London: Day 12 (May 24, 2012)

We went to the Globe Theatre today - the reconstructed home of many of Shakespeare’s plays.  It was insanely busy there, my feet still hurt from going to Hampton Court and I am exhausted, so I didn’t stay long.  I saw most of what was at the theatre, but I didn’t stay to see all of the shops and things in the neighborhood. 

A view of St. Paul's Cathedral from the east side of the Thames.

In the afternoon we had a guest speaker, David Abbel who is a conductor here in London.  He is the guy in the orchestra pit waving his arms.  It was really interesting to hear about the things that he is working on right now and his journey to the position he is in.

This evening we saw Long Day’s Journey into Night by Eugene O’Neil - a right depressing show.  20^th Century drama is just not my cup o’ tea.  I would so much rather see spazzy children and adults belting their guts out rather than see a family of alcoholics and drug addicts talk in circles about their dysfunctional relationships as they self destruct.  But I seem to be the only one of our group that feels that way.  Everyone else loved it.   It did make me think about my own family and feel immensely grateful that I come from a family of faithful Christians who follow the word of wisdom.  Maybe that’s why others love it so much, because they have had similar experiences.  I am grateful that I have not.

So my sister sent me an email commenting that this is called a semester abroad but seems like a vacation.  She is quite right in some respects.  We spend as much time, if not more, seeing the sights as we do in class.  In fact, the designers are never in class, while us poor blokes are in class they are going to other museums and sights.  Let me clarify slightly the purpose of our time here.  The Dean of the School of Theater makes it clear that he wants to bridge the economic gap between those that are born “with a silver spoon in their mouths” and those who are not.  So we are provided with this opportunity with the theory that we are gaining life experience and seeing the world, which helps us to be better artists.  The designers always have a sketch pad with them.  The day before we went to Hampton Court we learned a dance that would have been done in Henry VIII’s court, discussed the clothing of the day, the medicine, transportation etc. so that when we were there we would have a clear idea of what it was like there with the idea that we then carry all of that information with us onto the stage when we do a show like Shakespeare’s Henry VIII.  In addition, most of my other classmates are here doing a research project as well.  They have to choose a historic person (not currently living) and research their lives: where they lived, worked etc. and turn in a project that includes some writing and pictures and whatever else they can hunt down while they are here.  Thankfully, I have a project of considerably less work that I have been assigned while I am here. I have to come home each night and write about the vocal work that I heard in each show, even the non-musicals.  I also have a bit of work for my speech class – we are memorizing and analyzing Shakespearean sonnets.  So yes, I am not complaining about the fact that I am actually really a tourist in London, but I am a tourist that does have to do some homework.

London: Day 11 (May 23, 2012)

Today was a class day.  We worked on the rhythm of Shakespearean Sonnets in my speech class.  I think I could have been a really good Shakespearean actor if I had chosen that path.  In my historic dance class we learned a dance called the Alexandresca.  It originated in Italy.  Here is a link to some other people doing the dance, if you are curious about what it is.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlGGzGP18g8

We didn’t see a show this evening.  I tried to go to the temple but was unsuccessful due to trains breaking down.  The train I was on didn’t actually break down, but another train did and it caused havoc on the rest of the trains.  I didn’t arrive until well after the last session had already started.  The temple is actually a couple of miles from the train station and I couldn’t find a cab to take me there so I could at least see it.  So I tried to figure out if I could walk there and the answer was no, well you probably could, but there isn’t really a sidewalk…  So I turned around and started to make my way back to London which also took a long time, apparently the broken train was still causing problems.  


Tomorrow we are touring the Globe Theater.

London: Day 10 (May 22, 2012)

Today we went to Hampton Court.  This palace is most famed for being one of the palaces of Henry VIII.  When I woke up this morning I thought, "Henry VIII was not a nice person.  I'm not sure I want to go and see where he lived."  But I have to say it was quite fascinating!  And it is where Elizabeth I grew up. Other monarchs lived there as well such as William and Mary II.  There was a lot going on there.  We were there all day.  I was the last person from our group to leave and I felt like I still hadn't seen everything.  But I was exhausted and couldn't have absorbed anymore.

The funny thing about me being the last person to leave is that everyone else got caught in some train delay and it took them 3 hours to get back to London (it should only take 40ish minutes).  I was about half an hour behind the rest of the group and got back to London in a little over an hour.  They were still stuck in train traffic and I was stopping at the grocery store.  The wicked mortal in me felt some satisfaction in the justice that I had been abandoned and left to find my own way home.  But then I have to confess that they did try calling me to tell me that they were leaving, but I didn't feel my phone vibrating.  I am grateful that I didn't.

We saw a new musical tonight called Matilda.  It was great.  It is based on the book and was a high energy show where most of the main characters are elementary school age children.  What I loved about it is that these kids still sound like kids.  They aren't being asked to sing like adults.  This makes voice teachers happy.  And now there are a bunch of new songs that you can assign to children taking voice lessons.

Here are some of my pictures of Hampton Court.

This is the ceiling to the Anne Bolyn Gate.  It is an archway structure in the front of the palace.  This is the roof of the arch.

These are the stairs leading to the private rooms of King William.

I was very fascinated by the chimneys of the palace.  They all had different brick designs on them.  I took several pictures, but I won't make you look at all of them.

This is the armory in Williams part of the palace, the walls are decorated with swords, daggers, guns and drums.  It was pretty awesome.

 "There is nothing to rival an English garden."  10 points if you can tell me what movie?
It is really true.  You can spend as long in the gardens as you do in the palace.  Beautiful and Vast!

Complete with a maze garden.  I only came to one dead end.  I think I did pretty well, for a beginner.

This little plaque announces the center of the maze.

A view of the palace from the rose garden.  Sadly the rose garden is not yet blooming.  But there was wisteria and lilacs in other places of the garden which are some of my favorites.

London: Day 9 (May 21, 2012)

Today was a class day so we spent the day here in our set of London townhouses.  It was actually a busy day.  I didn’t get to have lunch until 4 PM, which meant that during our guest speaker from 2-4, I was quite sleepy.  

Tonight we saw a new play at the National Theatre call Moon over a Rainbow Shawl.  It takes place in the slums of Trinidad post WWII.  It was depressing, but a well done show.

The best part of the day was walking home from the National Theater as we crossed the bridge over the River Thames there was an incredible view of St. Paul’s Cathedral.  It was all lit up, with lights shining on the dome.  It looked like a painting it was truly breathtaking.  I took a picture, but those are things that will never look the same on film or in digital whatever.  You really have to have been there to see it.

London: Day 8 (May 20, 2012)

I went to church with Darren today and it was wonderful.  I love that I can go to church in Huddersfield England and aside from a few dialect things feel that it is all so familiar and feel so much at home.  Church was great.  I started to write down the British phrases that made me smile.  It really is amazing.  I understand what they are saying, but it really is in some ways a different language.  I was also enjoying hearing the Yorkshire (properly pronounced “Yourkshur”) accent, it is different than what I have been hearing in London.  They sound like the servants on Downton Abbey, if you have seen that TV Series.  Here are a few phrases that I wrote down:

            I have a massive testimony…

            Give a cuddle (or a hug)

            Just have a week think on it and get back to me

            She’s completely horrendous!

            I completely get to the end of my tether.

            …needed to repent each day for bits and bobs.

After church we drove to Castle Hill for a quick look at the valley.  There once was a Medieval Castle on the hill, it no longer stands but you can still see the well and how the structure was laid out (the placard with the explanation and drawings is also very helpful).  There is a stone tower there now that was built in the Victorian era and is called the Victoria Tower.  Darren called it a folly, because it isn’t really anything, just an empty building to honor the queen.   But the view from the hill was amazing.

Daisies grow wild in England right along side the dandelions.

Afterwards we grabbed something to eat and rushed to the bus station.  Thankfully the bus was running late, because so were we.  But I got home with out a glitch (except that I almost left my bag on the bus when transferring to the train, but I didn’t) and I even got from the train station home with out getting lost all by myself.

So, if you ever have the opportunity to go to Huddersfield, England, GO!  It is amazing.  I loved it!  I would gladly go again.  Thanks Darren!

Just FYI:  May 20th is Eliza Doolittle Day.  In Just you Wait she sings, "Next week on the twentieth of May, I proclaim Liza Doolittle Day!" So Happy Eliza Doolittle Day!