic Showcase, a magic variety show at The Magic Circle! Ooh, first time there.. checking, I saw the closest place to eat was the local Prezzo - and I could walk there from the office, plus the rain had died off. Got a power of work done today - and wow, was I glad when it got late enough to leave!
Was seated immediately - and service, I have to say, was on point - friendly to a fault, and as quick as I've seen. The wine was nice and full-bodied - I had calamari to start, which came in bitesize pieces, and was as light and tasty as any I've had. Had spaghetti carbonara with chicken for main - and they asked whether I'd like dessert just in time for me to have some! so I tried the chocolate honeycomb ice cream.. definitely for those with a sweet tooth, very moreish. I was sad to leave, frankly - it's one of the best meals I've had in a while.
And so to the unassuming surrounds of The Magic Circle - apparently, they were evicted from their home in Soho.
They checked my name off the list, and directed me to the bar - where the wine is cheap.
The show started a bit late - and we had a lot of stairs to climb.. although seating was unassigned, an usher was advising people where to sit. Mercifully, with my rucksack, I got an aisle seat:
All the performers, we were told, were members of The Magic Circle - even the comical MC. There was quite a bit of audience participation, although I escaped.. they are always reluctant to take women. There were about six acts.. but only two really stood out for me. One blew a bubble, then transformed it into a crystal ball, and just played with that for several minutes.. with a dreamy musical backdrop, it was absolutely beautiful. And the other.. was James Phelan! Turns out he's also Paul Daniels' nephew.. and the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. He performed one of those crazy acts where he got one audience member to pick out others, then got them to call out numbers, which he then produced on a lottery ticket. Anyway, the name was familiar to me..
I went to the loo in the interval, which was entertaining in itself, with cards on the ceiling:
..and a helpful guide to where to dry our hands:
A most entertaining evening! Afterwards though, we were at a loss as to how to get out, what with the staircase roped off - as I remarked, perhaps we were expected to dematerialise through the wall! We did have a nice exploration:
We came down in the lift.
Next, three days of Meetup - tomorrow, I was supposed to be back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for A Fine Idea at the Arcola. A play that looks into the motivation behind the global causes that inspire us. Which does sound interesting - but just lately, The Hideout scheduled a horror chat and social for the same day, in The Three Johns. I missed the last one of these, don't want to do that again - as I said to them, any chance they could organise these things earlier?! So I'm now going to that instead. The pub does serve pizza, but that doesn't agree with me, so I'm eating beforehand in The Peacock.
On Monday, off with CT again to a play called Before I'm Dead at The Glitch. The story of a teenager with a terminal brain tumour, determined to record a eulogy while she has the chance.
Finally, three more days of Meetup - on the 19th, I'm with The Hideout for Disclosure Day, in which Emily Blunt plays a TV weather forecaster who suddenly finds herself communicating in a strange, clicking language, which only Josh O' Connor finds he can understand. Colin Firth seems to play a bad guy, as per the trailer. Directed by Spielberg again.. Details TBA, but it'll be in Leicester Square, phew!
And the weekend is LoMAZ again - the 20th, we have a day in Hever Castle! We're to arrive at St. Peter's Church in time for a guided tour thereof by our accomplished organiser, then spend the afternoon exploring the castle, and its Capturing a Queen exhibition, focusing on what Anne Boleyn, whose childhood home this was, actually looked like. The castle is also hosting a Home Front 1940s exhibition - no thanks, don't think I'll take their invitation to dress up accordingly. Optional drinks afterwards, of course - and travel is convenient for me, with direct trains from London Bridge taking under an hour. Already booked my ticket with Uber, with which I had so much credit, it was nearly free..
And on the 21st - I was thinking of heading to see West End Live, the free performance snippets of West End shows, performed in Trafalgar Square.. always a good one! But also recently, on what was a very busy day for Meetup organisers, LoMAZ organised a guided walk! And as it's around my area, I could hardly resist - we're meeting in Starbucks before heading off on a Southwark Hysteries Solstice Special walk, as presented by Herstorical Tours, in the person of someone who glories in the name of Lydia Chlamydia, and is a whore of Ancient Rome.. apparently includes the option of a post-walk drink in a historic pub. I have my suspicions where that might be..
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