Paul in London

From http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ Tuesday night I had the chance to see The Emperor Jones at the National Theatre starring Paterson Joseph . The production originated at the Gate Theatre in 2005 and has been pumped up and given the usual National Theatre treatment such as loads of cast members on stage for no comprehensible reason, shirtless men, gigantic sets, and a large percussion orchestra. Most of the time that is enough to make a show enjoyable but this time I kind of wished I had seen the original production rather than this monster one. Sure the jungle beats were infectious (and so loud that nodding off even during a bit of a dull exposition was only temporary) and Joseph gives a great performance, but it all seemed like it could have benefited from remaining a bit smaller scale... The play is about a southern American conman Jones, who establishes a dictatorship in the West Indies, only to find himself facing a people's revolt. It made Eugene O'Neil famous. But

260820072286 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . One lady. One large package... Strangely in focus...

250820072271 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Bank holiday weekend barbeque conversation starters: Hey there is sun... That's new for summer... Is there normally this much smoke in coal-fired barbeque? Has the fire alarm gone off yet? How do you like my sausages? Are my meat patties brown enough for turning yet?

It turned out to be the second time in about a month that I saw a show featuring Amelia Earhart. The first show was An Air Balloon over Antarctica that I saw in Melbourne and which is now getting fabulous reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe . I thought that show was a bit crap with very uninteresting characters, but that just goes to show how much I know... Anyway this show is a musical about flying planes featuring the Wright brothers, Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart. It is having its world premiere at the Menier Chocolate Factory but it has been in development for a while . I guess songs about engine drag, staying awake and 3.14 squared just don't cut it with investors. It was and obscure choice for a musical but I'd heard word that the songs and the production were good, so I went and saw it with John . John was glad I wanted to see this as he couldn't think of anybody else who would. I was just glad he got there before me and grabbed a good seat since the seating is u

Fat man on phone (walking into Tescos): Look I don't want excuses from you anymore I want results...

190820072216 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Soho Pride was a quieter affair this year... With the light drizzle it did tend to put people off... Well some people anyway...

Scenes from the Northern Line Thursday 17:30 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . That would be right... No bloody seat...

An old school friend sent me a message asking if life in London was an endless stream of theatre productions and overheard conversations. Well basically I would have to say (in between the rest), yes... So bearing that in mind, Fraser and I went to see two short plays by the National Youth Theatre at the Soho Theatre (or should that be the national yoof featre?)... Anyway, the first play The Band was about a bunch of Manchunians bitching and moaning... I could relate to it as I lived with a Manchunian and that's seem to be what they do best... Fraser wasn't so enthralled by it with all its teen angst and overplayed drama. Besides he was still pissed that I had arrived late to the theatre and there wasn't time for a drink beforehand... Still even sober I thought it was great fun. Even better was that it was short and short is always a good thing... As mid week who has the attention span to last longer than 50 minutes before an interval or break? The second play was 20 Ciga

Man #1: Guess what happened to Graham yesterday? Man #2: No what? Man #1: He missed his flight. Man #2: No... Man #1: Got to Gatwick too late because of mmmmm... Man #2: Really? Man #1: So guess where he had to stay last night? Mmmmmm Man #2: Get outta here... Man #1: Mmmm hmmm. What Graham wants... Graham gets...

130820072159 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Waiting in a long line to see the Antony Gormley Blind Light (basically a foggy room). It was fun in a disorienting kinda way... And not without its thrills... I was with Anna and she got unintentionally groped by a woman desperately trying to find the exit in an "Oh my God I've gotta get outta here" moment. The rest of the exhibition was even better. It finishes this week...

Very nervous woman in car (to man): Excuse me sir... Excuse me. Man on street: Yes Very nervous woman in car: Can you tell me why all these people are heading this way? Man on street: They're coming from a concert at Albert Hall. Very nervous woman in car: Oh Too bad she didn't ask me. I would have told her we just wanted to get the hell out of South Kensington and get on with our lives... Perhaps she had visited the following website...

Lady: The wine was actually really nice wine... Not like that old stuff Man: Yes really nice. Really really nice. Not the old stuff at all...

120820072145 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . The crush to get back into the hall in time for Act 2 of Götterdämmerung . Some folks thought they could stop traffic but the black cabs had other ideas... At least an hour for a meal break was provided since it started at 4pm... It had another three hours to go... All things considered (like it was at Albert Hall, the catering is rubbish and it was a concert version), it probably was worth the effort... No chance of snoozing anyway when one was sitting in front of the augmented horns section...

I keep forgetting that I should avoid going to proms concerts. Albert Hall is stuffy, the acoustics are bad, the seats are terrible, and you always have to worry about some old person falling over you with their walking stick as they navigate the steep inclines. I really don't know why so many old age pensioners risk hip replacements coming to these concerts, but they do... Anyway, I found myself among the OAPs watching two OAPs on Wednesday night: John Dankworth and Cleo Laine (well they both turn 80 later this year). Despite the limitations of the hall, they managed to give it a feel as if it were a jazz club and they were just playing some music. The audience loved it and it was a bit of a treat ...

Man: Well you aren't expected to know everything... Woman: Yeah, like... Like... What's it matter that I don't like know who Tony Blair is?

050820072026 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Just when the sunbathers were enjoying the sun in the square, these fat bastards come by murdering songs with their guitars and piano accordions. Putting the trash into eurotrash, they were less Gipsy Kings and more Gipsy Queens... They were passing around a hat for money (or was that for doughnuts?) but that seemed to encourage them to stay so I gave them nothing...