See 4 plays at the theatre in the next 12 months

We were even praised for our children being cute and well behaved. Nope they’re not ours but we’ll accept the praise this time rather than wanting to disown them.

We even spoiled the boys on an Italian lunch – they were well behaved there too.

The show was different from last year’s lavish version of TinTin in a very large theatre as the theatre held just 100 people and the front rows had their feet on the edge of the stage.
The first segment I didn’t find too amusing or easy to understand and thought that if it continued this way the boys would have trouble enjoying themselves. The show changed in style for each of the other Grimm Tales they’d adapted. Our seats were very good – middle of the front row – and this meant that we got involved with the play including the youngest nephew being asked to hold a bag of plastic poo!

Not as great a show as last year but very different and still enjoyable. I wonder what we’ll take them to next year?

Looks like I’ll be going to another play sometime soon.

We are taking them to see GRIMMS

They are really into their horrible histories and other current boy ew books so this is right up their street. We offered them 4 choices – a musical, a panto, this and Blue Man Group.

Yup they went for the ew scary play.

I would really like to make this an annual event – what’s the point of having auntie and uncle living in London when they don’t take you to see plays and shows?

I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to visit the Globe. I’ve lived in London since it opened and haven’t been.

I had a great time last night seeing Comedy of Errors (it was my birthday and my choice of play).

That’s 3 out of my 4 plays for the year.

I’ve booked tickets to see Comedy of Errors on my birthday.
That’ll be number 3 in 2006 so have 1 further play to see.

Have also been to a theatre this year to see a show – Blue Man Group – but this wasn’t a play so doesn’t count.

I think 4 is achievable in one year.

Just come back from seeing a play my cousin wrote. It was produced by a local independent theatre company and had a weeks lunchtime run.

I was impressed.

The review in the local paper:

SELLING ISLINGTON
King’s Head By Mark Blunden

Playwright – Andy Gardner

CYNICS might suggest that Islington has already been sold off to the highest bidder, with many council services now supplied through a never-ending series of contractors and sub-contractors.
However, there is no evidence that a bunch of murderous, scheming rotters are planning to flog the borough, including its assets and population, to a dodgy consortium headed by a ruthless crime boss.
It is this possibility that Monster Raving Loony Party candidate Andy Gardner explores in his thoroughly confusing yet entertaining and engaging play, Selling Islington.
The scam begins when old friends Andy Gardner (Joe Lombardelli) and Floyd (Solemon Maudarbocus) hook up at the King’s Head on Upper Street to cook up the deal. They use sultry Mariella Frostrup voice double Lucy (Lou Harvey) to broker the deal with Haig (Hugh Hemmings), the super-crooked Mr Big.
And so begins the conspiracy to set up the London Boroughs Capital Initiative, an abandoned 1970s scheme to bring in outside investment, and rake in profits in the form of council tax and business rates.
Selling Islington, believes Gardner, serves as a warning of the dangers of private finance initiatives and public-private partnerships. Meanwhile, Mrs Haig (Philippa Tatham) is the tart without a heart who happily conspires to kill her hubby, scupper the whole deal and run off with hard man chauffeur Barker (Matthew Owen).
Lombardelli brilliantly takes on Gardner’s mannerisms and quirky English gent-style, with phrases such as “blimey”, “harpy” and “the hounds hunting the fox,” all getting a look in. So does this motley crew see their scam come to fruition? Needless to say, the whole thing goes belly up.
As Floyd says: “Islington has a veneer of prosperity and beneath that veneer lies lots of woodworm.”

2 plays and it is only January. I think I’ll meet this goal. :)

Had fun yesterday with the nephews. The play was very visual and engaging and that kept the boys from being too fidgety with enough elements to make only the adults chuckle. A good balance.

1 play down, 3 (or more) to go.

Seeing the Young Vic’s version of Tintin at the Barbican with our two nephews (4.75 and 7.5 years old). Will be an experience