[event] Creative Cabaret, Cambridge Graduate Centre [25-Apr-14]

A fun evening of varied entertainment, with WINE, on uncomfortable chairs. (I left at 2nd interval, missing final act.)

Highlights were 'comic singing duo' The Unbearable Pleasure of Being a Woman (somewhat reminiscent of Fascinating Aida, but rather more ... direct) and Robin Lamboll's three-minute poetry reading on the subject of Oceanic Nutrient Cycles, which was v. educational on the subject of whale poo.

On a personal note: you know that feeling of unease when you see someone who reminds you very much of a person who's caused you pain? That.

[theatre] Birdland, Royal Court [26-Apr-14]

Birdland, by Simon Stephens
Paul (Andrew Scott) is a rock star at the height of his fame, near the end of a world tour. Johnny (Alex Price) is his bandmate and best friend. Not that Paul really has friends. Everyone knows who he is, except himself.

Towards the end of the play, Paul's manager says 'you make most people feel a little bit sick'. Absolutely: I wanted to scrub my brain after nearly 2 hours in Paul's company. At first I thought he was quite charming and charismatic; endlessly amused by himself and amazed by the trappings of success. But (like Rochester in The Libertine) it's never enough. He always wants (and usually gets) more, never mind the cost. I'm not sure he actually believes that anyone else is real.

'All I wanted to do was find a signal in the noise.'

Set design is fab, with minimal props and a rising tide of dirty black water. Sadly nobody drowned Paul in it.

Gripping play, not cheerful: structured like a Greek tragedy.

Second Andrew Scott in a week -- I hadn't realised he voiced one of the supporting characters in Locke.