Class ended this morning, meaning I am now a junior in college! That's exciting. Scary, but exciting. Halfway to graduation and the "real" world!
I've spent so much of this blog talking about what I've been doing with my days and why I love London, but hardly any of it describing the shows I've been seeing, which was the primary motivation in coming here. As such, I've compiled a short review of each of them. Here they are:
Saturday, April 23rd, 2011—
Show: Hamlet
Where: Lyttelton Theatre at the National Theatre
A wonderful modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s most discussed play, this production truly was a great introdcution to British theatre. It was almost full text, so the show was looooong. Fresh and smart, I loved finally seeing this masterpiece of English literature brought to life on stage.
Monday, April 25th, 2011—
Show: Clybourne Park
Where: Wyndham’s Theatre
The most recent winnter of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, as well as a laundry list of other awards, this dark comedy dealt with racial tensions and demographics and their relationship with property values in suburban Chicago. Taking place in two acts, the second being 50 years after the first, the first official show of this class was wildly hilarious and thought-provoking, allowing for great discussion the next day.
Tuesday, April 26th, 2011—
Show: Wastwater
Where: The Royal Court Theatre
A drama dealing with the nature of choices and decision making, the three scenes featured unique characters in each, all related in different ways, as well as completely different sets, all of which were extremely impressive. Tense, shocking, and disheartening, I certainly enjoyed our first piece that veered more towards the darker side of things. It was one of the more polarizing shows we saw—some loved it, while others hated it. I loved it.
Wednesday, April 27th, 2011—
1st Show: Brontë
Where: Tricycle Theatre
Just up the road from our flat, this drama was a biographical exploration of the titular sisters. Extremely ambitious in its goal, this was the first show that didn’t have me raving. It took me a while to get into it, and once I did, it still didn’t really hit home for me. I will say, though, that I want to reread Wuthering Heights because of it.
2nd Show: Pina
Where: Barbican Cinema
A film about dance and the titular choreographer, it was our first performance falling outside of traditional theatre. It was beautiful and interesting, though it seemed like an evening better suited for a class about film than live performance. But I'd see it again!
Thursday, April 28th, 2011—
1st Show: London Road
Where: Cottesloe Theatre at the National Theatre
Documentary theatre is vastly underrepresented in modern theatre, so I was thrilled to hear we had one on the schedule. Plus, it was our first musical. With very pretty singing and technical aspects, it was interesting hearing a documentary in this form. For our second trip to the National, it was well worth it.
2nd Show: Rocket to the Moon
Where: Lyttelton Theatre at the National Theatre
The same stage we saw Hamlet on, the set was vastly bigger. Stretching all the way up to the ceilings and featuring several rooms, the folks at the National know how to go big. Though the story wasn’t particularly interesting to me, I appreciated the acting and set design.
Friday, April 29th, 2011—
Show: Electra
Where: Gate Theatre
An intimate setting above a pub, the 80 person Gate Theatre was the perfect place to see this chilling modern adaptation of the Greek classic. Staged in traverse, the audience could literally reach out and touch the actors. While most of the class did not enjoy the performance, citing the lack of variety in the acting and the loudness of the voices and music, I really enjoyed myself. The woman playing Electra was outstanding.
Saturday, April 30th, 2011—
Show: We Will Rock You
Where: Dominion Theatre
Completely on my own and outside the traditional confines of class, I was excited to see a musical with the lyrics of Queen. Though at times corny, the main draw was not its plot, but its music and visual aspects. One of the more visually stunning shows I got to see while in London, it often felt like a rock concert. I even bought a glowstick for 3 pounds for the show-stopping, house-rocking finale. No wonder it has been running for 9 years.
Monday, May 2nd, 2011—
Show: War Horse
Where: New London Theatre
Absolutely breathtaking! The best show we saw! One of the best performances I have ever seen! Almost cinematic and an incredible lighting design! There were horse puppets! What more do I need to say?
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011—
1st Show: Pioneers of the Downtown Scene
Where: Barbican Art Gallery
An interdisciplinary art piece, featuring both visual and performance aspects, the 1960’s art scene of NYC was explored in this modern installation. The sculptures and photographs and such were interesting, but I could’ve gone without the performances. They weren’t very intriguing or bold, but at least they were short.
2nd Show: And the Horse You Rode In On
Where: Pit Theatre at the Barbican
Another ambitious self-written show, this was the first show we saw that I completely hated. It was boring, unfunny, childish, and extremely annoying. Perhaps I was taking it too seriously, but it was just so overwhelmingly annoying that I couldn’t enjoy it at all.
Wednesday, May 4th, 2011—
Show: Iolanthe
Where: Wilton’s Music Hall
A Gilbert and Sullivan operetta about fairies performed by an all-male cast (all of whom were very pretty!), this show was extremely silly and fun. The space was unique in that it was very small, so the cast had to utilize the entire room, rather than just the stage. The singing was outrageously good; I forgot that there weren’t women in the show most of the time.
Thursday, May 5th, 2011—
1st Show: I Am the Wind
Where: Young Vic Theatre
Another new play, this show explored the relationship between two friends as they journey on a small boat at sea. I thought this one would get me more stoked on Semester at Sea, but it really just put me to sleep. Dull and unspired acting made one of the shorter shows we saw seem far too long. The writing was pretty and poetic, though.
2nd Show: A Delicate Balance
Where: Almeida Theatre
Edward Albee’s first Pulitzer Prize winning play, I had high expectations for this. They were met. Albee is my favorite playwright, so it was exciting for me to see one of his best shows be performed. The set and lighting design were absolutely perfect. Imelda Stuanton as Claire stole the show. I could see this one again.
Friday, May 6th, 2011—
1st Show: All’s Well That Ends Well
Where: Globe Theatre
Seeing a show at the Globe Theatre is something every theatre fan should do. It’s so different having to stand up in the open air for an entire show. I had never thought planes and birds flying overhead would make such a difference. Plus, natural lighting is so refreshing. All that being said, the acting was good, but nothing to write home about, though they did make Shakespeare understandable, which is always the biggest challenge in performing his work. To that end, the show was a success.
2nd Show: Mark Thomas—Extreme Rambling: Walking the Wall
Where: Tricycle Theatre
A stand-up comedian who described his experience walking the border of Palestine and Israel, it was fun to see a comedy show after so many dramas. He knew what he was talking about and made some excellent insights into this long-standing situation in the Middle East.
Monday, May 9th, 2011—
Show: Chekhov in Hell
Where: Soho Theatre
Yet another new show, I had my doubts about this one. A comedy about Chekhov coming back to life after 100 years sounded a little out there, but it was actually quite fun. Though it wasn’t particularly difficult in terms of the technical aspects, utilizing a lot of mime, it was a well thought out show. Nothing to write home about, but fun.
Tuesday, May 10th, 2011—
Show: Trilogy
Where: The Place
Our first dance show! I absolutely loved it. Beautiful lighting and an interesting concept, the dancers brought their story of the importance of music to life. What I like about dance is that when words fail me as a writer, dancers can still tell a damn good story.
Wednesday, May 11th, 2011—
Show: The School for Scandal
Where: Barbican Theatre
The worst show we saw. The worst professional performance I have ever seen. Messy and convoluted, it seemed as if there was no concept or idea behind most of their choices. The sound was far too loud in it, too. It makes me angry just thinking about it because IT WAS FOUR HOURS LONG. FOUR HOURS OF CRAP.
Thursday, May 12th, 2011—
1st Show: Moonlight
Where: Dunmar Theatre
One of Harold Pinter’s later plays, it was exciting to see him brought to life after having performed him earlier this year. The show was beautifully lit and well acted. Though at times confusing, that’s the nature of Pinter’s writing, and I find the lyricism of the entire show enticing and engaging.
2nd Show: The Damnation of Faust
Where: London Coliseum
An opera! As you’d expect, I had my doubts; I don’t know the first thing about opera. It completely blew me out of the water—I had never seen such incredible technical aspects in a performance before. Everything from the sets, lights, costumes, and sound designs were absolutely over-the-top and perfect. The singing was, of course, lovely, too, even though I find male opera voices frustrating. Despite its length, it was wildly entertaining, a spectacle that one could only see to truly understand.
Friday, May 13th, 2011—
Show: Dutch National Ballet
Where: Sadler’s Wells Theatre
Another dance show, I was one of the few people in class excited to see a ballet—the way those dancers move their bodies is mesmerizing! It was just beautiful. The second portion of the show was especially riveting.
Saturday, May 14th, 2011—
Show: In a Forest, Dark and Deep
Where: Vaudeville Theatre
My 2nd venture to a theatre alone, I went because I heard nothing but good things. It was exceptional! It took place during a thunderstorm, so they had lightning crashes, power outages, and everything—quite the impressive lighting design. Matthew Fox from Lost played the male lead, and he did a dynamite job. Olivia Williams played his sister, and she was also wonderful. Some of the best acting I saw all month.
Monday, May 16th, 2011—
Show: Silence
Where: Hampstead Theatre
A quick bus ride from our flats, this show was anything but quiet, as it actually was exploring the nature of sound. Easily the best sound design of any show we saw all month, it had everything from quiet buzzing to ragingly loud music. The entire ensemble worked well together, though nobody really stood out at all, which was nice to see since some roles could have easily stolen the spotlight. I have to commend the stage manager as well because of how tight the running of the show was—nearly all the cues were timed perfectly.
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011—
Show: The Cherry Orchard
Where: Olivier Thetare at the National Theatre
Our last show! A drama by Chekhov, I was worried it would be boring, as Chekhov so often tends to be. Truth be told, it took me a little while to get into, but once I did, it was excellent. The second act was nearly perfect. However, it seemed like there were times where they just didn’t pay attention to accents—there were British, Irish, Scottish, Russian, and Welsh present. The set moved around a lot, which kept things interesting. A great last show.
And there you have it! I'm lucky to have gotten to see so much great theatre. As for ranking, that's difficult...
Best Shows I Saw:
War Horse
A Delicate Balance
Clybourne Park
In a Forest, Dark and Deep
Wastwater
Iolanthe
I've spent so much of this blog talking about what I've been doing with my days and why I love London, but hardly any of it describing the shows I've been seeing, which was the primary motivation in coming here. As such, I've compiled a short review of each of them. Here they are:
Saturday, April 23rd, 2011—
Show: Hamlet
Where: Lyttelton Theatre at the National Theatre
A wonderful modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s most discussed play, this production truly was a great introdcution to British theatre. It was almost full text, so the show was looooong. Fresh and smart, I loved finally seeing this masterpiece of English literature brought to life on stage.
Monday, April 25th, 2011—
Show: Clybourne Park
Where: Wyndham’s Theatre
The most recent winnter of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, as well as a laundry list of other awards, this dark comedy dealt with racial tensions and demographics and their relationship with property values in suburban Chicago. Taking place in two acts, the second being 50 years after the first, the first official show of this class was wildly hilarious and thought-provoking, allowing for great discussion the next day.
Tuesday, April 26th, 2011—
Show: Wastwater
Where: The Royal Court Theatre
A drama dealing with the nature of choices and decision making, the three scenes featured unique characters in each, all related in different ways, as well as completely different sets, all of which were extremely impressive. Tense, shocking, and disheartening, I certainly enjoyed our first piece that veered more towards the darker side of things. It was one of the more polarizing shows we saw—some loved it, while others hated it. I loved it.
Wednesday, April 27th, 2011—
1st Show: Brontë
Where: Tricycle Theatre
Just up the road from our flat, this drama was a biographical exploration of the titular sisters. Extremely ambitious in its goal, this was the first show that didn’t have me raving. It took me a while to get into it, and once I did, it still didn’t really hit home for me. I will say, though, that I want to reread Wuthering Heights because of it.
2nd Show: Pina
Where: Barbican Cinema
A film about dance and the titular choreographer, it was our first performance falling outside of traditional theatre. It was beautiful and interesting, though it seemed like an evening better suited for a class about film than live performance. But I'd see it again!
Thursday, April 28th, 2011—
1st Show: London Road
Where: Cottesloe Theatre at the National Theatre
Documentary theatre is vastly underrepresented in modern theatre, so I was thrilled to hear we had one on the schedule. Plus, it was our first musical. With very pretty singing and technical aspects, it was interesting hearing a documentary in this form. For our second trip to the National, it was well worth it.
2nd Show: Rocket to the Moon
Where: Lyttelton Theatre at the National Theatre
The same stage we saw Hamlet on, the set was vastly bigger. Stretching all the way up to the ceilings and featuring several rooms, the folks at the National know how to go big. Though the story wasn’t particularly interesting to me, I appreciated the acting and set design.
Friday, April 29th, 2011—
Show: Electra
Where: Gate Theatre
An intimate setting above a pub, the 80 person Gate Theatre was the perfect place to see this chilling modern adaptation of the Greek classic. Staged in traverse, the audience could literally reach out and touch the actors. While most of the class did not enjoy the performance, citing the lack of variety in the acting and the loudness of the voices and music, I really enjoyed myself. The woman playing Electra was outstanding.
Saturday, April 30th, 2011—
Show: We Will Rock You
Where: Dominion Theatre
Completely on my own and outside the traditional confines of class, I was excited to see a musical with the lyrics of Queen. Though at times corny, the main draw was not its plot, but its music and visual aspects. One of the more visually stunning shows I got to see while in London, it often felt like a rock concert. I even bought a glowstick for 3 pounds for the show-stopping, house-rocking finale. No wonder it has been running for 9 years.
Monday, May 2nd, 2011—
Show: War Horse
Where: New London Theatre
Absolutely breathtaking! The best show we saw! One of the best performances I have ever seen! Almost cinematic and an incredible lighting design! There were horse puppets! What more do I need to say?
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011—
1st Show: Pioneers of the Downtown Scene
Where: Barbican Art Gallery
An interdisciplinary art piece, featuring both visual and performance aspects, the 1960’s art scene of NYC was explored in this modern installation. The sculptures and photographs and such were interesting, but I could’ve gone without the performances. They weren’t very intriguing or bold, but at least they were short.
2nd Show: And the Horse You Rode In On
Where: Pit Theatre at the Barbican
Another ambitious self-written show, this was the first show we saw that I completely hated. It was boring, unfunny, childish, and extremely annoying. Perhaps I was taking it too seriously, but it was just so overwhelmingly annoying that I couldn’t enjoy it at all.
Wednesday, May 4th, 2011—
Show: Iolanthe
Where: Wilton’s Music Hall
A Gilbert and Sullivan operetta about fairies performed by an all-male cast (all of whom were very pretty!), this show was extremely silly and fun. The space was unique in that it was very small, so the cast had to utilize the entire room, rather than just the stage. The singing was outrageously good; I forgot that there weren’t women in the show most of the time.
Thursday, May 5th, 2011—
1st Show: I Am the Wind
Where: Young Vic Theatre
Another new play, this show explored the relationship between two friends as they journey on a small boat at sea. I thought this one would get me more stoked on Semester at Sea, but it really just put me to sleep. Dull and unspired acting made one of the shorter shows we saw seem far too long. The writing was pretty and poetic, though.
2nd Show: A Delicate Balance
Where: Almeida Theatre
Edward Albee’s first Pulitzer Prize winning play, I had high expectations for this. They were met. Albee is my favorite playwright, so it was exciting for me to see one of his best shows be performed. The set and lighting design were absolutely perfect. Imelda Stuanton as Claire stole the show. I could see this one again.
Friday, May 6th, 2011—
1st Show: All’s Well That Ends Well
Where: Globe Theatre
Seeing a show at the Globe Theatre is something every theatre fan should do. It’s so different having to stand up in the open air for an entire show. I had never thought planes and birds flying overhead would make such a difference. Plus, natural lighting is so refreshing. All that being said, the acting was good, but nothing to write home about, though they did make Shakespeare understandable, which is always the biggest challenge in performing his work. To that end, the show was a success.
2nd Show: Mark Thomas—Extreme Rambling: Walking the Wall
Where: Tricycle Theatre
A stand-up comedian who described his experience walking the border of Palestine and Israel, it was fun to see a comedy show after so many dramas. He knew what he was talking about and made some excellent insights into this long-standing situation in the Middle East.
Monday, May 9th, 2011—
Show: Chekhov in Hell
Where: Soho Theatre
Yet another new show, I had my doubts about this one. A comedy about Chekhov coming back to life after 100 years sounded a little out there, but it was actually quite fun. Though it wasn’t particularly difficult in terms of the technical aspects, utilizing a lot of mime, it was a well thought out show. Nothing to write home about, but fun.
Tuesday, May 10th, 2011—
Show: Trilogy
Where: The Place
Our first dance show! I absolutely loved it. Beautiful lighting and an interesting concept, the dancers brought their story of the importance of music to life. What I like about dance is that when words fail me as a writer, dancers can still tell a damn good story.
Wednesday, May 11th, 2011—
Show: The School for Scandal
Where: Barbican Theatre
The worst show we saw. The worst professional performance I have ever seen. Messy and convoluted, it seemed as if there was no concept or idea behind most of their choices. The sound was far too loud in it, too. It makes me angry just thinking about it because IT WAS FOUR HOURS LONG. FOUR HOURS OF CRAP.
Thursday, May 12th, 2011—
1st Show: Moonlight
Where: Dunmar Theatre
One of Harold Pinter’s later plays, it was exciting to see him brought to life after having performed him earlier this year. The show was beautifully lit and well acted. Though at times confusing, that’s the nature of Pinter’s writing, and I find the lyricism of the entire show enticing and engaging.
2nd Show: The Damnation of Faust
Where: London Coliseum
An opera! As you’d expect, I had my doubts; I don’t know the first thing about opera. It completely blew me out of the water—I had never seen such incredible technical aspects in a performance before. Everything from the sets, lights, costumes, and sound designs were absolutely over-the-top and perfect. The singing was, of course, lovely, too, even though I find male opera voices frustrating. Despite its length, it was wildly entertaining, a spectacle that one could only see to truly understand.
Friday, May 13th, 2011—
Show: Dutch National Ballet
Where: Sadler’s Wells Theatre
Another dance show, I was one of the few people in class excited to see a ballet—the way those dancers move their bodies is mesmerizing! It was just beautiful. The second portion of the show was especially riveting.
Saturday, May 14th, 2011—
Show: In a Forest, Dark and Deep
Where: Vaudeville Theatre
My 2nd venture to a theatre alone, I went because I heard nothing but good things. It was exceptional! It took place during a thunderstorm, so they had lightning crashes, power outages, and everything—quite the impressive lighting design. Matthew Fox from Lost played the male lead, and he did a dynamite job. Olivia Williams played his sister, and she was also wonderful. Some of the best acting I saw all month.
Monday, May 16th, 2011—
Show: Silence
Where: Hampstead Theatre
A quick bus ride from our flats, this show was anything but quiet, as it actually was exploring the nature of sound. Easily the best sound design of any show we saw all month, it had everything from quiet buzzing to ragingly loud music. The entire ensemble worked well together, though nobody really stood out at all, which was nice to see since some roles could have easily stolen the spotlight. I have to commend the stage manager as well because of how tight the running of the show was—nearly all the cues were timed perfectly.
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011—
Show: The Cherry Orchard
Where: Olivier Thetare at the National Theatre
Our last show! A drama by Chekhov, I was worried it would be boring, as Chekhov so often tends to be. Truth be told, it took me a little while to get into, but once I did, it was excellent. The second act was nearly perfect. However, it seemed like there were times where they just didn’t pay attention to accents—there were British, Irish, Scottish, Russian, and Welsh present. The set moved around a lot, which kept things interesting. A great last show.
And there you have it! I'm lucky to have gotten to see so much great theatre. As for ranking, that's difficult...
Best Shows I Saw:
War Horse
A Delicate Balance
Clybourne Park
In a Forest, Dark and Deep
Wastwater
Iolanthe
Worst Shows I Saw:
The School For Scandal
And the Horse You Rode In On
I Am the Wind
I'm glad that the number of best shows doubles the number of worst shows. I would've felt like this class was a waste otherwise. So, overall this was the perfect way to end sophomore year—in a beautiful city with wonderful people seeing amazing shows. With only 3 days left in London before I jet off to Spain for my birthday and then America for summer in Colorado Springs, I'm certainly counting my blessings. Plus, it's only 99 days until Semester at Sea. Until then, it's time to celebrate—it's summer, baby!
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