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Month: November 2010

  • Nov 3. At the intervals of plays, young theatre employees come into the audience with trays of ice cream to sell and audience members traipse down the aisles to purchase a treat. Not me though because I’m allergic!!! Such a party pooper. This evening the young blond woman near me is yelling “Ice cream available to buy here!” and I am tempted as it is warm in here and the aisian women in front of me are sharing a lite tub of choco icecream that looks lovely. They eat it with a little plastic paddle. In other news, there are two asian ladies sitting in front of me at this performance, which means I can see over their heads to the stage. I am grateful for this.

    It has been nearly twenty years since I last watched Phantom. (I realized this with a pang of horror before the performance began.) I have changed a lot since then. For example, Mr. Phantom makes me a little uncomfortable with his domination and power over Christine. Contol freak asshole. Get back in your hole. I did not think this way when I was 13. I just thought he was cool and romantic. I was thinkig that maybe I’d switch theatres at intermission and go to the end of the ballet for which I have an unused ticket. My secret adoration of melodrama and a cool riff shall keep me here, however.

  • Nov 3. I’m stuck at Victoria Station due to the strike on the Underground. Not really stuck, just waiting for bus transport. I did the Victoria and Albert today. My feet were sore so I didn’t enjoy it as much as I could. Also, the part with the old clothes was shut to the public so I didn’t get to see what I wanted. Grumpy day in London!

    I’ve got a ticket to Phantom tonight (walking distance from my hotel) which I’ll go to instead of the ballet. Not really a hard choise to make since I’ve done the ballet ready and I want to see Phantom (again).

  • Nov 2. I’m watching Bill Bailey live on the stage tonight. Aside from a few purely England jokes I just didn’t understand, he is very funny.

    The is another strike going on by the workers of the Underground. (if anyone can help me write that last sentance in a more pleasing way, please let me know). In preparation for this, tonight’s show is within walking distance of my house.

    Bill Bailey didn’t like the randomness of the questions coming from the crowd so we got a lecture on proper heckling.

    I’m in the sixth row here, very close. Bill Bailey’s head is very large.

  • Nov. 1. I juat wandered past Buckingham Palace. Only it was dark so I might go back. The queen is “in” though- her flag was up. Now waiting for Billy Elliot to start. Once again I’m really high up. Add this to the Royal Opera venue and the London eye this afternoon and this has been one horrifying trip.

    Intermission. I’ve already cried twice- because it’s sad, of course. But also some tears of wonder at the incredible kids they have to find to play Billy. He has to carry a lot. So great.

  • Tate Modern. I like it here. Note: to navigate to the Tate off the subway, just follow the group of peope who stop at the
    map at the nearest intersection who point at the Tate. Then there are also orange poles with the word “Tate” and arrows painted on them.

  • Oct 31, 2010 National Gallery, London. Lots of paintings here. Struck by my usual faves, Van Gogh and Leonardo. Everyome here is struck by them too as there are large crowds in front of all of these.

    I thought I was done but I’d missed a whole wing full of works from 1200 to 1500 which is an era I rather like, fashion-wise at least. For the most part it’s all Mary and Jesus and saints but I like their clothes. Van Eyke was stuck in there, too. And I almost missed it all. The only reason I found out this section is there was because I went into the gift shop at the supposed end of my visit and was looking at tbe postcards. “I didn’t know that was here!” I said to myself, looking at a card depicting a woman in a wimple. I think I’ve seen everything I need to now.

    Later: National Portrait Gallery. I like it here for the following reasons:
    a) not as crowded as National Gallery
    b) little contextual blurbs next to each work
    c) Jane Austen portrait. She doesn’t look very impressed.