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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

Scenes from the tube Wednesday 16:23

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, originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Back to the usual...

Travel: Nearly there...

Actually... I am in Singapore so I am not nearly back in London... I did manage to leave Brisbane last night and was not arrested by Federal Police... Then again I don't keep a diary that can be edited by anyone else, nor do I loan out my SIM cards... Oh and I am a white male (albeit a pasty one) so life isn't that tough... Now to catch that flight and get the hell out of this transit lounge in Singapore with the hippy pipe music and free wifi...

And now for some time out...

A hold on updates to this blog while I am on vacation in Australia... I'll be back in London at the end of the July, but my news continues at http://paulincognito.blogspot.com.

Scenes from Brewer Street Sunday 14:43

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24062007920 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . People watching in the afternoon...

Scenes from West End Live Saturday 15:30

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23062007894 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . As the London Gay Mens Chorus prepares to go on stage for its half hour set as part of West End Live , there was time for topping up on the fluids... Well those lights and all... By the way despite appearances above, it isn't essential to be bald to be a member of the chorus...

Life in London: Manshear '07

Bears of the city will be delighted to know that the annual Manshear event takes place near Liverpool Street Station tomorrow... Apart from shearing body hair by trained shearers from New Zealand, there will be give-aways and fundraising for charity... Oh and anyone with body hair can sign up. It all happens in London...

Theatre: Into the Woods

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source http://esales.roh.org.uk/ Upon arrival Tuesday evening to the Opera House studio to see the current production of Into The Woods , I couldn't help but notice the over-representation of gay men. Ok musical theatre is known for its over-representation of gay men, but this was ridiculous. Then I began to wonder, has Into the Woods become the new Wizard of Oz ? Sure there is no Dorothy and no rainbow. But there is the baker who has unresolved issues with his father, the princes who keep looking for the next best thing, a wolf with an incredible sexual appetite and a wicked witch. It all seemed rather like another night on Old Compton Street. Oh and not to mention a set that looked like parts of Hampstead Heath . This all could explain why it is sold out and barely a straight person in the audience (although there was a family sitting beside me but I was in the cheap seats). Into the Woods weaves the stories of several fairy tales together and then proceeds to tell what happens