Play: Horatio, in thy Heart

For tonight, both my cheap ticket groups 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.

Two buses, I had to take.. neither with aircon.. and the first one was accompanied alternately with the screaming of a toddler (that tried to grab me as I stood near him) and the rantings of an elderly bloke at the front, who kept shouting at the kid, seemingly not understanding that children sometimes scream, and there's not a lot you can do about it. I don't suppose that was ever his responsibility. And when I got a seat, it was beside him.. oh joy. The mother got off with me.. mercifully, not onto my second bus. No, on that one I was entertained by the elderly lady behind me, so engrossed in her conversation with her daughter on speakerphone (while sucking on an ice lolly that she proclaimed was definitely not as tasty as they used to be) that she missed her stop. Ah, I was glad to get off..

Now, my stop was suppsed to be right next to the pub, after which it's named. So I was rather perplexed not to see it - until I spied the building across the road, covered in scaffolding. So I crossed at the crossing.. said to the guy behind the bar that I had a booking, and as he said, well, take any.. I took Table #7, why not. Yay, they had katsu here.. and when I asked for just chips, no rice, lo, that's what I got! Unlike the last time..

Fantastic playlist in the bar, mostly 80s.. I stayed on, again, drinking, until the bell rang to say we could go in. Oh, and I had been here, a few years ago, and forgot.. so I'd forgotten that, handily, you don't go upstairs for the theatre here, it's round the back..

We walked in to find Horatio on his knees. It's a solo performance, Horatio double-jobbing for all other required actors, including Hamlet. Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern are represented by glove puppets. And our actor does a competent job of portraying everyone, as well as the existential angst at the heart of Hamlet's dilemma. Dunno that it goes anywhere though.. and that's the essential problem with the play Hamlet, which could be described as an exercise in dithering. Still, it is an interesting re-assessment of the characters of the play. Runs to Saturday, if you're interested.

Tomorrow, back for the first time in three months with London Classical Music and Theatre Group, for a performance of Bellini's final opera, I Puritani (set during the Puritan era), at the Royal Opera House - with the cheapest tickets gone by the time I booked, I still managed to get a ticket for under £50, and with an ok view. Eating beforehand at Cote Covent Garden.

On Thursday, yes, back with CT for Hot Mess, a kind of cosmic musical at The Other Palace. Eating at the Bag o' Nails beforehand. Then, for the first time in a couple of months, I'm heading back to Ireland for the weekend - to discuss selling the place. Was waiting to hear about my car before I booked - it's in for repairs - so I booked my flights rather late. Ryanair, for some reason, would take none of my cards.. I'm guessing it's a website issue. However, that turned out lucky, because when I checked, as long as I check in a bag (which is the default), Aer Lingus is cheaper! (Think I'll bring a bigger bag, as a result - there are a lot of clothes I want to bring back.) Don't fancy the dangerously overcrowded Elizabeth Line though.. hopefully, I'll have time to get the Tube. No word yet on whether the friend I have lunch with when I'm over will be around..

On Monday, I'm back with CT for I'm Not Myself Today - A Villainous Cabaret. Showing at the Bread & Roses, it sounds interesting, with a soundtrack composed entirely of songs about, or by, villains.

Next Tuesday, headed to the Proms - specifically, Also Sprach Zarathustra - at the Royal Albert Hall, and my sometime companion is coming too - it was actually her suggestion. Well, that's assuming she's recovered from her recent accident. I'm eating at the Elgar Room beforehand - it's an early show, and an early dinner, so I'm taking a half-day from work - I certainly have them to spare. She doesn't fancy that - but I want more than they have in the cafe.

And the next two days seem likely to be films. On the 22nd, I'm delighted to be seeing Coup '53 finally - it's a documentary about the joint CIA/MI6 operation in 1953 to overthrow the Iranian Prime Minister, who had just nationalised the Iranian oil industry, which had previously operated under the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (now BP). The operation was Churchill's idea (always far too interested in meddling in other countries, that man). Showings are limited, so I missed it before.. it's now showing in the Arthouse Crouch End, and was mostly sold out when I looked, so I booked.

And on the 23rd, I'm thinking of The Last Viking, which I'd intended to see on Sunday, but didn't - it's a crime comedy with Mads Mikkelson, who plays a man under the delusion that he's John Lennon. Evening showing is in the Ritzy.