Crystal Palace 0 - 1 Arsenal

Well, that was a stressful Monday night game. At least we won. The ref showered us with yellow cards and Palace seemed to get just one. Oh well, a win’s a win.

@arsenal @gaygooners #awaygames

Famalam Bar Crawl…

Fun day out with some of the famalam around glitzy Islington hostelries.  Simon, Karen, Angus, Stu & me. 

Taking my ‘Ted Lasso’ out for a test run 🥸 😂

A Mirror @ Almeida Theatre…

"This performance is being staged without a licence from the Ministry. We recognise the risk that each and every one of you is taking by attending, and we salute your courage."

 

Last night, Stuart and I went to see the world premiere of Sam Holcroft's new play A Mirror at the Almeida Theatre in London glitzy Islington.

 

And what an amazing play it is. Well I say 'play', it’s a play within a play within a play. Or is it?

 

The action starts with a wedding in a police state. Eyes and ears are everywhere. We, the audience, are complicit.

 

But soon everything is turned on its head and is everything we are seeing what we think we’re seeing?

 

Indeed, there are loads of twists and turns throughout the non-stop two-hour running time. But that time just flew by.

 

It was funny, clever, sexy, thought-provoking, and a lot of fun. 

 

The issues of censorship, artistic expression, authorship, free-speech and suspension of disbelief were all delightfully explored.

 

Directed by Jeremy Herrin, the three stars are Jonny Lee Miller (him off of Trainspotting), Tanya Reynolds (her off of Sex Education) and Micheal Ward (him off of Top Boy).

 

Only on for a month, but if you can get a ticket. Go.

The State Apartments of the Speaker's House…

Earlier today Stuart and I went on a tour of The State Apartments of the Speaker's House at the Houses of Parliament in London glitzy Westminster.   

Lots of bling, lots of history, and some magnificent artworks on display including a unique set of 46 portraits of Speakers through the years, it was a tour worth doing. 

The role of the Speaker has existed since at least 1377 and has a long history of evolving responsibilities and traditions. The Speaker’s role today is to chair debates in the House of Commons Chamber, but he also represents the House of Commons on a national and international level.  

No cameras were allowed inside the house (haha, as if that would stop me) - there were lots of impressive rooms; the Grand Staircase, the Speakers Study, the Crimson Drawing Room, the State Dining Room, and the State Bedroom.  

Back in Westminster Hall the Speaker’s big old golden State Coach was as on display too. Nice. 

Worth the £20 entrance fee. 

Shoeburyness to Leigh…

Fab day out with Denise and Kerry walking from Shoeburyness upstream along The Thames to Leigh-on-Sea. About 18km. We walked over a mile out to sea along the Southend pier too. 

En route we took snaps of the Herd in the City elephant sculptures.

The Crown Jewels @ Garrick Theatre…

Last night Steve and I went to see the comedy The Crown Jewels at the Garrick Theatre in London’s glitzy West End. 

Oh dear. 

Let’s keep it to a few bullet points shall we? Although the scarcity of bullets on stages were the least of the show’s problems - I wish I’d caught one 5 mins in. 

Imagine a lame episode of Blackadder

A misfiring Horrible Histories

A dreadfully under-rehearsed panto

An aimless plot about the failed attempt to steal the Crown Jewels in 1671

Simon Nye wrote it - so it’s bound to be funny, right? Wrong

Al Murray is in it - hamming it up as Charles II 

Mel Giedroyc is in it - playing it as broad as it is shallow

Joe Thomas looked lost

Neil Morrissey was wasted in more ways than one

Carrie Hope Fisher tried hard with the lame songs

Comedies needs to be funny, right? Yes they do. They really do. 

The only saving grace was when Murray went off script for a stint; remaining in character he joked directly with the audience. Especially the front two rows where we were sitting. 

Inevitably Steve got picked on - so at least I had one laugh. 😆 Sorry Steve! 😂

La Cage aux Folles @ Regents Park Open Air Theatre...

Last Friday night Andrew, Kevin, Stuart and I went to see La Cage aux Folles at the Open Air Theatre in London glitzy Regents Park.  

Much camping in the park you might say.   

La Cage aux Folles is a good old fashioned musical with a book by Harvey Fierstein and lyrics and music by Jerry Herman. The musical focuses on a gay couple: Georges, the manager of a Saint-Tropez nightclub featuring drag entertainment, and Albin, his star attraction - and the adventures that ensue when Georges' son brings home his fiancé's ultra-conservative parents to meet them. Albin is told to tone down his campiness. But he ain’t playing ball. 

So it's basically drag. Lots and lots of drag. Drag and feathers. Drag, feathers, and big production numbers. And we loved it. 

Vocally, movement-wise and visually everything was spot on. And very, very funny. The whole set design, costumes and lighting were irresistible 

We had Billy Carter playing Georges, Carl Mullaney playing Albin and his alter-ego Zaza, and the wonderful Daniele Combe playing Madame Marie Dindon.  As with most productions of La Cage though the maid Jacob steals all his scenes. And it was no different here - whenever Shakeel Kimotho was on stage all eyes were on them. 

Stand out songs were Look Over There, The Best of Times, and of course the rousing I Am What I Am. 

Dated? Sure. Funny? Absolutely. Worth seeing? 100% 

@regentsparkoat