Play: Under the Shadow, Operetta: The Chocolate Soldier, & Play: Monarchs Anonymous
Wednesday and Thursday were with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) - on Wednesday, we were at Under the Shadow, a horror play, based on the film, about a mother and daughter, trying to survive in a Tehran that is being bombed, who find themselves being haunted, on top of it all. Showing in the Almeida.
I went early - the bus was stifling, but at least I had a seat downstairs. I headed for food in The Bull, as always around here.. the walk wasn't pleasant, short as it was, but the pub looked inviting:
It was a little more crowded than usual, but I got a table - now, the chicken schnitzel, which I love when it's done well, was a little burnt the last couple of times here, and I half thought of getting the fish n chips, which is renowned - but I'm so glad I plumped for the chicken, which was terrific on this occasion. I polished off a second glass of wine before heading on another short walk to the theatre. And wow, if you hadn't noticed the aircon, you certainly noticed the wall of heat you walked into upon leaving..
I met the others - bar one, whose trains had been cancelled because of the heat. And after a brief chat, we headed in:
Hmm. It might be based on a horror story, but horror is thin on the ground - apart from some odd noises (really not enough to spark any curiosity in a horror fan), there's a pretty naff jump scare right at the interval (although it undeniably had an effect on some). Some scenes take place in an air raid shelter, and I did wonder whether they might have been more atmospheric in the film - and for sure, even watching the trailer, I can see some effects that weren't reproduced on stage. By the time anything supernatural does happen, you hardly care.
Runs to the 4th. It's an interesting concept, to conflate a kind of demon with the missiles dropping on people's homes - but whatever about the film, this play, I'm afraid, is in no way horrific.
And with the heat, I was too tired to blog that night - especially having to be in the office on Thursday. On Thursday evening, we were at The Chocolate Soldier, an operetta based on Arms and the Man, by George Bernard Shaw. Playing at Wilton's, and I booked Cote St. Katharine Docks beforehand. Unfortunately, I had to make my way from the office.. by Tube, for expediency.. and it was all fine until I was getting on.. and a lady behind me had a crutch, and an indomitable desire to get on.. and poked her crutch on ahead - right in front of me, so I had a nice fall right over it. My language was choice..
Google Maps predicted a five-minute walk at the end of the Tube.. turned into a 15-minute one with all the road crossings, so I was late. But hey, they weren't busy - she asked whether I'd like inside or outside, hah! Inside, for the aircon, of course.. mind you, it seemed a bit less cold down the back, where I was sat. Still, I had a lovely meal - would've had dessert, but needed to get to the theatre..
Walked there, and as I arrived, the five-minute warning was sounding. So I went straight upstairs:
I hadn't got the absolute cheapest seat - that would've been along the side, and I'd have had my neck turned all night. No, I opted for one with a fairly straight-on view. Saw about 90% of the action, and indeed, the others, whom I met at the interval and who had Stalls seats, said they'd had similar problems. Hey-ho. Anyway, it was great to see the organiser again - it's been ages.
I'd never actually seen this before - and it's a charming piece, set somewhere in Bulgaria, I think, during some war or other in the 19th Century, and in the household of a Major in the army. When it opens, he's off at war, and only women are left in the household - his wife and daughter, who's engaged to a soldier in the Bulgarian army (word has just come through that he's done something very heroic), and a maid. We open in the young lady's bedroom - and lo, a scoundrel shimmies up the drainpipe and enters by her window! He's in the opposing, Serbian army - but he's actually Swiss, a mercenary, and seeking to do as little fighting as possible. They take pity on him - he's quite cute - and as he expresses a love for chocolate (well, he is Swiss), the young lady offers him some; hence the name of the piece. He comes back once the fighting is over - and much hilarity ensues as the effect he's having on the various women in the piece becomes apparent!
It's performed by Opera della Luna, and the singing is lovely - typically, of course, with operatic singing in English, I only understood about half of it. Apparently, Shaw strenuously disapproved of this being turned into an operetta - I suppose he thought people wouldn't take it seriously, whereas he probably intended it as a commentary on the foolishness and braggadocio of war. He lost out financially - it was an enormous hit from the start, it seems. Anyway, as I say, it's a charming piece, with the young Swiss making a fool out of the war hero, whose antics he is highly critical of - he, himself, is heir to a hotel empire, and much more concerned with that. And once the young lady's parents find out how much he's worth, he is suddenly much more welcome in their home..
The run in Wilton's finishes today - highly recommended! Limited tickets still available for both performances. Happily, I was close enough to walk home - I didn't fancy getting on a stuffy bus.
I was too tired to blog that night, and it ran too late to do it yesterday. Last night, I was with CT for Monarchs Anonymous, a farce that places a number of historical figures - with large egos - together for therapy. Showing at The Other Palace, and I booked to eat in the Bag o' Nails beforehand.
There were two buses I could take - the one that came first, I had to change from to the #148. But, of course, when it came to it, there was no sign of the #148 - so I changed to the #C10 instead.
Which went all around the houses and again, got me there late - happily, again, the upstairs dining area wasn't busy. I checked at the bar, and he said he had put a sign on my table, but that the upstairs bar was closed, so I'd have to come downstairs to order, or order on the app. App it was, and service was really quick throughout. He came upstairs to clean a table shortly afterwards, and was thoughtful enough to ask whether I'd managed the app - which I had.
Blissful aircon meant it was actually cold - and I had a garlic chicken schnitzel, which was lovely. And two glasses of wine, I was finished so early. Which meant I was slightly later than recommended at the theatre - CT like you to come early - but as usual, it didn't matter, and she gave me a ticket and sent me downstairs. This was in the studio, which I'd never been in before! She reassured me that there was a bar down there.
With open seating, I took a seat in the front row.. and on each seat was a program..
..and a choice of crowns! (The audience is also supposed to be composed of monarchs, and for goodness' sake, Vlad the Impaler is called out! I just cannot get away from Dracula this year..):
And, of course, the usual suspects show up: Henry VIII, all fuss and bluster, Charles II, flirting with every lady on stage, Marie Antoinette, protesting that she meant "let them eat brioche"! But also a couple of characters I hadn't heard of - Mansa Musa, ruler of Mali, the richest man of his time, who spends his time pointing that out and lamenting that nobody's ever heard of him, and Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, born in London, a goddaughter of Queen Victoria, and a suffragette! Her father was the last Maharajah of the Sikh Empire, lost to Britain, who was ultimately exiled to Britain.
So, educational as well as everything else! Oh, but it's hilarious - so imaginative, with the jostling for position among the characters, which ultimately turns to an attack on their common enemy, the therapist. They change to modern clothes for the second half - which must be a relief for them, in the heat - (Charles II is quite unrecognisable without his wig!) This does help us to see them as real characters..
Highly recommended, great fun. Run finishes tomorrow - go see..
Again, I was too tired to blog last night - or to finish it, anyway. The weekend was supposed to be two more Meetup days. Today, I was to be back with The London Sci-Fi / Fantasy Meetup Group for another social - in the Mad Hatter again! But wouldn't you know it, the pub cancelled it in favour of the World Cup. I thought of film instead, and what came up was Effi o Blaenau, a Welsh-language film set in rural Wales, and based on the most excellent Iphigenia in Splott, a play that I saw years ago. Working-class girl, bored of life, gets an exciting glimpse into another world when she starts dating a wounded soldier - falls pregnant, and discovers the future she'd dreamed of with him isn't happening.. if the film is half as good as the play, it'll be worth it - and this is getting good reviews. Showing in the Garden Cinema.
Yeah, but then just yesterday, UITCS announced a last-minute trip to the Lion & Unicorn Kentish Town to see a play called Being Brave, seven short pieces about people on the cusp of a momentous decision: to do something before you die, to forgive, wanting a little more time, to change the routine, to conquer your fears, to revisit the past, to pay respects. Sounds like a meaningful piece - and with nothing booked, I decided to go to that instead. Mercifully, it's on in the evening.
And tomorrow, London Museums A-Z (LoMAZ) was supposed to be doing a tour of Brompton Cemetery - possibly including the crypt - as part of the series of Dracula events we're doing for the year. Mind you, it was never finalised.. watch this space. If we do still go, that'll have been every weekend this month with them.. but honestly, it isn't looking likely right now. Instead, a friend of mine who has a habit of booking things in London and then being abroad and not able to go has offered me a ticket to a show by ZooNation Youth Company at the Royal Opera House tomorrow. Part of the Opera House's Next Generation season, showing in the Linbury Theatre - where I've never been - her tickets are front row centre, and not expensive. So I said I'd take one - unfortunately, they're not released until right beforehand, so she'll email them to me when they're ready - and I'll have to jump, the show is at midday!
Looking like film for the next two days. On Monday, it was looking like Nino, about a young Parisian man diagnosed with cancer. Again, in the Garden Cinema. But since I'm not now seeing Effi o Blaenau today, I'll probably go see it that day - in the evening, it's in the Curzon Bloomsbury.
And on Tuesday, it was likely to be Toy Story 5! Aw, I do enjoy them.. and this one has the traditional toys competing with AI. V topical. Nearest showing to me is in Everyman Borough Yards. But since I'm not now planning to see Nino on Monday, I'll probably see it on Tuesday - again, in the Curzon Bloomsbury for an evening show.
On Wednesday, back with CT for Our Public House, a play about politics at a local level (in the pub), playing in Marylebone Theatre. Tickets with CT are actually the same price as the cheapest with the theatre, but with CT there's a chance of a better seat.. Eating in Mumtaz, across the road, beforehand - earliest booking I could get was for 6pm!
On Thursday.. well, appropriately for LoMAZ's Dracula activities, the 1979 Nosferatu, with Klaus Kinski as Dracula (he's certainly scary enough), Isabelle Adjani as Lucy (sic.) Harker, and Bruno Ganz as Jonathan Harker, written and directed by Werner Herzog, is showing in Cine Lumiere..! And I've never seen it, would you believe. Part of a season of her films. Watch this space.. I flagged it to the Dracula group, and there's been some interest! (As one person said, if it's cooler..)
On Friday, back at Backyard Comedy Club with CT - double the price of other nights, for whatever reason, but still cheap.
And next Saturday, back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies for a walk around Breathtaking Bloomsbury.
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