London Still Rocks!

Last night, second Meetup in a row, when I saw  Up in the Cheap Seats  (UITCS) were going to  Dracula , well.. showing in the  Noel Coward Theatre , by the time I came to book, "cheap" seats were in short supply. There was one left in the Balcony - £50, and predictably, no legroom. There was one left in the Grand Circle - decent seat. £85. I got that one. It's a one-woman show, and has mixed reviews.. Booked to eat beforehand in  The Salisbury , next door. My travel companion of last year was coming too, and elected to join me for dinner - naturally, having been unsure whether she'd make it in time for the booking, she arrived before I did. At this point I was trudging there in unpredicted rain. When I got to the pub, I saw her just inside the entrance to a ground-floor dining area - they have one upstairs too. I had the steak and ale pie - it's very filling, but it's been so long since I had it, and the merlot sauce they serve with it is scrumptious. They di...

Last Tuesday, the end - for the moment - of a slew of Meetups - I was back with  Up in the Cheap Seats  (UITCS) for  The Comedy About Spies , from the excellent  Mischief Theatre . Playing at the  Noel Coward Theatre . And as that isn't very far from Bella Italia .. well, I didn't mind eating there twice in a row! Got there quite early for my booking - and it was packed. A lot of exam students and their families, I'd say - results are out around now. Anyway, the waiter who knows me best was there again, and asked with some alarm whether I had a booking - well of course! They usually have availability, but not always.. This time I had the chicken fries, with a spicy coating, for starter - it's been so long since I did, he'd forgotten I'd ever had them before, and started to warn me about the spiciness, but I reassured him that it was fine. I wasn't quite finished them when my main came, which was fine, and indeed worked well, as I was rushing to the theatre ...

Tonight, with Over 40 Living the Life again, for  Slave Play  - at the  Noel Coward , it got terrific  reviews . Stars  Kit Harington  - who gets his kit off! (pun intended). Ate in the nearby  Bella Italia  - happily, not the same branch as last night ! And also happily, I'd already worked so many hours this week that I could skive off early today.. whee! Having said that, I left later than I should have - underestimated how long it'd take.  So I ended up on the Northern Line - the wrong branch, so I had to go all the way down to Kennington and change to a train heading back the same way, on the other branch! It then took me a while to find the correct exit from Leicester Square Station - I'd booked for 5.45, but it was nearly 6 by the time I panted up to the door. Joined the inevitable queue - this time, at least, the maitre d' came out to enquire from people what the story was. So I told him I was slightly late for my reservation. He w...

These two days in London, I'm ticking theatrical boxes - both in  Delfont Mackintosh  theatres, and both, would you believe, cheapest from the official source! Tonight, I finally got to see  Player Kings , depicting the relationship between  Falstaff  and  Hal  from both parts of  Shakepeare 's Henry IV, with  Sir Ian McKellan  as Falstaff. Was looking forward to it - I love Shakespeare adaptations. That's in the  Noel Coward Theatre , and I paid a little extra not to sit in the slips, so I got more legroom. Closest restaurant I fancied was Cote St. Martin's Lane .. I booked, although was to find out I didn't need to, there was plenty of space. On the bus there, after a couple of schoolgirls got off together, as they waited - presumably for another bus - and before we moved off - we were treated to one of them hitching up her school skirt absolutely as high as it would go. Crikey, some things never do change.. I had to change buses...

Tonight, I finally got to see   The Motive and the Cue , now showing at the   Noel Coward Theatre . A   National Theatre   production, it's now moved home - I never did get to see it during its initial run. It depicts   Richard Burton   rehearsing to play   Hamlet , under the direction of   John Gielgud .. I heard great things, and I was delighted to be seeing it at last. Cheapest tickets I found with   Official London Theatre   - which isn't official at all.. Left it to the last minute to book anywhere to eat, of course - I am that busy. Happily, it's a Monday! so I was ok - saw there was a Bella Italia just down from it, and lo, they had availability at 5.45. Booked, and managed to get myself there in decent time - mercifully, the bus had been delayed, so I was in perfect time for it. After an afternoon's snow (!), there were a few icy patches on the pavements - but I made it there safely. Typically, they were busy. They had to clea...