Last Thursday, what a day… this story demonstrates how being in the moment of a situation, without an urge to influence the outcome, is what allows it to develop into it’s best outcome for everyone involved.
A delightful collection of mostly black and white photographs taken from his extensive collection, that sit in beautiful frames with fingerprints in tact (fab), brought as is from his home.
It took a good hour to circumnavigate the show, but I had people waiting, who’d kindly gifted me the event.
I didn’t re-watch the video you can find on YT with the man himself describing his pictures; what they mean to him, and some of the stories behind them.
And I’d seen it beforehand, so could simply drink in the work.
Then I travelled back to St Paul’s tube station with m’lovelies where we parted, as they went off to a concert and I headed off into an un-arranged evening.
Living In The Moment
I’d considered a number of options during the week for this part of the day, catch up with a hard-to-get-hold-of-relative, go and watch Sense Of An Ending a film I’ll factor in soon, or a.n.other.
But I’d finally settled on going into the theatre-heartland and next headed for Leicester Square.
As a big Tom Hollander fan, especially since Rev, I wanted to see Travesties at The Apollo
But as I came out of Leicester Square Tube Station (to an underground announcer almost singing his announcement of “please mind the gaaaaaaaap” and putting a smile on everyone’s face), I hit the street right next to the Wyndham Theatre where David Tennant’s face was beaming out of a billboard.
Although at 6.30 pm it was still bright with daylight the area was blazing with neon and I felt like a kid in a veritable sweet-shop.
Asking for directions to The Apollo at the door of The Wyndham I set off for Shaftsbury Avenue only to come across one of many stalls selling last-minute-theatre-tickets. These were mostly musicals, and not what I was after, but they brightly informed me there was a ticket left at a hideous o’clock price and I refrained. What next, food, back to the tube, what? I decided to chance my arm back at The Wyndham, and this is where the plot thickens.
Random acts of kindness
When I got back there I headed to the Box Office, they were sold out, and for returns I needed to queue on the street. At this point I met an angelic woman who I’m going to call Lady A selling her standing only (on the balcony) ticket at cheap-o’clock. Oh says I, but not sure about standing for an entire show, let me have a moment.
Having ummed and ahhed I finally decided it was that or nothing, but needed to find a cash machine and headed off. However, the nearest bank was under construction and the bank of holes-in-the-wall were blackened out, I was running out of time.
I had some change, so I headed back deciding to offer that up instead. When I got there she’d been joined by a guy, Hugo it turned out, and he was selling a ticket for reasonable-o’clock and now I’m kicking myself for not finding the cash.
But another woman rocked up wanting to see the show and between them, Lady A and Hugo, quietly chit-chatted. The upshot was bonkersly found in my favour as Lady A sold her standing ticket to the woman and Hugo and I went in to see the show, where he wouldn’t hear of taking payment.
Just so you know Hugo wasn’t out-of-pocket because he’d won the tickets earlier that day, but had wanted to sell one if he could
We got chatting, he was from Rio now working in London, I have Brazilian relatives, so we had things to talk about there. He’d taken his degree in Manchester, my birthplace, more connections were made. And by the end of the show he’d followed me on Instagram @womenperformers.
The Play – Don Juan In Soho
He played the funny man to Tennant’s straight man, he delivered the best punchlines with wonderful comic timing, everyone delivered to perfection.
It was pacey, thought-provoking, there was a moral tale thrown in, and Tennant’s role had a candid Russell Brand-esque quality to it. He was light on his feet bordering on the athletic at times, he was onstage throughout most of the production, and very much in charge of leading the cast with a relaxed confidence that fed into the character.
Much like Travesties it’s been revived by Patrick Marber, and now I’m even keener to get back to see the former before it’s run comes to an end.
All I can say is that theatre-land is truly the land of make-believe and I hadn’t imagined seeing a show through such happenstance circumstances. I already know that people are delightful, kind, warm and generous, but still it was such a lovely experience to receive.
In summary
In summary, taking a chance, a risk, putting your head above the parapet means that all manner of wonderful things happen that if you pushed to have them happen just wouldn’t. And it’s being able to walk away from things and not being desperate about having them happen that enables them to show up. This isn’t about not caring, it’s more about not being precious about things, people or emotional reactions.
Thank you Hugo, Lady A, my friends for the earlier part of the day at the exhibition and to the entire cast of Don Juan in Soho… this was a day full of one delight after another.
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