Something For The Weekend

it just gets more Wicked...

I’ve seen it three times now. THREE! Some might say that’s slightly obsessive, but not since I wore my Joseph soundtrack cassette tape out when I was ten has a show got me so excited.  I remember dancing my way round the house singing ‘I close my eyes, draw back the cuuuuuurtaaaaaain’ over and over again. In fact, I wound my dad up so much that he booked us tickets to the show and drove two hundred miles to see Jason Donovan don that coat of many colours. Naturally I spent much of the performance with the binoculars stuck to my face, trying to peek beneath his loincloth.

I listened to the Wicked soundtrack before I saw the show too – someone here gave me it.  I stared at the green and black case with a dubious eye. “It’s amazing,” he said. “But it’ll never be Joseph,” I replied.  Joseph’s songs form the soundtrack of my childhood.  I’ll listen to them every now and then for a flashback to a time when the theatre was something I worshipped from afar but never really had much to do with.  Surely no show would ever reach out and grab me like that one did.  Surely nothing else would ever take the lead.

I think I was somewhere between St James’ Park and Embankment when Idina Menzel’s vocals burst into my eardrums on the tube, and I knew I’d been changed. For good.  Defying Gravity had so much power, and dare I say it, a message that just grabbed me, right there on my grubby chair. Was Joseph being knocked off the top spot???

Anyway, like all devout musical worshippers, after the three-hundredth playing I got quite attached to Idina’s voice. By the time it came for me to see the show for the first time, I felt like a fan, sitting in front of a true celebrity. And I wasn’t alone.  Wicked has got a massive following – over a quarter of a million ticket sales so far tells us something.  People have flown in from all over the world to hear those witchy warblings, and travelled many brick roads for an update on the world that lies over the rainbow.  Of course, I knew most of the words by the time I saw it, and although slightly drunk on both wine and anticipation I can honestly say it was the best show I’d seen all year. And I’ve seen a lot of shows!  Sorry Jason Donovan, not even the teeniest tiny loincloth can save you now. I’ve crossed over to Oz.

Unfortunately however, we couldn’t have Idina Menzel forever.  It was weird to think that having captured the hearts of so many in her award-winning role, she would soon be leaving and the show would no longer match the soundtrack now firmly at the top of my iPod’s playlist.  It would never be the same again.  I mean, could anyone else play the part of Elphaba with quite so much style? Could anyone else have that voice, that chemistry with Fiyero? Could anyone else pull off that note at the end of Defying Gravity – the one that gives you goosebumps in a theatrical moment that has the entire audience on the edge of their seats?  Well, quite simply, the answer is yes. Thank Goodness for Kerry Ellis, who stepped into the role on January 1st and is now firmly at home in that pointed hat.

Kerry’s voice is just as good at Idina’s, and while she had exceptionally big shoes to fill, she delivers a performance to make us fans proud.  We were all rooting for her when she rose to the roof in Defying Gravity and went for that high note, but it turns out we had nothing to fear. Having played lead roles in Les Miserables, We Will Rock You and Miss Saigon, there was no one more qualified than Kerry to take over.  Our beloved Elphaba was in good hands.  It was always a little odd that our heroine was American anyway.  We overlooked it because Idina was amazing and hey, anything can happen in Oz. But having a British lead take over somehow makes it all fit into place - brings it home, if you will.  We can do it just as good as Broadway. 

The chemistry with Fiyero is just as strong and Helen Dallimore gets funnier every time I see this show.  Madame Morrible is just as horrible and as always, Dr Dillamond is anything but ‘baaaaad’.

When you see theatre of this calibre, showcasing this much talent, and actors putting as much passion into the show as the fans obviously do night after night, it really makes you appreciate live art in a world where manufactured pop and talentless idiots reign supreme. Why stay in with Celebrity Big Brother when you can experience such awesome entertainment elsewhere, that doesn’t involve people arguing over breakfast cereal and falling out over a fat man snoring? 

Thinking about it, my brand new fave will never really beat Joseph.  After all that was the show that made me fall in love with the theatre all those years ago. But I can tell you something honestly.  Wicked is the one that will keep me going back.

Becky Wicks

Book your Wicked tickets here

To win tickets to Wicked and dinner at Chez Gerard, click here

Pan's Labyrinth

It's been a while since I saw a film at the cinema that really blew my socks off, but on Wednesday I went to see Guillermo Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth and my socks are now coyly hanging from the emergency exit sign in the Islington Vue. It's "a gothic fairytale set against the postwar repression of Franco's spain". To synopsise the plot very briefly: Ofelia, our 11-year-old heroine and her heavily pregnant mother are taken to a remote outpost under military rule, captained by her new stepfather. While battle between the heroic insurgents and the barbaric military unfolds, Ofelia discovers an ancient labyrinth in the woods and the promise of transportation to a magical world.

It's a story of intense brutality, fragile beauty, honour and heroism. The film is pretty much entirely shot in half-light with menacing shadows and a brownish palate. The set and special effects are also completely fantastic - incredibly detailed and other-worldly. Put it all together and you've got a film that grips you so tight you can barely breathe. Beautiful.

If you want to find out more, check out the film's official website (and see how many awards it's already won!) or just take my word for it and buy tickets to see Pan's Labyrinth at a Vue cinema.

Sara Sha'ath

how to escape reality TV...

Because we don't particularly like watching Jade Goody's juvenile mother prance about in her track suit, pouting her fake lips and flapping her arms about like a marooned kipper, we thought we'd plan something to get us out of the house this weekend. If you fancy joining us, chances are you'll find us at one of these places...

Because we love ickle furry animals, we were thinking of heading to Hackney City Farm, which for the past 20 years has been opening its doors (or, gates?) to adults and kids alike, all looking to stroke something fuzzy. They've got a pig called Jade, doncha know? How fitting. Watch the lovely sheep pooh their way across the greenery, or indulge in some craft activities, such as pottery, stone sculpture, music and movement or textile printing.  We're not exactly sure how much music and movement relates to farm life - perhaps they play the harp in the cowshed until they relieve themselves out of sheer relaxation? Only one way to find out.

Of course, some farmyard frolics will put you in tremendous steed for a stint at Broadway Market, where you can pick up some nice cold slabs of the animals you've just encountered. Helpfully, this bustling Saturday spot serves up stall after stall of splendiferous treats, and most of the meat on offer is kindly labelled with a picture of the animal, its family and habitat, so you know what you're eating. Or who. Did little muddy Jade look like she'd be good with some apple sauce?

We were also rather intrugued by the David Hockney Portraits exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. He really is a very "arty man". Anyone with a message such as this - 'What an artist is trying to do for people is bring them closer to something, because of course art is about sharing: you wouldn't be an artist unless you wanted to share an experience, a thought.' needs to be encouraged. So buy your ticket and give him some love. Heck, share it with your friends. We need more sharing in the world.

Do you know anything cool going on this weekend? Will you cook us dinner if we come over? Share some love with us in the comments below....

I predict a diet...

To me, the idea of watching what I eat has always meant counting how many chocolate slabs I can stuff in my face whilst the flatmate’s eyes are diverted to Celebrity Big Brother. I’ve never really been too good at dieting. I’ve always been one of those people who opens the fridge and fondles the celery selection with intent, before shoving it aside to reach for the cheese. 

But I’m not as young as I used to be and faced with the inevitable donning of a bikini much earlier than anticipated, on a February trip to New Zealand, the prospect of baring all has set the flames of fear alight. It suddenly dawned on me, as another friend bought his 6 month ticket to the gym, that whilst I’ve always scoffed at the idea of dieting, I haven’t stopped scoffing the food.  I’m not exactly fat, but all of a sudden, somewhere between week one and month seven of being in my mid twenties, I have noticed the following parts of my body begin to change:

ARMS: I still have two. Both used to be toned and of twig like appeal. I used to be able to shake the salt and pepper pots over my plate in a restaurant with gleeful abandon, without worrying I would knock the person next to me out with a bingo wing to rival Big Bird's. The other day I positively puked when I saw a photo of myself with my arm pressed to my side.  Forget about the manic grin on my drunken face - the focal point was quite clearly my enormous forearm. It almost spanned the entire width of my computer screen when I uploaded it. Uuurgh. Needless to say it was trashed immediately. I even emptied my trash in case it reappeared to haunt me.

LEGS: Again, still have two, for which I suppose I should be grateful. These used to be smooth and lean. I used to wear tights and hotpants and think nothing of prancing round my flat at Uni in skimpy shorts, with or without my boyfriend watching. I never liked my knees growing up, but at the compliments of many, I grew rather fond of the knobbly twosome and the day I discovered razors, my spindly pins were on permanent display. These days I find myself sitting cross legged in the presence of company, for fear that in spite of any charming banter exiting my mouth, they'll feel nothing but contempt for the superfluous spillage of what used to be a skinny pair of thighs, pouring over and off the seat I'm sitting on. They wobble when I walk and the idea of wearing pants in front of a man, let alone hot-pants, fills me with so much dread that at times I'm tempted to set my alarm for 6am, just so I can cover myself up for his awakening.

TUMMY: This used to be so flat it was practically concave. I was proud of my skeletal structure and the only thing about me that wobbled in my college days was my bottom lip when I got over-emotional at the nineteenth viewing of Titanic. At the mercy of a five year beer-infused diet plan, carefully structured around a daily sausage muffin schedule, I am now left with a rather podgy middle half that doesn't really show standing up, but folds neatly over my trousers when I sit down. This results in me feeling like I should sit up straighter and breathe in when anyone talks to me. Which consequently results in me looking like a constipated soldier.

BUM: Used to be a good one. Used to get compliments all the time and also used to flaunt it in the tightest trousers known to man. Like the thighs it never used to wobble, but now it seems to sag a little and I pretty much have to sew myself into my size eight knickers. In fact, a couple of months ago, while in bed with a boy, I was utterly horrified to feel him lifting my bum. I'm not exactly sure to this day what he was hoping to achieve - any amusement factor blew right out the window and in swept a tidal wave of total mortification, once I realised that perhaps, actually, he was wondering exactly what this incredible mass of surplus flesh was doing below my relatively well-proportioned upper half. I'm not quite sure either, where he was lifting it to. Perhaps he was hoping to rid the bed of it altogether. Or perhaps he was secretly weighing it in order to relate the sheer size of it to his mates later. It's practically its own continent these days.

To the average human eye it might look like I'm still a thin person, but bit by bit I can feel it all slipping away. Literally. Still, the idea of exercise repels me more than the thought of boiling down some vegetables and sucking Satan’s cabbage patch up through a straw. My flatmate joined the gym the other week and she’s filled with the joys of their complimentary towels and intense weight training program. Yuck. She even gets up early on Sunday mornings and just as I'm rising from my pit with a stinking hangover, fag ends in my hair, last night's Brick Lane bagel round my face and one sock missing, she's jogging energetically off to Fitness First in her Adidas get-up, clutching her membership water bottle. Disgusting. 

No. I might not look like I used to look, but my philosophy of living each day as if it’s my last never did involve any physical, or tastebud torture.

I’m sure there are some lovely long, sweat-free jumpers I can wear on holiday instead.

By Becky Wicks

If you feel like saying 'ditch the diet', why not go out for a slap up meal? There are some great offers on now that all those wimps are cutting calories. All the more for us to scoff:

Abannach - 50% off selected food and drinks

Thai on the River - 50% off food bill

Imli - 50% off special tasting menu

See more half price restaurant deals here

The History Boys

What’s it about?
The history boys is a wonderfully English tragic comedy – or comic tragedy depending on the way you look at it. It’s set in a 1980s boys' grammar school where a class full of bright, inquisitive Oxbridge-hopefuls are swatting up for the entrance exams. Steering them along the way, or rather tugging them in all directions, are their three tutors: Mrs Lintott, the thorough and traditional core of their history education, Hector, their whimsically extra-curricular General Studies tutor and Irwin, the extremely young “ringer” brought in to try to boost the boys to Oxbridge entrance in the last few weeks of term. The contrast in teaching philosophies between the three causes tension both in the staffroom and the classroom.  Add to this the fraught sexual-tensions of a mid-pubescent boys' school and you’ve got a fertile field for philosophical, emotional and highly-comic havoc.

What’s it like?
It’s incredibly sweet at times and some of the play’s most outstanding moments come from the hilarious role-play between the boys as they impersonate 1920s film icons and banter with their tutors. They are half enthusiastic puppies, half quick-witted intellectuals and the combination is charming (if a little utopian).

The play also captures the feel of the 1980s very convincingly, with everything from the comic Grange Hill style short film sequences shown during scene changes, to the politics in discussion. Bennett dates his play with a tongue in cheek use of that very “’80s” tokenism (in this small class there is a gay, Jewish student, a Christian, a fat student, a “stupid” working class one, a black student and a Muslim - and the latter two rarely speak) and also the kind of clumsily glib feminist attitudes which were rife in media of the era. To top it off, he resurrects a spirit of gallant resignation in the attitudes of the boys towards their loveable but sexually predatory older tutor. It’s hard to imagine a time when people weren’t vigorously demonised for such behaviour – you can’t help but feel that Bennett is raising questions about our current social climate in the way he handles these attitudes.

It’s not all about the classroom politics though – there is a tangled triangle, or square, of forbidden love.  It’s a messy profusion of socially-unaccepted lust with the potential for a dark melodrama, but it’s actually treated with a light comic touch. You’ll find yourself giggling, half-sharing Irwin’s discomfort as Dakin ruthlessly propositions him and chuckling along with the cheesy music-video-style film sequence where Posner longingly watches Dakin frolic with the other boys.

Who’s in it?
Ben Barnes plays Dakin, the object of so many characters’ desire (and I’d hazard that of the majority of the audience). He’s tall, handsome, youthful and makes the smart, self-assured confidence of his character seem innate. Among the other boys, all of whom turn out endearing and convincing performances, Thomas Morrison (who plays the Christian, Scripps) stands out – it’s hard to put your finger on exactly why, but he has a very engaging stage presence. Isla Blair plays the exasperated, marginalised Mrs Lintott, Orlando wells brings an interesting combination of vulnerability and showmanship to the character of Irwin, and Stephen Moore plays the lovable eccentric, Hector.

What should I look out for?
Get your GCSE French at the ready for the farcical “brothel scene”.

Who’d enjoy it?
If you’re looking for something a little more thought provoking than the glut of musicals in Theatreland, but you’d like a healthy serving of light-hearted entertainment thrown into the mix, this is the play for you.

by Sara Sha'ath

Buy tickets for The History Boys

who wants to live in the Reel World?

You know it’s Christmas when the cast listings for the latest movie line-up consist of more fictitious characters than real ones. We’ve got dancing penguins in Happy Feet, mice with attitude in Flushed Away, and now, to ensure the smiles stay plastered on those precious little faces, a fire-breathing dragon in Eragon. It seems that the real world isn’t interesting enough anymore. Forget It's A Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street. At times, the animated expressions on the faces of our computer generated friends tug harder at the heartstrings than those of any human. Their digitally programmed problems, perhaps to a new sparkly eyed generation, seem far more compelling than the woes of our own troubled race. 

Maybe it’s escapism we crave at Christmas. After all, it’s stressful enough gathering up all those gifts, without having to worry we’ve offended the family of Jews next door with our festive, flickering lights. As tragedy and trauma rains upon our lowly planet, sometimes running away seems the easiest option.  And as board games are replaced with evenings around the television, and quiet reading time is traded for control of a video games console, it’s hardly surprising we’re all being drawn deeper into a world that doesn’t even exist...

The worst turn-on in the world…ever

Well, Sir Daniel Pilkington of The Newsletter Team might have gained no more than a murmur in the office when he switched the Christmas lights on last week, but the truth is, there were actually far more rubbish celebrity turn-ons out there. For the chance to win a voucher to spend on lastminute.com, we asked you to tell us which unimpressive A-Z lister turned on the lights on in your town.... (scroll down for the winner)

“We had our own 'rubbish celeb' if that counts……Big Grimms from the Oil Rigs, but I guess that doesn't count does it - no - OK Happy Christmas anyway!” - Sue Daniels

“A couple of years ago, to turn on the Christmas lights in Stirling, the 'celebs' they booked were Hearsay Lookalikes.  Not even the not-very-famous band themselves, but impersonators! (bad ones at that!)” - Tania Ellis

“Hi - here in Stockport we had a now "boy band" - I can't remember their names!! And Andy Abraham (him that didn't win last years X Factor!! Now how’s that for a top celeb light switching on ceremony?” - Kay Harrison

“We had Wolf from Gladiators switch on our lights in Morden - about five years after Gladiators went off air!” - Vicky Maberley

“… perhaps the most unimpressive “celebrity” to turn on Christmas lights must surely be our friend Mark Picken, who actually paid good money in a charity auction to turn on the lights in Truro, Cornwall!” - Claire

“A council workman in a scruffy anorak and faded blue overalls turned on the Christmas Lights in Spalding. Do I win?” - Ray

“In Oxford we didn't have an official switch on of the lights… instead there was a parade through town with the Mayor of Bonn (our twin city) and the lights went on behind them. I didn't see it but it sounds pretty unimpressive to me!!!” - Sarah

“Here in Northampton we can't even afford Z-list celebrities. We had Sooty and Sweep. What can I say?” Julie Usher

“In Amersham in Buckinghamshire, locals famous folk Ozzy and Sharon Osborne were not available to turn the lights on so they 'offered' their daughter, Kelly to do the honours. Any Osborne would have generated significant interest, however at the last minute, the local council were unwilling to stump up the £250 appearance fee and the duties fell to the town mayor. The 'ceremony' was eventually witnessed by several people.” – Sarah Ball

“Great xmas lights photo in the newsletter this week!  We had no celeb switching our lights on at sheffield hallam university... the only lights I have are on my PCs desktop :(“ - Sarah

“We didn't even get to celebrity level in Chesterfield this year we had some guy dressed in a Scooby Doo  outfit stood with the Mayor of Chesterfield.” - David Bargh

“Colchester hasn't even got any lights 'cos they fell down & the contractors are too busy putting up lights to put up our lights again -how sad is that!! Merry Christmas anyway. Love from your loyal fan” - Sue

“I come from Bexleyheath in Kent and just thought I’d let you know how rubbish our Christmas Lights 'Celebrity' was. We had Clara Mayer who was the runner up for Ladette To Lady, and Charlton goalkeeper Scott Carson.”

“The lights in Crewe were turned on by Jenny from Big Brother. WOW! Local celeb my ar**” - Darryl Clulow

“In Carterton we had Theo Walcott....... his grandfather was Mayor at some point in time..... don't know which was worse, Theo or the lights!” - Angela

At Readings Broad Street Mall (“Reading’s favourite shopping centre”. Yeah, if you pretend that the Oracle doesn’t exist. But then that wouldn’t be Reading’s favourite as it doesn’t have a Mark One, Argos and TK Maxx. Nice) the lights were turned on by Will Mellor. But not just by Will Mellor. We also had local “celebrity” Vic Moszczynski. A former fire fighter, Vic has been banned from putting a million lights on the outside of his house at Christmas. You can even see a video of it (including Will’s fabulous rendition of Mustang Sally. Great). Strangely, Vic doesn’t seem to be in the video footage…" - Kelly Evans

“Hi! Carlisle was supposed to have Ashley the butcher from Coronation Street but he had to film late, so local "celebrity" newsreader Fiona Armstrong did it instead!  Merry Christmas to all and thanks for putting so much effort into the newsletters - they're always guaranteed to raise a chuckle.” - Patty M xxx

“In Cardiff ? we had The Tweenies to switch on the Christmas lights!! How exciting!” - Andrea Longman

“We here in Blackpool had… wait for it…Chico! Cant really get much more C-List than that…obviously Gareth Gates was busy!” - Natalie Booth

“Just had to tell you - not improving Slough's glamorous reputation we had Lee Ryan of 'Blue' fame turning our lights on!  Apparently all the local girls were there hoping for a peek of their 'idol'! God help us! Merry Christmas” -Trina x

“We had our 7ft Christmas tree's lights switched on by Bob the Builder - who turned up late. The crowd was big but it was all over within seconds.” - Alex Hamilton

AND THE WINNER IS...

David Bargh, with Scooby Doo. Not only is a Scooby Doo costume totally rubbish, he's not even a REAL celebrity. BOOOOOO! Congrats David, you'll be getting an email voucher for £10 to spend on lastminute.com very soon!

can't face the kitchen?

Mum does the same every Christmas – she hides those sprouts in all manner of disguises to try and get us to eat them, but my brother and I grew wise over 20 years ago. She can’t even mangle one into the stuffing now without us sniffing it a mile-off, but she tries it, every year.

If you’re dreading certain ‘traditions’, or you just can’t face the kitchen, we might have the Christmas day or New Year’s Eve dinner solution for you. These great restaurants all offer top notch nosh to rival any home-cooking, and you can still book for the day. Best of all, (unless you march into the staff room) you won’t offend anyone at all if you hold the sprouts.

Brasserie Roux Restaurant, London - four course Christmas Day lunch with a complimentary glass of champagne on arrival, coffee and petit fours - £86 per person
Doing OK in the capital and need to show off about it subtly? Well there’s no better spot than the award-winning Brasserie Roux. Their four course Christmas Day lunch is the ideal treat for your family if you can’t be bothered to cook. You’ll get a complimentary glass of Pommery Brut Royal champers on arrival (ooh er), coffee and petit fours, and your classic French food will be served with a smile in elegant surroundings – not quite the local pub. We’re talking three beautiful arched windows with superb views across Pall Mall and Waterloo Place.  If the kids are lucky, Santa will drop in too.  All we need now is some snow… Find out more here

Athenaeum Restaurant, London - five course Christmas Day lunch menu with pre-lunch drinks, coffee and mince pies - £75 per person
As you’re ushered into the Whiskey room for your pre-dinner drinks, you’ll feel like Sherlock Holmes on the verge of solving another mystery. That is – how do “the other half” celebrate Christmas, really?  It’s true, you’ll experience a classical London Christmas in this gorgeous hotel.  The Athenaeum is glamorous, contemporary and modern and you’ll even want the leftovers in a doggy-bag as you tuck into British fare such as Quail consommé with new forest wild mushrooms, Roast Norfolk Turkey with pork chipolatas, bacon rolls, red currant sauce, or Traditional steamed plum pudding with brandy sauce. You’ve got five-courses to get in your bellies though, so take your time, pull some crackers, and pity the poor soul in the kitchen who has to wash up.
Find out more here

Circus Restaurant, London - five course New Year’s Eve menu with free entry to the bar - £60 per person
Nellie the elephant packed her trunk and said hello to the Circus. Well, who wouldn’t, now that this great Soho spot’s been refurbished and given a hot, NYC style fresh new look, complete with new floor, new lighting, and new furniture?  New Year’s Eve is the time to sample the brand new menu too - the best of the best of Parisian bistro fare.  After you’ve guzzled your five scrumptious courses – think Roast scallop with Alsace bacon and oyster and chervil fume, or Fillet of line caught sea bass with roast salsify, Jerusalem artichoke and vanilla veloute, (and copious amounts of champers, we’re sure) you’ll get free access to the plush new bar, where a DJ will welcome in 2007 and keep you dancing till 3am. Thank God for the free tube, thanks Ken. Find out more here

Peppers Restaurant, Birmingham - three course New Year’s Eve menu with live DJ and dancing - £30
If you’re planning a night on the tiles in Birmingham, you might want to make Peppers your first stop - for a damn fine feed at this price, you can’t really go wrong. It’s luxurious, warm and the leather seats are so comfortable you’d better be careful not to fall asleep at the table after your 19th poppadom.  Specially created by executive chef, Shubojit Chakravarty, the menu here is internationally renowned. This man of the moment prides himself on his authentic dishes, rarely served outside his motherland. You’ll sample dishes such as Chicken tikka - diced chicken breast marinated in special tandoori massala and charcoal grilled, Sesame prawn toast served with deep fried seaweed, and Makhni chooze - tandoor grilled chicken, simmered in a smooth tomato sauce infused with tikka spices and kasoori methi. Are you drooling yet? I am.  You’ll definitely need that live DJ to help you dance it all off.             Find out more here

Tiger Tiger Restaurant, Leeds - four course New Year's Eve menu with coffee and petit fours - £35 per person
If Leeds is your city of choice for the celebrations, the mammoth Tiger Tiger offers up the chance to go totally wild.  With its five different “zones”, each with a different vibe and atmosphere, you can experience five clubs in one, so there’s no need for that pub crawl, or to lose your mates en route to the kebab house.  Oh no,… after these four courses, plus coffee and petit fours, there’s no way you’ll be needing the usual shish with garlic sauce. Bounce to pop and eye up the totty in the main bar, or people-watch in the lounge bar to jazz and soul, cigars and a long cocktail. See 2006 out in style with a night you won’t forget. Unless you’re suitably sizzled by the time you get home, of course.  Find out more here

Search all of our last minute New Year's Eve dining options

WAKEY WAKEY!

It happens to the best of us, and we all know Christmas is really just another excuse for drinking too much and making a fool of yourself in the face of the general public. We’ve come up with a plan however, that might just save your bacon, or turkey, or indeed goose, which is apparently the “in” meat this year. Oooh er.

If you anticipate staying out late over Christmas, our neat little wake-up service will come in handy. All you have to do is tell us which train you’re on, and what time it’s supposed to get in, and we’ll ring your phone to wake you up. Of course, it doesn’t work if you lose your phone in another drunk and unfortunate faux pas. We can’t solve all your problems, sadly.

In the name of festive fun, we asked a bunch of people – where’s the worst place you’ve ever fallen asleep? We weren’t expecting so many total wallies, to be honest…

“I once stumbled my way home (via 2 taxis and at least 1 rickshaw), only to get all the way to my front door, sit down and find my keys in my bag and then FALL ALEEP ON MY OWN BLOODY DOORSTEP!  FOR 4 HOURS!  It took my housemate getting in at 6 in the morning to literally drag me through the door and dump me in my room to wake me up.” - Tim 

“On Bank holiday Monday, 2005, my mate Daz fell asleep in a plant pot in Trafalgar square, whilst waiting for a night bus. Random Japanese tourists were taking photos of him because it was so amusing!” – Amy

“Well I got to Swansea at roughly 2am and the next train home was 5am. Would have been really nice if a someone had called me when I was approaching my station but they just left me there asleep. Cab ride home -  £185. The look on my wife's face when I told her - Priceless” – Anon

“One Year in Andorra, after enjoying the final night of Après Ski, I fell asleep on the bar at 1am. Trouble was, the transfer coach to take us home was due to leave an hour later…” - Anon

“I fell asleep in my car in the parking area of Pacha Buenos Aires, after everybody left. I was one too many bottles of champagne drunk but they closed it all up around me. My friends’ call the next morning was very helpful.” – Geo

“Dozed off in various places but on a bench in YEOVIL at 2am was the best!  I wish I had walked the few extra paces to my hotel room.” – Amanda

“I fell asleep on the tube a few times - the train moving puts me to sleep. I was woken by a commuter tapping me on the shoulder saying we're here now when the train was at the end of the line – Thank God it was my stop!... v embarrassing!!” – Emma

“I once fell asleep in a bar in rural China at about 4 in the morning.  God knows what would have happened if my mate wasn’t with me. That’s what you get for making the most of 50p a pint.” - Andy

“A grave yard in hull.” – Colin

“There was the time I was out after work, got on a bus going north on Oxford St, fell asleep. It went all the way round North London, then BACK down Oxford St and I woke up back in bloody Victoria, where I started!  I had to stay on the very same bus to go back home!” - Tim

“I woke up under a rose bush once after partying hard in Hampstead.” – Max

“Woke up on a bus. Looked out of the window and thought "wow there are a lot of buses around". Realised my bus and other buses weren't moving. Realised I was in Shepherd's Bush bus station. Got out of bus and realised the bus station was empty and locked. Ended up climbing over a wall at the very back of the bus station in order to walk the 30 mins home.” – Max 2

“I woke up on a drag racing track once at Santa Pod, about 2 minutes before the first race. Don't ask me why, I can't remember.” – Tim

“Camberwell Bus Garage - took me about 20 mins to get out,” – Nick

“I’m notorious for getting the last train home and falling asleep on the way.
Usually that wouldn’t be a bad thing, but the last stop on my train is Swansea. And yes I’ve been there.” - Matt

Book your wake up call now.

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coming soon - West End 2007

What with Idina Menzel defying gravity and sending Wicked sky high on the must-see musical charts, Spamalot getting everyone quoting Monty Python once again, and Dirty Dancing selling out before the cast had even set foot on stage, there’s been a lot to talk about on the theatre scene in 2006 here in London. Thankfully, the trend for top shows taking the stage looks set to continue in 2007 and over here at lastminute.com, we thought we’d look past Christmas for a second and take a glimpse into the future...

Antony and Cleopatra
Patrick Stewart’s had to make a lot of sacrifices in his career – those stick on ears can’t have been comfortable for so many years. But now, for Bill Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, he is perhaps making the greatest sacrifice of all. He’s growing his hair. Well… putting a wig on, but still. What a transformation.  If you’re unaware of the greatest romance since Peter and Jordan fell in love in the jungle, shame on you. This one split an empire in two. It all starts when, following the death of Caesar, a united front is called for as Pompey threatens Rome. The loyal Antony however is distracted and his thoughts are driven towards the sensual queen of Egypt, Cleopatra. When forced to choose sides,… oh you can probably guess. Go Shakesperean with The RSC from mid Jan. Tickets start at just £10

The History Boys
Alan Bennett’s thought-provoking drama based around the exploits of an unruly bunch of boys carries on at the Wyndhams next year. Set in the 1980s in the north of England, The History Boys follows the sixth-form friends as they pursue their places at Oxford and Cambridge universities. Having just gained a lot of recognition through the movie version and won 30 major awards including Olivier and Tony awards for Best New Play, tickets for this hilarious show are bound to sell out. Book yours now and don’t forget to check out the boys on their blog.

Equus
Not content with battling dragons and riding on CGI broomsticks for a living, our bespectacled friend Daniel Radcliffe is ditching his Harry Potter persona and treading the boards as a “proper thesp” next February in Equus.  It’s the story of Alan Strang, a seemingly normal 17 year old boy with a passion for horses.  One night, however, he savagely blinds six of his four-legged friends with a hoof pick and no one knows why. What drove him to do it? As the nightmares take over, only psychiatrist Martin Dysart seems able to grasp the answer to this strange, psychological puzzle. Richard Griffiths also stars. Book your seats now
 
The Lord of the Rings
May brings with it hopes for summer and fingers crossed – a few rays of sunshine. But there’s more to look forward to this time, because May is when The Lord of the Rings careers into the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Already a hit in Canada, this is the first major stage adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic trilogy, and an international creative team has combined all three exciting best-sellers into one unmissable theatrical event. Who’d have thought Middle-earth would unravel on stage in such spectacular fashion – with a thrilling score, dazzling design, and an ensemble of over 70 actors, singers and musicians? You won’t give a goblin’s about any other show, till you’ve seen this. Start your journey to Middle-earth now - up to £10 off previews.

Underneath the Lintel
You may remember Richard Schiff from hit American series The West Wing, but in this tale of a lonely librarian on a mission to find the owner of an ancient library book, we see a different set of his acting skills shine through. It can’t be easy, being the only actor in a play, and we reckon you’ll love this beautiful story, written by Glen Berger. Richard Schiff plays a small town librarian, a man whose life is small, contained and almost perfectly banal. Suddenly the arrival of an overdue library book turns his world upside down and unleashes in him a hitherto unknown detective spirit - he simply must find out who returned the book, as they owe the library a very large fine. Underneath the Lintel premiered off-Broadway in 2001, where it played more than 400 performances and won the 2001 Ovation Award for Best Play. Book your tickets now and check out Richard's blog

Find more hot theatre deals for next year here