Plays: Being Brave

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, Up in the Cheap Seats 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. Sounded like a meaningful piece - and with nothing booked, I decided to go to that instead. Mercifully, it was on in the evening.

Tube it was - wow, I've been taking the Northern Line a lot lately - and I arrived early, to get something to eat. All the tables had reservations, but for later, with the (!"£$£"$) World Cup happening again. So I picked one, and ordered a steak - it was that or fish. In retrospect, I wish I'd got the fish - can't recommend the steak here, which was tough, about 20% fat (which I cut off), also smeared in Cafe de Paris butter, which I'm not mad about. And it was accompanied by chunky chips, which I hate - took one bite and decided against them. The onion rings were the best thing about the entire dish.

The others arrived in due course, and we went in when it was time. Happily, the aircon upstairs was much better than that on the ground level (which was nonexistent):

The first short play, about a commuter suddenly wondering whether the commute was worth it, was the only one that didn't click for me - the issues raised resonated, but there wasn't enough of a resolution at the end, I felt - I didn't get a sense of anything changing. The others were more successful, and frequently brought me to tears, the one about the person dealing with the deceased soldier, and the one with the fellow who knows he's close to death, being the most powerful. Mind you, as one of the group remarked afterwards, she'd thought it'd be more uplifting.. indeed. Still, recommended - only other performance is tomorrow, so go see if you have the chance.

On the way home, I found it necessary to find a toilet - what should I find but The Parakeet! Where they have the most curiously fashioned hand dryers:

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 - she sent it on later this evening.

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 didn't see 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.