Ophelia had been looking for a date with a guy for some time. By some time, I mean a long time. Somewhere between Star Wars in a Galaxy a long long time ago and pre-covid times when the world was wonderful and Trump's reign was about to come to an end. Well, some of us hoped common sense might have prevailed, but alas, hello USA! 

As such, I got asked to meet up. I think a date was probably pushing it a bit, but it was nice to be asked out. I had turned down a few requests, and others didn't work with the diary. Darn you diary! In the month of April though, I found myself with a week alone, and was keen to step out. An American chap was in town, and wanted some company, so we looked into what to do, and he came up with The Comedy Store, as he loved improv. I was fearful at first, but remembered it was improv, not stand-up, and hopefully I wouldn't get called out or anything scary. 

The time came, and I got myself ready. I hopped on the tube in my chosen outfit. It was a longish pleather pencil skirt with revealing split, yellow top and a leather coat. Some accessories, and I chose blue nail varnish. Underneath I had my matching underwear, M&S of course darling! And some hold up stockings. To finish it off I decided to go nuts, and wear some 1" heels. Yes, I was feeling ker-azy!

I was running a few mins late, and messaged...we'll call him Mike. I'm not sure the name he gave me was real, but he did turn round when I said it. He was on the older side of old and had a boot on due to a medical condition. Going to a club down lots of stairs into the basement may not have been the smartest move. Mike was kind enough to get my ticket and we finally settled on some seats not too far from the stage. There were a lot of other Americans in, the accent being the main thing to highlight their presence. 

As Mike had got the tickets, I decided I would get the drinks. Just one problem, I had never ordered or asked anything before as Ophelia. I had practised my 'voice' a number of times. But in the real world. Never. 

I approached the bar and checked out what was on offer. Mike had wanted a Diet Coke, the absolute mad man. I fancied a prosecco or something suitably feminine. So I ordered a pint of lager! Classy, me, of course, it's how you carry it off dhar-ling! Next problem, the bar was manned by a man. In my best Ophelia-ese, I ordered the drinks quickly and precisely. They didn't carry Coke, only Pepsi. "That's fine." I quietly choked out.  As I stood waiting, a woman working behind the bar approached and commented on how my earrings matched my outfit. I blushed, and then remembered my feminine ways. I played with an earring and said 'thanks.' Oh my god, I wanted the ground to swallow me up, but equally, I was loving being accepted. Yay!

I returned to Mike and gave him his drink. We started to chat, although he didn't seem keen to give anything much away. He worked in IT and was a 'nerd'. This was pretty much all I got out of him. There was of course other things, but I don't wish to breech his privacy. The conversation got harder, and thankfully the show started. I wasn't wearing my glasses, so could only make out that some of the people on stage were female and some were male. Josie Laurence and Richard Vranch were the only ones I knew, as I'd seem them before and on TV. The improv got better as the evening went on, but the last section didn't really hit the intended mark I don't think. 

The show finished, and people started to leave. I walked with Mike and we passed all the photos of comedy legends who'd been there, including Robin Williams who was from near where he lived. I also pointed out some other comics he might not have known from the UK. Mike slowly climbed the stairs in his boot, and we were back up in the night air. London takes on a different form at night, glowing lights and the flashing neon of Piccadilly circus. We walked towards Piccadilly Circus tube, and I was keen to get home. Mike said he'd get a bus back to his hotel in Marble Arch and we said goodbye fairly quickly. I was quietly relieved as the conversation hadn't been easy all evening. However, I was still grateful he'd been kind enough to ask me out.