The Arcola seems to have an irresistible attraction. Perhaps it's because I have to go on the bus. I'm determined to master London Buses, if only to stop the TfL Journey Planner making fun of me all the time.
Of course, the real attraction is a Tennessee Williams play, which I've never seen (or, to be honest, heard of) with a cast I have heard of, but only seen on television. I am expecting quite a special evening.
Again, as is now normal on Thursdays, I'm setting out from Covent Garden. The TfL planner said it would be easy, so I felt the need to fortify myself in the Princess Louise, a truly delightful pub. Having got myself outside a modest quantity of Old Brewery Bitter (the Princess must still be Sam Smith's) I got myself, as advised by the Planner, to Holborn stop P. And a 243 appeared almost immediately. And took me to Stoke Newington Princess May Road bus stop without incident or delay. The Planner had obviously put the word about about my nervous disposition (which it probably called cowardice). I've finally figured out that it pays to note the names of the bus stop your getting off at, and the one before, when the planner tells you, since the bus also tells you now.
Judging by the shop signs, Stoke Newington appears to be in Turkey, so I thought a kebab would be in order. Then I realised it would be much too much before the theatre; a sandwich from Tesco Express would do.
I even remembered to check the bus stops for times back to Waterloo. And I found a 149 offering 24-hour service to London Bridge. So yah-boo to the planner: I strolled to the theatre whistling ' Maybe It's Because I'm a Londoner' softly to myself.
This is the first time I've been in the main Arcola. It's quite big, but a good space. It holds about 150, but was quite comfortable half-full.
It's quite a thrill watching famous actors at 'studio' distance. And these were very good. I'm quite used to sitting in a pub watching the action, and this production was staged like that. Which made me wonder why they always do American plays with American accents. But it did set the scene very well. And I'm not quite sure what the coastal weather equivalent of 'Small Craft Warnings' is, in English.
The whole cast were terrific, with Sian Thomas dominating as the dominating character. But I would be doing a disservice if I didn't single out the magic performance of Meredith MacNeill as the ingénue: it was just so delicate and touching. Her joy at her final, small triumph just rounded everything off perfectly.
And so back on the buses. As I waited, I had to agonise over whether to take the 243 to Waterloo (the original plan) or the 149 to London Bridge. London Bridge was nearer, and offered a quicker train journey, but my resolve was tested by three Waterloo buses coming before the London Bridge one, which then came in a pair. But the Met Police kept me entertained while I waited. There was a handcuff arrest, and a racing convoy of BMW's in line-astern. Stoke Newington is clearly a happening place.
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