Theatres, Taverns and Tubes! Oh my!

           

nl.wikipedia.org

            On our first day in London, we were given the task to find three iconic landmarks on a scavenger hunt. One of these three places was the National Theatre. I didn’t know what to expect, but I had the idea in my mind that it was going to be more of an older building. (Boy, was I wrong) As we approached, I saw that the National Theatre was the complete opposite of my assumptions! Already, we have seen one, Light Shining in Buckinghamshire, of three plays that will be performed there during our stay.

            In 1848, Effingham Wilson proposed the idea for a National Theatre, but after several failed attempts, “definite plans were formulated in a book by Harley Granville Barker and William Archer in 1903.” Parliament finally gave their approval for the building in 1949. “It was decided in July 1962 that pending completion of the new building, the Old Vic Theatre was to become the temporary home of the specially created National Theatre company.” On October 25, 1976, the Queen of England opened the National Theatre to the public.

http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

            On the National Theatre’s website, the purpose of the theatre is described as “The National Theatre is dedicated to the constant revitalization of the great traditions of the British stage and to expanding the horizons of audiences and artists alike. In its three theatres on the South Bank in London, it presents an eclectic mix of new plays and classics from the world repertoire with seven or eight productions in repertory at any one time. The National Theatre aspires to reflect in its repertoire the diversity of the nation's culture.” Light Shining in Buckinghamshire was a great representation of what the theatre wants to accomplish.

It was a gateway into a time of the English Civil War between the Royalists and the Parliamentarians. Although the script did not entertain me, the overall production was beautifully designed. The whole play took place on a gigantic buffet table. While the Parliamentarians performed their struggles of everyday life, the Royalists were sitting at the table enjoying multiple rounds of food and leisure. As the production went on, the table became bearer and eventually turned into a dirt plot. There were many creative flares that made this seemingly traditional show into a contemporary masterpiece.

(This information was gathered from http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/discover-more/welcome-to-the-national-theatre/the-history-of-the-national-theatre/national-theatre)

             May 30 was one of the best day in London I have had so far! A few of us woke up early and took the tubes to Picadilly Circus and entered in the lottery for front row tickets to The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre. WE WON!!!! I went into the show only knowing a few songs and came out with a smile and a newfound appreciation for the comedic musical! Then we met Ross Hunter who played Elder Price (picture right), and Brian Sears who played Elder Cunningham (center picture). We also acquired half price tickets to Wicked and met Jeremy Taylor who played Fiyero (picture left).

                               

It was a day of laughter, friendship and adventure. This was a great way to wrap up a fun first week!
 

The Merchant of Venice

          The Merchant of Venice at Shakespeare’s Globe was a performance that I will never forget. I was immediately awestruck by the opening. The costumes, dancing and music took me back to Shakespearean days and helped me imagine what theatre was like back then. Because the play was so interactive with the audience, it really allowed us to feel like we were actually part of the story.

Top of the Globe

A view of the heavens

            Jonathan Pryce played the role of Shylock, the show’s antagonist. “Jonathan Pryce, making his Globe debut, presents us with a Shylock of weight, gravity and considerable complexity (Billington, Michael. “The Merchant of Venice Review—Jonathan Pryce Is a Shylock of Weight and Complexity.” www.the guardian.com. May 1, 2015. Accessed May 29, 2015. http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/may/01/the-merchant-of-venice-review-jonathan-pryce-shylock-shakespeares-globe).” I agree with this statement. There were many times when I sympathized with Shylock, but there were other times when he acted as a true villain.

          Being religious, this play meant a lot to me. It showed how cruel Christians were to Jews and the levels of hatred between the two groups. One moment I felt sympathetic for Shylock was near the beginning when Shylock was reciting a parable from his pocket Bible, and Antonio threw it on the ground. Watching Pryce pick up the bible as though it was almost like an infant and show so much affection was heartbreaking to me. That scene helps pave the way to where we can truly see Shylock’s villain-like qualities acted out through his wanting for revenge against the Christians.

from www.lovetheatre.com

The courtroom scene was one of the most suspenseful scenes I have witnessed on a stage.      
          Reading the text, I didn’t really absorb the connections between the characters, but watching the actors and the choices they made really brought the situation to life. This scene was also an example of Shylock’s more villainous side. Although the bond Antonio made with Shylock was three thousand ducats or a pound of Antonio’s flesh, and Antonio repaid the bond with an amount of twice the amount of ducats, Shylock still wanted his revenge and Antonio’s flesh. When Shylock loses his right to the penalty, we see just how vicious life can be when we live for revenge. Shylock wasn’t allowed to just take the money and leave. Because he was so fervent for Antonio’s flesh and told the court he only wanted the penalty, his only ‘compensation’ was to both be executed and give half of his wealth to the state and the other half to his Christian converted daughter Jessica and her Christian husband Antonio; or live, be christened and give all his wealth to Jessica and Antonio after his death.

from blog.shakespearesglobe.com

          The ending scene was a heartbreaking masterpiece. It was different from the actual text, but I thought it was a stunning and original version. Jessica received a letter about her father’s christening and began to sing this melancholy Yiddish mourning song. As she sings this song, Shylock and the head of the Catholic Church emerge almost as though it were his execution march. The Priest poured Holy Water on Shylock’s head, and with each cupful, we could see a part of Shylock’s heart and heritage die.

          Overall, The Merchant of Venice was something that I will always remember, and being able to experience it where it all began (although it wasn’t the original Globe Theatre), helped me appreciate Shakespeare even more than I already did before.

London is My Oyster

Selfie sticks are a travel must!

            Never have I stayed up for a consecutive thirty-four hours. But arriving in London at 8:45 am, after flying for twelve hours, it was an experience I will never forget. Once we reached our new home for the week and explored the property, we met with our trip coordinator and got our oyster cards. I was confused hearing the name and wondered what was the purpose of an oyster card. I now know it is our ticket to public transportation, both over and belowground. It allows us to access the tube system, trams and buses ("What Is Oyster?" - Transport for London. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2015.). With the oyster card, we can go wherever we need or want to go!

The London Eye

Cliche, but needed!

            Learning the London Underground was a lot easier than I expected! After we took the tube as a group, I felt completely comfortable when our supervisors left us to explore. Thankfully there were maps everywhere, and an automated voice that announced our approaching to the next station. We were also informed when pickpockets were out and about, which made me more aware of my surroundings.

Everyman advertisement at the
National Theatre

          Our first day, we hit the ground running. We were given the task to take the tube system and find the London Eye, National Theatre and Globe. Although we wondered around dazed and confused for a little while, we eventually found all three locations. We were given the night off, so a few friends and I went to the Fortune Theatre and watched The Woman in Black. Because we were so exhausted from going on nonstop, we almost fell asleep in the first act! But once the actress playing the Woman in Black appeared onstage, we woke up IMMEDIATELY. It was a very fun experience, and I’d recommend the show to those who enjoy horror and suspense! 

      I caught a stomach bug on our second day, but I didn’t let that keep me from seeing the beautiful city of London. I wasn’t able to try fish and chips for my first English lunch, but I was happy to be around my friends! I was privileged; however, to watch a 41 gun salute for the opening of Parliament. I was not able to make it to The Father at Tricycle Theatre, but after hearing about the show from my roommates, I feel like I really need to see it on my own!

            Tomorrow is our tour of the Globe Theatre and a matinee of The Merchant of Venice! I will not allow this sickness to take away my experience of my first time visiting a new country!

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre