Yesterday, I was supposed to go to another social with the London SciFi/Fantasy Group in the Mad Hatter - but wouldn't you know it, just like last time, the pub cancelled the booking because of the World Cup! Instead, I headed with CT to Dark of the Moon, at Charing Cross Theatre. Chose the matinee.
Travelled in on a bus with the most delicious aircon. Arrived early and had a glass of wine. Was given an excellent seat, not far from the stage, although there are no bad ones here. Gorgeous aircon too - I was practically cold:
'Tis a story of star-crossed lovers.. one a human girl, Barbara Allen (yes, you've heard the name, but that's a completely different legend, nothing to do with this), the other a warlock. In this, the witches and humans are at war, and the witches are none too happy that one of their number has fallen in love with a human, and wants to be mortal - not least because that reduces the coven number from the perfect number required to conjure. The show starts with a young girl strumming a song about said Barbara Allen - this version, not the traditional story.It's really, really watchable - the humans play country/bluegrass music on acoustic guitar, the witches a more rocky sound, on electric guitar (the devil, as ever, having the best tunes). The witches are also dressed in a more Gothic vibe, the townsfolk, well, standard country attire. The guy who morphs into a human does a lovely job of toning down his witchy behaviour as he gradually assumes mortal form.
But oh! the standout quality of the show is the singing.. there are some spectacular singers, and the tunes are compelling. I don't have much more to say about the plot - it's simple enough - except that you can expect the witches to lack compassion.. and as they turn the pressure on the lovelorn warlock, the story turns quite touching. The reviews didn't lie - this is well worth a look. Recommended - runs to the 8th.
I'd booked to eat in L' Ulivo afterwards - it's been years!I was a little late - the show overran - and ran across the road to the restaurant after, where I was seated straight away, my order taken quickly, and was served reasonably quickly. I remembered the pollo alla baioscola (chicken with mushrooms, in a mushroom sauce) was good here, and ordered that - I didn't fancy the starters, and anyway, I was in a small rush. Didn't order any sides either. Now, I was just about fed - but if you're quite hungry, you might consider a side.. the chicken comes with mushrooms, and mushroom sauce, and nothing else. It is delicious though.
With all that quick service, I was lulled into a false sense of security - but the wait afterwards, to ask for the bill, to get it, and to pay, was right back to the bad old days of slow service, here. Yeah, don't go if you're in a hurry.
With my evening free for once, I took a trip out to see a friend in hospital - but for whatever reason, the District Line trains going that way were delayed, and the crowds horrendous:
When it did come, the aircon was gorgeous there. But with the delays, and being locked out of the ward (which, to be fair, I found without too much hardship), I was a wee bit late. Never mind, they were very relaxed about kicking us out - and yes, a couple of other friends I hadn't seen in months were there too! Ah, it was good to catch up - so glad I went along.
It was lovely and cool when we finally exited - and on the District Line back. Pity they didn't get the memo on the Jubilee Line, stuffy as it was..
But well.. remember the kerfuffle with London Museums A-Z (LoMAZ) being put on hiatus? Hee hee, I might have expected it.. with a gag on the main WhatsApp group, a few of the organisers have created an "underground" one, called alternately "LoMAZ Hiatus" and "LoMAZ Refugees"! Where they're merrily scheduling new events.. 😀 One of these was a watch party for the Wimbledon final today, free on a big screen at Battersea Power Station! Decided to schlep along to that..
The person organising suggested a picnic blanket, because we'd find it hard to get a deckchair, but lacking a picnic blanket, I had the idea to use an old, defunct, duvet cover - so I packed it up, with some Starburst Juicy Chews for refreshment, as I had nothing to keep a drink cold in, and some mini cheddars. The trip there was very educational - I'd never realised that the Northern Line via Bank never goes to Battersea, that you have to change at Kennington, which has a dedicated platform for trains to Battersea. (It was during this section of the trip that I made the acquaintance of two ladies of a certain age, chattering to each other in Spanish, who hadn't a clue what they were doing. The announcement said the next train was not in service, the signboard said it, but they still got on, and had to be rescued by someone who told them the same thing. Later, in Battersea, I had to tell them to get off, that this was the last stop..)
Google Maps said I could go through the power station, so I did. I had great fun when I came to what it said should be the exit. I'd been on the ground level till now - turns out the exit to Power Station Park, where the showing was happening, is on the Upper Ground Level. Where I immediately found the screen. Our organiser for the day had said she was headed for the grassy area to the left, deckchairs being like gold dust, so that's where I went, picking a spot where I could see the screen reasonably, without obstruction. A bit far away, but you can't have everything:
She came along in due course, and was followed later by some folks she knew were coming, but I hadn't. Anyway, we all spread out.. Boy, it was a hot day - we were relieved when the sun moved a bit, and we were in the shade! And the match was a cracker, both evenly matched - unfortunately, we were just too far away to see the scores, and were constantly checking on our phones. Meantime, I was getting stiffer and stiffer - by the time I'd been there for three hours, and she spotted a closer spot and decided to move, I'd had enough, and decamped to the power station to find food. I did wave, but I don't think she saw me - I told one of the others I was leaving.
There's a Food Court on Level 1, so I headed up there - first thing I saw was a Gordon Ramsay restaurant! where, checking the menu, I saw the dishes looked ok, but the prices were, while not exorbitant, a bit more than I was happy with. I carried on.. and lo! There was a Nando's, where I happily joined the queue. I could see a free, small table, and that's what I got, and was quickly, and well, fed.
Now, what was interesting about this experience was the pair at the table beside me - a couple of men, one much older, who seemed to be acting as a mentor to the other: whether officially, or just volunteering for the job, I cannot say. Anyway, the older guy was doing all the talking.. first I heard was that he mused whether the current state of the world would turn more people to religion - a silver lining, if you will. But I have to wonder whether I sparked off the lecture whereby he railed against women going out on their own. On and on he went about the evils of this, about how it gave them ideas about what they wanted, made them fussy.. and then they'd be high-maintenance. Oh no, they should find a man, then wait for the man to take them places, show them things..
Now, I wonder whether he was some kind of pastor - he was certainly effusive in his greetings to the waiters who came to clear the table that he was at, and the one on the other side. The male waiter returned his greeting - the female one, mind you, was very cold and non-committal as he asked about her day. He was bemused at this, as he remarked to the youngster, "Well, it doesn't always work." Me, I think she'd overheard some of the rubbish he'd been spouting.. Wow, it's hard to hear that in real life. It's amazing what poisonous attitudes some people take as the simple truth.
When I was finished - and I finished quickly, as he showed no sign of stopping - I headed back outside to find the others, but I couldn't see them. Never mind, I was actually a lot more comfortable standing - and found a place much closer to the screen. I was there for the last couple of games - and it was a cracker to watch, the players tired by now, giving their all, making mistakes. Ultimately, as tends to happen, the player who'd won it before prevailed, collapsing on the court with relief. And I headed home - by bus this time, faster in the evening traffic.
Now, it took a very long time for anything to pop up that'd interest me for tomorrow - finally, as I waited for the others this afternoon, my cheap ticket groups both came up with Wife to James Whelan, showing in the Jermyn Street Theatre. It's apparently an unearthed Irish play that, like so many, was banned back in the day.
And on Tuesday, they both came up with Horatio, in thy Heart, at the Jack Studio Theatre, above the Brockley Jack pub, where I'm eating beforehand. It is, in fact, the story of Horatio, a minor character in Hamlet. For both these days, I decided to go with CT - they seem more professional, and the tickets are the same price - equivalent to the concessionary price charged at the box office.
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