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The agony and the misogyny: Banging Denmark @finborough

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Banging Denmark, the comic play by Van Badham, answers the question, what lengths does a misogynistic pickup artist go to date with a frosty Danish librarian? It may be an uneasy farce given the subject matter, but it is made more palatable by the cast assembled to convince you of it. It's currently having its European premiere at the Finborough Theatre .  It opens with Guy DeWitt (Tom Kay) at one end of the stage. His real name is Jake, and he's a part-time podcaster whose expertise is misogyny and playing the role of the pickup artist. That is, someone who attempts to coax women into having sex with a mix of flattery or manipulation. His podcast attracts a variety of involuntarily celibate men (or incels), so call in asking for advice. And while he gives the impression of living the high life, he is in a grimy flat strewn with empty pizza boxes.  At the other end of the stage is feminist academic Ishtar (Rebecca Blackstone). She lives out of the photocopy room, losing all her

Still more scenes from Oxford Saturday..

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Still more scenes from Oxford Saturday.. Originally uploaded by Pauly_ . Late night at one of the bars there still was time for more photos on the blog (although it was a bit hard to focus the darn camera phone). Alcohol is a popular pasttime in Oxford. There is at least two bars for every student...

Scenes from an Oxford pub

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Scenes from an Oxford pub Originally uploaded by Pauly_ . At 7.6% alc vol. Old Rosie comes up with the goods!

Scenes from Oxford Saturday

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Scenes from Oxford Saturday Originally uploaded by Pauly_ . Black face Morris dancing is strangely popular in Oxford...

Scenes from travelling to Oxford

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Scenes from travelling to Oxford Originally uploaded by Pauly_ . Travel tip: pick the silent car when travelling standard class so you dont have to listen some fat bastard talking on his mobile about his lunch date in Slough...

A brief brush with politics...

Today while crossing the street I was stopped by police who were escorting a large black Jag and a Range Rover down the street. It was Tony Blair's entourage returning after a function nearby where he was urging people to get out to vote ...   The messages from the PM have been drowned out lately by speculation as to when he will be going however...

Music: Schubert and Bartok with the LSO

Sunday evening I caught the LSO perform a Bartok and Schubert program , and it was fantastic.  Pianist Piotr Anderszewski was particularly engaging during the Bartok Piano Concerto No 3. There was something about his performance that was so entertaining and enthralling (and it wasn't just to do with his looks - although I texted a few people afterwards commenting less on the style of his performance and more on his appearance - but I digress)...   After interval the orchestra again came up with the goods performing the Schubert Symphony No 9. Piotr may not have been in it at that point but it was still a great night and a terrific programme.

Scenes from SW4 Sunday 13:17

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Scenes from SW4 Sunday 13:17 Originally uploaded by Pauly_ . Blue skies after a rainshower...

Scenes from a hamburger restaurant Saturday 20:12

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Scenes from a hamburger restaurant Saturday 20:12 Originally uploaded by Pauly_ . Gour(fucking)met hamburger restaurants have flourished in London. No longer is the burger associated with stale wet slop served up by Macdonalds... Its all organic, grass-fed beef and doesn't have the levels of trans fatty acids that most fast food joints offer. And the amazing thing is that it isn'tthat much more than what the fast food chains charge...

Scenes from the NFT Southbank Saturday 18:13

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Scenes from the NFT Southbank Saturday 18:13 Originally uploaded by Pauly_ . In between movies there is plenty of time (and good weather) for the punters to have a drink...

Film: Troubled teens

Saturday I caught a series of shorts about troubled teens at the London Gay and Lesbian film festival . Who knew there was so much angst out there among teens?   Later that evening I was with a few friends who told me that they were not really into the film fest. I couldn't understand this especially given the quality of the shorts that I saw on Saturday. They may have been your typical boy is friends with a boy and one boy is a little bit gay and so one day the other boy jerks him off and now they don't talk to each other stories, but it is all in the acting and direction…