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Wine time: The Frogs - Southwark Playhouse

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For a show called The Frogs, there isn’t much amphibian activity in the piece. But being a show with music by Stephen Sondheim, you could be mistaken for thinking it’s a critical theatrical piece. But like Sondheim’s final musical playing at the National Theatre, while it may not be a musical that fills you with provocative thoughts, it’s a fast-paced romp through hell and back to save the world for the sake of arts. With rousing choruses, thrilling choreography and plenty of cheap laughs, what more can you want from the theatre? It’s currently playing at the Southwark Playhouse (Borough) . There isn’t much to the plot, except that Dionysus (Dan Buckley), disillusioned by the state of a divided world, and his sidekick and slave, Xanthias (Kevin McHale), cross the river Styx to the underworld to find a great writer who they can return to the world to teach the world about life. He has his mind set on bringing back George Bernard Shaw until he hears the poetry of Shakespeare.  This v...
Living: The hunt continues

Went to Ravenscourt Park (near Hammersmith) to see another place. Definitely would take it if offered. Don't know if I passed the "beauty contest"... Since I was late coming from work (again).

It was the first place where the person offering it described a 10 minute walk as 10 Minutes.

This was unusual given the London exaggerations such as:
* A five minute walk really takes ten to fifteen minutes
* Close to shops and transport links means forget about getting to them without a car
* Modern furnishings = Ikea
* 8" = 6"

Its all part of the games people play in London. Sometimes you just have to go what-evaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

Actually I say that at work a bit and for a skinny white guy saying that, it gets lots of cheap laughs.

News: Ken not sorry

London Mayor - that's the Mayor of the Congestion Charge and general publicity - Ken Livingstone is in hot water for likening a reporter to a concentration camp guard.

While most reporters here are like attack dogs, it is not the done thing to make references to the war in that context and his conduct has been referred to the standards board - which could recommend he be suspended from office.

The Olympics Inspectors are in town - hence the tube trains with the bright yellow seat covers...

And it is London fashion week and the news is "bling is out". Expect to see more narrow flannel trousers and single breasted jackets for winter 2005/06...

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