Theatre!

 As I've seen shows here in London, I've written up my reactions, but I wanted to keep them altogether.  Now that I've seen my final show, here's a post dedicated to the wonderful professional performances I've been lucky enough to attend.

Billy Elliot July 16, 2011

Billy Elliot is about a boy who just wants to dance. He comes across his talent when he is instructed to give the key to the woman who has the studio after his boxing class. This all happens with the UK Miner strike from the 80s in the background. Billy's father is a proud man and hates the idea of his son dancing like some "puff."

For me, dance is enjoyable in context, and there are moments in the show when dance just takes over. I'm not usually a fan of spontaneous moments of dance, but certain parts really moved me. The story line is also very emotional, since Billy's mother dies before the show begins. I have to agree with a fellow traveler, Kalyca, that the most beautiful scene of the show is when young Billy dances with a version of himself that he can become. It is absolutely beautiful. This show was part of our regularly scheduled activities, and I'm very glad that it was.

The 39 Steps July 23, 2011

The 39 Steps is loosely based on the Alfred Hitchcock movie of the same name. I'm familiar with Hitchcock the man, but not his works. Thanks to Cassie some of allusions to Hitchcock were pointed out and made the play a bit more relevant. In the first few minutes of The 39 Steps, Richard Hanney takes home a woman with a secret who gets murdered in his apartment. After discovering her body, he sets off to solve the mystery and finds himself in more trouble than he bargained for.

This play was absolutely hilarious. The entire show was put on by four people; the only actor that remained one character was the lead. The other three actors played everyone else. Shows like this are amazing as they are usually low tech which means the show rests entirely on the shoulders of the actors. The comedy was very slapstick with actors waving their coats and hair when the wind is supposed to blow. Here is where the fourth wall tended to be broken because the third or so time actors had to keep up the ruse the audience was given the "We-shouldn't-have-to-do-this-anymore" look. The cast was fantastic and pulled off every bit of it.  We saw the show on a night when one of the understudies filled in. I'm sure the usual actor is wonderful as well, but I could not imagine seeing this show any other way. 

Seeing this show and having a laugh was Cassie's wonderful idea. I'm very glad we decided to get dolled up and head out on Saturday night. If you need a laugh right now, click the link above to watch the trailer. 

Anne Boleyn July 27, 2011

The image above is of the new Globe Theatre where Anne Boleyn is performed. As a classmate pointed out, the style was that of Shakespeare's time, but the content would have been banned. This is dramedy romance about Henry VIII and his mistress Anne Boleyn. Honestly, I don't know much about this bit of English history, but I'm very much intrigued after seeing the play. (For a description click the link above)

I liked the aspects of the Elizabethan additions including the actors greeting the audience. The stage was also a thrust stage so the actors occasionally used the hallway sized segment to expand out into the audience. They also used stairs on the sides, so again they navigate through the audience to make their entrance. I love when theatrical elements like that are out in the open instead of behind-the-scenes.

The show was also pretty funny. I know she gets her head cut off, but the actor who played King James I was excellent with his fits. The entire cast was wonderful and kept me enthralled, especially since I was previously unaware of Anne's part in the shift in religious affiliation in England. As I said, I need to find out more about this subject.

Les Miserables August 2, 2011

Amazing. That's really the only word that is appropriate for a show like Les Miserables, which is probably why it's been running for 25 years. I was hoping to see Alfie Boe play Jean Valjean, but that just wasn't in the cards tonight. Even so, Jonathan Williams was amazing. You'd have to be made of stone to not cry when he sings "Bring Him Home."

Most people know the story of Les Mis, but they may not understand why its so phenomenal. It is packed full of emotion as people understand how the world changes around them and how things that seems black and white are really full of gray.

Also the elements and story arcs come full circle. It is pure genius to create a character like Javare who is disliked for being staccato and ruthless to  garnering pity when his world collapses around him. And he's just one of the many stories included in the musical.

There is so much for me to say about this show yet so few words to actually express it. The US tour is starting later this year or early next year, but it has been re-imagined without the turntable stage. I'm very lucky to have seen it at it's home in the Queen's Theatre with a stellar cast. It's so good that I already intend to see it  when it comes through Jacksonville. If it's a show you've been planning to see but haven't gotten around to, I highly highly highly (as in I cannot recommend it enough!) recommend that you see this show. Be sure to bring your tissues.

Court

Hampton Court Palace is one of many former palaces of King Henry VIII. The information is meant to bring guests into the world of the Tudors, including Henry and his many wives. As interesting as this is, I was really interested to visit the Palace because of a series of books that are my guilty pleasure The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones.

Jones's books are the story of Anita Palmer, a sixteen year old girl from London, who discovers she is the lost Princess of Faerie. Hampton Court provides the backdrop for the Faerie Palace as it aligns with the Faerie Realm and is one location where Anita (called Tania in the Faerie world) can safely sidestep between the two worlds.

I call them (yes, them, there are six and I'm holding my breath for a seventh) because they are meant for a much younger audience than 20-somethings. I get a little leeway though since I work with tweens and teens...at least I think I do.  So far whenever I finish a really tough semester the new book has been available and gives me an opportunity to just get lost in the story. They are great books if you like that sort of thing.

Also I recommend visiting Hampton Court Palace. The audio guide was informational (in parts, there is a little radio dramedy to it), and if you're a fan of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and the other ladies in his life, this is the place to visit. If you're lucky, you might catch the eye of Henry. Doing so simply requires a curtsy as he passes by.

Fastpass

Day 2 of my Paris trip was also jam packed with activity, excitement, and even a little flirtation.

While visiting the Louvre on Friday Angela noticed a sign for Museum Passes, which allows access to 60+ Museums and other sights of Paris. The pass cost 35 euro for two days. I referred to as my Disney Fastpass because twice we were able to bypass long ticket lines and go right in. So the pass not only saves money, but time, which is quite valuable on short trips.

Cassie enjoying the interactive features
of the Architecture Museum. She's creating
 her own stained glass window.

A small group of us stuck together throughout the day and visited a few of the lesser known museums of Paris, including De L'Architecture & Du Patrimoine and the Musee National De La Marine (the Architecture and Maritime museums, respectively). The Architecture museum holds many replicas of various popular architectural marvels including Notre Dame Cathedral. As Angela pointed out, it's just as amazing and important to see replicas and reproductions as it is to see the real thing. In some cases it's actually better because you can get closer to the reproduction. It's also pretty outstanding because some of the pieces, like archways, were used in the architecture of the museum building.

Full bodied masthead

The second Museum we flitted off to (and conveniently located right next to the Architecture Museum) was the Maritime Museum. This was awesome because boats and things having to do with boats are awesome. When you first walk in there's a glittering ship having something to do with Napoleon. It's pretty interesting, but I preferred the carved mastheads, including the full-bodied masthead. This statue is quite rare in that it is one the few to survive in excellent condition.

Another piece that caught my eye was the diorama showing how the Obelisk was moved from Egypt to Paris. It seems like it was a difficult undertaking, because before moving the structure they had to "wrap" it in a wooden shell to prevent damage. I intend to find out more about this subject when I get back. There were a few bonuses at the museum too: our cards got us audio guides so we could get more information about certain objects, and many of the placards provided explanations in both French and English.

Close up of the Obelisk Model: The wooden obelisk is the "case."

View from the top of the Arc.

We also made our way to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. This was one entrance where we fastpassed it. There was a rather long line of people waiting to purchase tickets. We walked up to see what we had to do, and someone flashed a museum pass at the guy guarding the door. The rest of us showed our passes and headed up to the top without any waiting. It was 284 steps the top. One the way to the first level I had to pause because apparently it was a race. Luckily there was a perfect spot to rest and make my heart stop pounding. It's also good that I don't mind losing.

Events following dinner were the best part of the day. Cassie and I made our back to the metro to once again visit the Eiffel Tower. Along the way a very cute Lebanese guy with a wonderful smile asked Cassie for directions to the Tower. He'd been wanting to see it since he was six years old. He actually missed his stop because he was chatting with Cassie. Needless to say, this encounter made her quite giddy. When we reached the top of the steps at the Trocadero and the Tower started glittering there was nothing to keep her from jumping up and down. We stuck around and saw it sparkle again at 11pm.

Whoever told Cassie to be sure to see the Eiffel Tower at night is a wonderful human being. It was absolutely beautiful. Seeing it lit up at night made me realize why they sell gold versions of it. If you are ever in Paris for the night, be sure to head over to the Trocadero and watch it glitter.

Sparkling Eiffel Tower

Library!

Today our group visited Platform 9 3/4 quarters and the British Library!

King's Cross Station is currently undergoing a renovation, so Platform 9 3/4 has (temporarily?) been moved up and out of the station. This assists with construction and the daily commute of many not having to deal with Harry Potter fans flocking to the placard. Hopefully, once King's Cross has been renovated, the platform will be returned to its rightful place.

The British Library, like many other sites of London, has more to offer than one can see in a time-limited capacity. Today our focus was on the Treasures Gallery and the Reading Rooms.  The Treasures Gallery gets its name because it holds many unique books and documents. I had a look at Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, A Gutenberg Bible, Shakespeare quartos, and a copy of the Magna Carta.

Although the library has these priceless pieces as part of its collection, it also has many modern titles in a broad range of categories. For example, when Cassie and I visited the Reading Rooms, one of her selections was The Art of Finding Nemo, and I pulled a book titled Cats in Books. My selection was actually a lot more interesting than I what I thought it would be; it covered the history of cats and where they are found in familiar titles through the ages.

The most interesting aspect of this library is that everything is library-use-only. You request your materials and read them in one of the many reading rooms available. You also have the option of asking them to hold the materials again for your next visit. The procedures for the Reading Rooms was a lot like using The Smather's Library at UF. You can only have the materials you need, like a notebook, laptop, and only a pencil. The difference at the British Library: you show your ID to enter, keep all your materials in a clear plastic bag (which is checked when you exit), and give your seat number to the desk so they know where to find you if the materials don't make it back.

I recognize that the British Library's purpose as a place of research rather than a place for recreation. As much as I enjoyed using my new British Library Card to access the reading rooms and taking a look at some materials from their collection, open libraries are definitely more my speed. I like the idea of individuals entering and browsing to find what happens to suit them at that particular moment in time.

I'll be incommunicado for a few days while I explore PARIS! See you on Monday.

Backtrack

Tonight, I'm going to back up a few days. Monday's blog consisted of information related to my video project, so I didn't relay the information of the day.  Monday's roaming included a trip to the Museum of London and an official inside tour of St. Paul's Cathedral.

Close up of the old leather fire hat.

The Museum of London could also be called the History Museum of London. It follows the city's history from before the Romans to the present. The museum houses artifacts, replicas, and popular culture items in eye catching and interesting displays. I also like that they had hands-on things to do throughout. Many of the informational placards had a (computer) mouse icon, meaning you could head to the nearest computer bank for more information. There were also hats and shoes to try on from Medieval times as well as trying out the old versus new fire helmets. 

Mexico having lunch in the park.

Next was lunch in St. Paul's Churchyard. This was favorite part of the day. After chowing down with my classmates, it was relaxing to stay in the park and people watch. My digital story from today has many of the covert pictures I snagged in the churchyard, including one couple that were enjoying each other more than their lunch.

I think the most interesting aspect of this is that it involves every type of person. There was a man in a suit napping nearby, families enjoying the day, along with various other groups and duos here and there. I imagine the impetus for lunching in the park is the result of the difference between dining in and getting take away at many of the popular lunch spots. For example, Pret A Manger's products cost more if you eat them in the store.

St. Paul's dome.

The last part of the day was visiting St. Paul's Cathedral. The cathedral and its history is incredibly vast and intriguing. Christopher Wren was inspired by the architecture and decoration in Catholic Churches, but was forbidden to include anything remotely Catholic in the cathedral.  Even though Wren never saw it as it looks today, it's been updated with decorations added to fulfill his full vision of the marvelous cathedral. He's buried in the crypt with a very simple stone marking the place. But really, what better monument could he have than St. Paul's?

I'll also mention briefly that I have seen three shows while vising London. They are Billy Elliot, The 39 Steps, and Anne Boleyn. I also have my ticket for Les Miserables next week (so excited!!) I have a post about the four shows in the works. Keep an eye out next week for my London Theatre experiences.

Art

Saint Catherine attributed
 to Onorio Marinari

Art comes in many forms and is all over London. Musicians play in the tube stations, performers gather in Convent Garden, plays and musicals of every caliber and museums abound.

Today, I visited The Wallace Collection. Though a National Museum, this is the smallest museum I have been to. In about an hour or so, I was able to see and enjoy the entire collection. The Wallace Collection is first and foremost an art collection, housing paintings by Rembrandt, Hals, Poussin, Fragonard, and Decamps. According to the website, some artists that can be found in The Wallace Collection cannot be found in higher profile museums. There were many beautiful pieces, but I absolutely fell in love with Fradonard's "The Swing."

The Swing by J. H. Fragonard

Along with paintings, the museum houses ceramics, furniture, sculpture, armor, and other works of art. It was interesting to look at the different armor. It's amazing to see how intricate some weapons were. Also in one room, they had to knights mounted on their noble steeds. It was certainly a sight to see.

Armored Knight                Ceremonial Canon              Cupid & Psyche

The Wallace Collection is made up of five generations--including four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace--of family collectibles. Lady Wallace, the last of the collectors, bequeathed the entire collection and estate to the British Nation. Her only stipulation was that it was an "as is" deal--nothing may be added or removed. The museum first opened to the public in  June of 1900 and has been open ever since.  This year marks the 111th anniversary. Not one that's typically honored, but this is probably one of the oldest museums I've ever had the privilege to visit.

Getting to museums, however, is definitely not a strength of mine. Like getting to the V&A, Vanessa and I got turned around a few times and took a bit longer than we should have to get there. Once were there though it was nice to walk around, especially when it's possible to see basically everything it has to offer.

___________________________
Ceremonial Cannon: Giovanni Mazzarioli
Cupid & Psyche: Flippo della valle

The collection as museum. (n.d.) The Wallace Collection. Retrieved from http://www.wallacecollection.org/thecollection/historyofthecollection/thewallacecollectionasmuseum

Exploring

Ceiling in the Great Court

Rick Steves acted as my tour guide around the British Museum. Unfortunately, this tour was not in person. Rick has audio tours on his website that anyone can download, put on their preferred device (like an iPod) and traipse the location he's covering.

Ramses II

Today I followed Rick's tour, so I only saw a small portion of what the museum has to offer. I learned about pharaohs and mummies in the  Egyptian portion, thinking of my friend Lia the whole time. Then I moved on into the Syrian section. The panels depiction the Lion Hunts was sad, but there truly is beauty in the artwork.

Up next, were the rooms on Greece, with the beheaded, armless and legless statues saved from the Parthenon. Definitely the most interesting detail of today's visit was walking behind the statues from the pediment. The statues were 40 feet high with their backs to the wall. Though they are not as detailed as the commonly visible portion, they are more detailed than they needed to be for being housed in the pediment.

Statutes fro the pediment
of the Parthenon

This is just a quick rundown of today. I'll definitely be visiting the British Museum again while I'm here, because it's only a five minute walk from the flat. Seriously, five minutes. That even includes the sixty-two stairs I have to go down first.

Syrian Lion Hunt panel close-up

Memorial

During our Coach Tour, Sean mentioned an addition to St. Paul's Cathedral in 1951. It was the American Memorial Chapel, where American military who had been stationed in Britain and lost their lives were honored for their service. I was intrigued by this story and had to know more.  Now I'm presenting you with that information in the form of a podcast.

If you would like to know more, check out my resources below. A transcript is also available.

Resources:

American Memorial Chapel. (n.d.) Welcome to St. Paul's Cathedral, London. Retrieved from http://www.stpauls.co.uk/Cathedral-History/The-Chapels/American-Memorial-Chapel

How St. Paul's Cathedral survived the Blitz. (2010, December 29). BBC - Homepage. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12016916

A letter from the publisher. (1952, December 15). Time.com. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,820467-1,00.html

Credits:

This podcast features the song "Consort for Brass" by Kevin MacLeod, available under a Creative Commons Attribution License.

This podcast features the sound effect "Marble Church" by club sound, available under a Creative Commons Sampling Plus 1.0 License. 

This podcast also features the sound effect "Air Raid Soundscape" by CGEffex, available under a Creative Commons Sampling Plus 1.0 License.