It’s tea time!!! We actually really enjoyed tea (which was new for me) and it was so fun. A group of seven of us had tea at Harrods and felt very fancy while doing so. When you do an afternoon tea, it’s very proper and there’s always something going on. In The Importance of Being Earnest, I feel like they’re always eating because, if you’re not eating, you’re talking. That’s what tea feels like. Someone is telling a story while you’re eating and then you tell a story so they can eat. It’s a great way to make sure everyone has a chance to talk but, it’s also a lot to take in. It was very refined but, it was also a department store. That means it was kind of loud and there was a lot going on. Four of the girls thought it would be fun to get dressed up and take an afternoon tea. The boys got jealous (of course) and decided to tag along. We put on our southern best and headed to tuck in to tea and crumpets. I actually had crumpets and they’re really yummy but, a lot denser than I thought they would be. Tea is actually very filling. I left the tea shop filled to the brim of delicious treats and my flavorful mint tea. We didn’t order cucumber sandwiches (I don’t like cucumber) but, we all tried something new and had a great time bonding together on this journey. It was so much fun meeting people outside of the department and see their take on what we do. Tea time brings everyone together. I think that’s why it’s still a common thing to do in England. It’s time in the middle of the day for people to come together with friends to enjoy each other’s company. In Earnest, it’s more to judge people and see what they’re all about but, the idea came from somewhere right? The pictures are at Harrods. Terrance likes tea and crumpets.

 

We snitched out and...ate jellied eels!!! 
In this picture you'll see the "deliciousness" of jellied eels doused in pepper and chili vinegar...and in the video...you'll see us almost tap out. 
Don't try this at home folks!!!!!





















https://youtu.be/G2mAvUDweCo

Today, we went to some good ol’ outdoor theatre. We saw Chekov’s The Seagull and it was…not my favorite play of the trip. I felt like the acting was a little spotty with some actors like, Constantine. I feel like he shouted his lines for most of the show. This was another of the few shows that we’ve seen with microphones. There’s no need to yell if there is one taped to your head. I, also, was not a huge fan of the transition “music.” I use air quotes because, I don’t consider a loud gong clock tower combination music. It was very distracting from what was going on with the characters. They had a weird mirror over the entire stage too, so that felt unnecessary. What I did like, was the effects. They did rain from the back wall and it was beautiful. It helped that it was overcast today. When it was raining onstage, it started sprinkling in real life. It made you feel immersed in the story, until the loud gong. I thought it was interesting that they had as much scenery and technology. I would be so scared to have all of that outside but, they had full lights and speakers for the microphones and effects. It there hadn’t been a moth in my face, it would’ve felt like being in a 4D play. It was also cool to see the design use the stream behind the stage. I’m not sure why but, it was genius. You could see the mischievous things characters were doing when they weren’t the important part of the scene. That’s also where they found Constantine. That was the most powerful scene in the entire show. I feel like it truly came alive onstage. My mind never painted a picture that vivid. It felt like that was true acting and not a grandiose farce of stage life. I know it’s Chekov but, come on. Don’t overdo it. It was a great adventure to have on a dreary day.

Fringe theatre is something I have never heard of until we met for class. This is a type of theatre that you wouldn’t normally see. Anything that isn’t main stream  is considered fringe…I think. Terrance and I decided to tag along with our friend (and sister [LIOB]) to a fringe show that was out of the ordinary. We did an interactive show called Alice’s Adventures Underground. It was so much fun and a great show. It’s harder to interact with an audience than people realize. I can’t believe that they could stay in character and still interact with people. Even remarking on people’s comments. I had the honour of getting to be in front of the group twice. Once, to read to Humpty Dumpty and again, before the entire court, to present a letter to the King of Hearts. It was so cool to be put on the spot like that! Surprisingly, I wasn’t hesitant about the situation. I stood up and said what I was supposed to. That’s right, I had lines, y’all!! It was a new way of experiencing theatre that I have always wanted to try so this was a great experience. I enjoyed walking around to everything and being in the middle of it. There was a part in the beginning where you had to choose “eat me” or “drink me” so Terrance, Erin , and I went for the food. We were processed to be “cards” and got numbers and suits. My card was called in the very beginning and I was told to go in a dark closet and had a hushed conversation about the resistance. I felt so important and cool. Even Erin had no idea that I had a secret note when we walked to Humpty Dumpty’s wall. We got to be in the Queen’s army and have a special salute for our suit. I was the three of diamonds so the other one found me and told me secrets. It really was an adventure underground. If it wasn’t so expensive, I would do it again and choose “drink me” so I could see the other side. Apparently, the “drink me” group got to go to the mushroom patch and do other activities. Either way, it was a great time. Anyone who comes while it’s here, needs to check it out. The Picture is of Erin and I with our "Temporary Suit Permits."

On June 17th, we saw our first scheduled musical. It was a new theatre experience for me. I’d never seen live Bollywood until that night. We saw Bend It Like Beckham.  I know that Bollywood, generally, is very showy and extravagant but, I did not expect what I saw. It was bright yellow. The set was yellow and it was not easy to light, according to Neil Austin, the designer for the show. We had the chance to have a meet and greet with him to talk about lighting and its impact on the show. His lighting was so great because, it helped transform the stage into different places, despite only being able to make certain parts of it three colors. It was amazing that they used rotating walls for set changes. Everything that was really big and important was flown in. It made the stage look neat and appropriate without taking the time to do a set change. This was only the first theatre that we have visited where they used microphones. If there are two things you will not find in England, it’s air conditioning and microphones on actors. It was interesting to have the stage set up like a soccer goal. I thought it was really basic to do that but, I am allowed my own opinion. The ball of light was also cool but, it is a little underwhelming for a professional theatre. I do like that they didn’t try to pass as current because it was very dated. They said 2001 in the show because of the references being made. I’m really not a fan of shows that date themselves like that. It was the same problem I had with Everyman. Plays should be made to last over time, That is why it’s live theatre and not the movies. I think it was someone’s interpretation of what people look for in musicals and I’m not impressed. 

On Tuesday, we went to the Victoria and Albert Museum. It was not exactly what I thought it was going to be but, I still found interesting things to look at. The museum was arranged by time period and continent. That made it really easy to know where we wanted to go and the general direction. Terrance found 1500s Europe, which had reclining pillows for people to lay down, and decided that was where he could be found. He’s kind of a lazy excuse for a tortoise. While he was relaxing by the (empty) fountains, we found the Asia section. All the armor and weaponry was really cool because, it hadn’t really aged any. The metal still shined and the jets in the hilts still sparkled. We were back in the Europe section to get Terrance when we saw this white dress. It was plain but beautiful. It reminded me of Bianca from Love’s Sacrifice. I loved how the costume designer went with a pain dress because it showed her roots. She wasn’t brought up royal, she was an ordinary girl that was extremely lucky to have met a duke. The dress from the museum was also very simple and lower class looking. It has a pattern on it but it’s not ornate and the bust is not even embellished. I couldn’t see the front of Bianca’s dress from where our seats were located so, I guess I have free range for what it looked like. I imagine it very similar, if not identical to the one I saw in the museum. Terrance was still lounging when I found the dress so, he’s not in the picture. He will come to his senses soon and realize London is so much better when you’re posing with a group. Also, I found Cheetos in a sweetshop today…I miss them. 

The adventures of Brianna and Terrance got really rocky on Wednesday when we had to find our way to two separate theaters. We had our friend, Ashley, to help but, we still ended up running around the city and making the first show by minutes. The first show was Everyman. In my honest opinion, I did not like Carol Ann Duffy’s interpretation of play. I think it was dumbed down to be extremely relevant. They actually sang All About That Base by Meghan Trainor…That is just way to dating for a show, especially in today’s society. It’s dated even for when we saw it. I sat there for ten minutes and leaned to my neighbor to ask if we were in the right theatre. I couldn’t believe how she came up with that concept. It was not what I was expecting and took a great deal of imagination to put that together. The thing I did enjoy was how she made the play take place within the last few seconds of his life. That put it into a different perspective for me and made it easier to understand. I also really appreciated the lighting design. It was interesting to see how something would appear and disappear. That would take your attention away from small scene changes and it was hidden with music and crazy dancing…or bands. It was a very crazy show. I really disliked how much swearing was going on. It was very much unnecessary and a little offensive to think that would sound generally appealing to the public for the director. It’s degrading to our generation that we can be reduced to selfies and swear words. There were so many additives, it was difficult to tell what show I was watching. You could barely catch the original text in between flashy singing and poses. I don’t want to ruin any of the show, in case someone wants to see it but, it is not what you think it will be. We didn’t get any pictures for this performance because there was no intermission and because we got to our seats within two minutes of the lights dimming to begin the show. Here's a picture of Terrance eating a giant crepe. 

    

We visited Westminster Abbey on Tuesday and it was pretty interesting. There were a lot of dead people buried there and so many more than had small commemorations to their honour. We saw tombs of royalty and actors, poets and great thinkers. It was an awe filling experience and I’m glad we got to go and have a tour. My only problem with it was that we weren’t allowed to take too many pictures. And by “not too many,” I mean I got two pictures. I did get to see graves I would have never imagined like Lawrence Olivier and Aphra Behn. Ironically, the only grave I got a picture of was an English actress who performed in The Widow Ranter. She died in 1748 but, they have no real recollection of her early life until she started performing with the Duke’s Company in the late 1680s. I, also, had the pleasure of eavesdropping on a tour that was being given in German. It was nice to be able to pick up on what the guide was saying because I felt like I was retaining more information. When you work hard to understand something, it gets stuck in your head.  The other cool but odd thing we saw there was Britain’s oldest door. It looked like a regular door but, maybe I wasn’t looking at it the right way. 

      

The latest show we saw was Waiting for Godot. It was interesting and witty but, got pretty old quick. I think it was funny on the surface but, the more you thought about it, the more you realize that’s it’s really tragic. These men are waiting and waiting on someone that will never come. It’s like living in Groundhog’s Day but with more elevated language. I found the jokes hilarious but, it was so frustrating to see them live the same life twice and only one person remember. You’re not sure if yesterday was yesterday or if it was thirty years ago. The little boy doesn’t recognized Gogo and DeeDee but he delivers messages to them everyday saying that Godot will come the next day for sure. The end of the play is right back to where we started, still waiting.They always say “let’s go” but, they never actually leave the stage. Even going into intermission and the curtain call, the two actors didn’t leave the stage because they couldn’t miss Godot. They don’t even know what he looks like. It’s kind of poking fun at religion but it’s also saying that some people take religious too seriously sometimes. It reminds me of the Doomsday preppers, who have bunkers and a year’s supply of food because they think the apocalypse is going to happen in two weeks. When we watch the show, we should laugh because it is funny but, it should leave you thinking. The silences were so impactful because it’s making you wait just like the characters have to wait. Even when they encounter strangers, they use them to pass the time. They even want to hang themselves if Godot doesn’t come but they forgot rope. They decide to do it the next day when they bring some and only if Godot hasn’t shown up. It’s a win-win but also a lose-lose. They die or Godot comes to meet them. They also said that they use fake crying as a warmup so that was encouraging. My picture is of the actors during a Q & A following the show.

 

So our next blog post is supposed to be about going to the market. If nothing else, the markets here are interesting. The first time I went, I was not feeling well and there was just too much going on. People were everywhere and there were so many different food smells mingling that it was not a good place for a sick person. However, I was feeling well enough to try a “bap”. It’s a sausage link sandwich and was veery good and surprisingly spicy. I’ve been told by many people that the English don’t know how to season food but, whoever made these baps, knew what the people wanted. It was so weird because everyone was outside and enjoying the market and I’d never seen anything like that in America. The second time I went to the market, I got a cheeseburger. It doesn’t sound different until they ask if you want salad on it (that’s what they call lettuce). Even though it’s an American dish, it tasted different and fresher. Also, it helped that the guy behind the counter was hitting on me…After we got our food, we decided sweets were next on the list. Two of the group got chocolate cheesecake, one got macaroons (which were to die for), and I…got New York style cheesecake. I know I should’ve been more adventurous but, I don’t like complicated foods, especially desserts. I like my cheesecake plain, just like my ice cream. Terrance didn’t make any appearances at the market but, that was because I didn’t want him to get dirty. After being sick here, I don’t want to take any chances of him getting germ ridden and making the whole group sick…again. My picture is of me taking a bite of my delicious and spicy bap. Also, Terrance found sausage. 

The most recent play we saw was Beaux’ Stratagem. It was, by far, the best piece we’ve seen in England. It was funny, witty, and a musical, so it was extra special. My favorite part was the staircases. There were six different sets of stairs and even though they didn’t change, they played such a big part in making the show come alive. It was like Scooby Doo watching characters run in and out of doors, chasing each other. It went from being one character’s house to another to an inn with simple shifting of tables, chairs and wall pieces. They had portraits fly in to make sure that you knew where you were at all times. The show didn’t read like a true comedy but I could not stop laughing and hated to see it end. The stairs were transitions and the pit musicians were on the top of the stairs at different points of the storyline. it made you focus on the music and whoever was singing instead of the set changes that were happening. It was a clever way to make big changes while still keeping the audience entertained. I feel like the stairs had their own character because each person ascended or descended in their own way. You saw how characters interacted with each other and with the set because there were so many different ways they could leave. The only thing that was hard to keep up with was which room they were exiting into or coming out of. Terrance and I would gladly see this show again and I would definitely go to this show for audition pieces, songs and monologues. It was great and the acting was amazing. I just wish I could have seen it from different angles and with American accents. Trying to listen to British accents is way harder than it seems. Also, tea is not a good intermission drink, you definitely need more than twenty minutes to truly enjoy a nice cup of tea. The picture for this post is not mine. It belongs to the National Theatre and is the run that we saw.   

Terrance and I spent a few days in Stratford Upon Avon where we took in two plays in two days. I know, unheard of. We saw The Jew of Malta and Love’s Sacrifice. The Jew of Malta was a great show and I enjoyed how they handled the last scene of the show (#nospoilers). Barebas showed no remorse and made sure he got the last laugh…and the last chance to spit on everyone. Love’s Sacrifice was also an amazing show, mainly because we got to meet the actor who played the leading man. We actually got to sit down and ask him questions about being a working actor. I enjoyed that they did mostly original practices but, used women. The one woman that stuck out to me was Sheila Atim in  Love’s Sacrifice. She was the smallest but, I think she packed the most punch, figuratively and literally. She had such composure and to see her transform into a murderous baby mama frightened Terrance. He, obviously, has never seen a woman scorned.  Rhiannon Handy, who was actually the understudy for the role of Abigail, seemed a little weak in The Jew of Malta. I know she wasn’t supposed to be the strongest of characters but I, honestly, was just not that impressed with how she handled being used by her father. I think gender played an importance part with these shows because you see the fear. You feel for the women because you see the women being thrown around by men and it hits a little closer to home. I think if it was played by a boy, you could kind of detach yourself because you know it’s a little boy. The only way I think I would feel bad for a little boy was in Love’s Sacrifice. The actors kept grabbing women by their “wombs” and I think that would just be so uncomfortable for a boy to deal with…but it’s still awkward for women too. This picture is of Matthew, the leading man from Love’s Sacrifice. He thought it would be funny to put Terrance on his head. We waited by the stage door for him because he said that shows normally don't have groupies. We wanted him to feel special. Also, he really liked Terrance.