Minding The Gap: Reflections on a month in London

As the underground Tube pulls into the station, a recorded tape reminds passengers to "mind the gap" between the train and the platform as they disembark. The phrase has become a trademark in London, so much so that vendors sell t-shirts with the phrase on them. While these words have a simple, practical purpose for the Tube, as this trip has progressed, I have begun to think of them as a metaphor for my experience in London over the past month. In many ways, this trip has forced me to take a step out of my comfort zone, observe and engage in a new culture and environment, and embrace new challenges.
    Whenever we step out of our natural surroundings, it becomes necessary to change our habits and little things in our daily routine that we might normally take for granted. For example, when crossing a street in the US, our natural tendency is to look left for oncoming traffic, make a quick glance right, and then cross. In London, this whole pattern has to be reversed. Another major difference from the US is the currency. With coins of all different sizes and values than what we utilize in the US, fishing for change at the coffee shop becomes a whole new experience, especially when one has to press the coin up to his eye to see what it's worth as the other customers in line roll their eyes. In essence, when traveling in a foreign country, we must "mind the gap" between our familiar customs and those of where we find ourselves.
    The major focus of the trip was theatre, and as I watched the plethora of plays that the West End has to offer, I was challenged to watch each production with a much more critical eye than I had used previously. Primarily, I was tasked with asking "why" questions. Why does this actor or actress portray the part as he or she is? Why is the set minimal? Why effect did the lights and sound have on the show? These are just a few of the questions that one could think of while experiencing a show. Overall, this trip has transformed me from a fan of theatre into a student of theatre. It has forced me to "mind the gap" between being a passive observer interested solely in entertainment and a focused student intent on grasping the message that each production is trying to convey.
    Finally, this trip has given me a taste of what it is like to be completely responsible for myself. As I near the end of my junior year of college, my mind frequently turns to what life will be like "in the real world" without the consistent foundation that I have come to expect from school, home, and family. While I was still under the wing of St. Olaf on this trip, having money, tickets, and accommodations provided for me, the reality that I will have to come up with these things on my own in a year and a half is starting to hit me. Needless to say, there is certainly a gap between these two different lifestyles.
   As I prepare to depart London and return to the US, I hope to bring with me an appreciation of the culture and history that I have absorbed here, maintain the new friendships I have developed, and finally, mind the gap between the person I was and the person I have become.

News from London

Hi everyone!

Sorry for such a long delay between posts -- I am trying to be out and about as much as possible, but I know I need to keep up to date on my activities here for all of you back home. So here we go!
Last week we departed London for some time out in the countryside, which was a great change of scenery. Our first stop was Stonehenge, which was fun to see and take pictures of, and just be looking at something that has been there for that long. We then made our way into Bath and took a tour of the Roman baths, which were really cool. Lots of history and beautiful scenes there, and the town of Bath is really like a blast to the past. I loved every minute of it. Our final stop of the day was Bristol, where we had a night of luxury in the Bristol Hotel.

The next morning we took a tour of the Old Vic, which is a wonderful old theatre that is currently being refurbished. We then hopped back in the bus and were on our way to Stratford. We arrived in the afternoon and checked into two bed and breakfasts. We had the nicest owners you could wish for, and also a dog to cuddle with named Harry. After checking in we wandered out to Anne Hathaway's cottage, where we encountered the tour guide who was probably my favorite of the trip so far. She knew every little detail about life back in the days of Anne Hathaway and Shakespare, and truly brought the house to life. (and she also had a terrific sense of humor). We also went to Shakespeare's birthplace, which wasn't quite as scenic or enjoyable but still fun.

The next day we took a tour of the Royal Shakespeare Company building and theatre, which was fascinating and made me (and many others in our group) want to work in a professional theatre. Our tour there was followed by a production of Matilda the Musical, which was outstanding in every sense of the word. Terrific music, amazing acting, and just pure enjoyment for everyone. As an added bonus, the actress playing Mrs. Honey was the original Violet from the musical Violet, who I spent a LOT of time listening to this past fall. For the rest of the day we just walked around Stratford, taking in the sights, and had a relaxing evening.

On Friday we drove back to London, and after dropping off some luggage at our hotel for the following week, embarked on our free weekend. Six of us stayed at a youth hostel here in London, and upon arriving there, discovered we had to ascend to the 4th floor, up 99 steps, with our suitcases. Needless to say, it was no easy feat. We got there eventually, and after catching our breath, set off for an afternoon at the British Museum. They had a lot of cool exhibits on Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, and I was able to put by Great Con knowledge to work. For dinner we went back to Regents College, since the food is cheap there, and then came back to the hostel to work on our journals and relax.

Saturday was a fairly relaxing day. A few of us spent the morning in the Natural History Museum, which was very fun. Lots of dinosaurs and a cool exhibit on human evolution and Darwin. I really enjoyed it. After lunch at Regents we spent the afternoon in the hostel working on journals, and I also spent some time looking into summer internships, jobs, etc. On Sunday Ben, Katie and I got up and took a nice walk through Hyde Park to Speaker's Corner, which did not quite live up to the expectations we had. However, we walked down path to the coffee stand, got mochas, and sat on the bench and had a nice long chat about the scariness of going into the real world and living on our own. We then went back to Regents for lunch, and on a whim, Ben and I booked tickets for the matinee of Jersey Boys. It was one of my favorite shows of the trip. The music was fantastic, and the actors were absolutely phenomenal. I’m so glad I saw it. Sunday night we hung out and had beers in a pub for a while, and then headed back home.

Monday we all met up again and checked in at the Umi Hotel, where we are staying for our final week. A few of us took a stroll down to Abbey Road to see it and get a picture in the crosswalk, which is a harder than you might think. We chilled at the hotel for awhile after that before grabbing a quick dinner and heading to King Lear at the Roundhouse. My review has just been posted.

Finally, today we had class for the first time in over a week, and then went over to take a ride on the London Eye, which is a huge ferris wheel that brings you way up above the city. It was pretty cool. Tonight we saw A Flea In Her Ear, which had as all laughing from the moment it started. Review coming shortly.

Sorry for this Moby Dick of a post, but I wanted to include as much as I could. Only three more days!

Cheers!

King Lear: Tragedy Unveiled

Haunting is a word that immediately comes to mind from this new production of King Lear from the Royal Shakespeare Company. A perpetual haze envelops the stage throughout, and darkness and shadows complete the dire atmosphere of Albion. The stark and colorless lighting, complimented by a subtle but persistent bass drum soundtrack, foreshadow the impending doom that the play relentlessly drives toward.

While effectively setting a mood and environment for the characters, the technical elements took a backseat to the acting and text, which with Shakespeare, I believe, is their rightful place. Many scenes, especially in the first act, took place with merely a bench on the bare stage, allowing the audience to devote ample attention to the dialogue and behavior of the characters. Greg Hicks, while at times seeming too young to portray the weary Lear, delivers a masterful performance. His transformation from a shrewd and regal King in the beginning to a mad, half-naked psychotic in Act II is both captivating and terrifying. Another highlight is Sophie Russell’s portrayal of the Fool, which is full of intelligence and wit.

Small weaknesses in the production were its confusion of era and faulty set design. The juxtaposition of chandeliers with more modern lighting fixtures, swords with guns, and knights alongside uniformed soldiers created a jumbled and disjointed message, and left me in somewhat of a void. And while I enjoyed the set design, I could only enjoy what I was able to see, the contents of which did not include the large window that hovered over the stage. Given the fact that I was not in a restricted seat, I feel that the design could have been thought through more effectively.

Overall, I felt that the production was successful, and was driven by the acting and attention given to the text.

Matilda: Enthusiasm for Learning

Roald Dahl's celebrated story of Matilda, a 7 year old-prodigy with a love for learning, is filled with enthusiasm and youthful delight, and is adapted extremely well to the stage by librettist Dennis Kelley and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Children comprised a large part of audience, and while the production is certainly tailored to the younger demographic, it is sure to be enjoyed by spectators of any age. The story promotes finding enjoyment in books and human interaction rather than artificially through a television screen, and this is a message children, and indeed our society as a whole, is sorely in need of hearing right now.

The acting is superb all around, and special attention is certainly due to Adrianna Bertola and Bertie Carvel for their portrayals of Matilda and Mrs. Trunchbull respectively. Bertola, who is on stage throughout nearly all of the two and half hour show, comes across as an utterly convincing seven year-old, and sings with a confidence and maturity beyond her years. Carvel plays a menacing school principal, and finds a perfect medium for depicting a formidable woman without exaggeration and over-dramatization.

The set is also a high-point, and draws the audience into the story before they even set foot in the auditorium. Chalkboards in the lobby are filled with the exclamations and commentary of previous attendees, and spark an excitement to see what is inside. A backdrop of towering bookcases is the center of attention on stage, and Scrabble tiles on the surrounding walls complete the classroom decor.

Finally, the original score from Tim Minchin is lively and clever, adding a dynamic energy to the story that neither the book or the movie could provide. Needless to say, I can't wait until the cast recording comes out.

I felt that the show was a resounding success in every respect. All of the production elements worked together beautifully, and complimented a story that is both entertaining and relevant to our culture today.

The Woman In Black: Horror-Lite

Patrons must ascend the narrow, winding staircase to make their way to their seats on the second level of the bare Fortune Theatre, and this climb immediately sets the mood for the dark and sinister play "The Woman in Black", which has been running on the West End for over twenty years.

A young solicitor is sent to tidy up the affairs and estate of the recently deceased Mrs. Drablow, but is haunted by the noises and ghost-like ambience of the house, and especially by a mysterious woman dressed in black who appears out of nowhere and then disappears into thin air. The play presents this solicitor as an old man telling of his experience to an actor, and together they act out the story.

While I thought that the acting was superb, I felt that the story was a bit cliche and I could not get engaged or easily hooked. There were no unexpected twists and turns, and as a result I didn't ever feel scared or yearn to see what was going to happen next. Furthermore, the sudden shifts out of the story back to the old man and the actor talking seemed jarring to me, and weakened any tension that had built up in the plot.

However, despite these weaknesses in the script, I thought the technical elements were quite effective. The stark, sterile lighting conveyed a sense of uneasiness, and the sound effects of horses galloping and furniture creaking through the house nicely complimented the dialogue. Above all, the acting was full of expression and character, and the words were inflected in a way that was perfectly tailored to the telling of a ghost story.

Overall, I felt that while the environment the play put forward was dramatic and appealing, its potential and effectiveness was diminished by the un-engaging storyline.

Days 11-14

Hello!

Well tonight is our final night in the Regents apartments before we take off bright and early in the morning for Bristol and Stratford for the week to see Stonehenge, the Roman Baths, Shakespeare's birthplace, Ann Hathaway's cottage, and other attractions. I am looking forward to getting out of the city for awhile -- it will be a nice change of pace.

Anyway, I will fill you in on what we have been doing the last few days! On Friday we saw Fela, preceded by a platform discussion beforehand with 3 people who knew Fela personally and gave us a fuller picture of him than the show could. The show was unbelievable and so filled with energy and enthusiasm. I saw it in New York last summer, and liked this production even more. The actor who played Fela was the same as the one in NY, but the Olivier theatre is capable of much more cool technical stuff than the Broadway theatre was. It is just such an original show, and it was a blast.

On Saturday we had class in the morning and then took a trip to St. Paul's Cathedral, which was fun. We climbed all the way to the top, up very narrow, spiraling staircases, but it was worth it. You can basically see all of London from there. I will be putting pictures on Facebook. Saturday night was pick your own play night, and Ben and I went to see Woman In Black, a horror show that has been playing for over 20 years. We both agreed that the acting was excellent, but the story line was not too engaging. There were some scary parts, but I'm amazed that it has had such a long run. Anyway, it was fun.

Yesterday we had a day completely to ourselves, which was really nice. We all slept in (this was the first day we have been able to do that since we got here), and then went to Regents for lunch before heading to the Camden Markets to walk around and shop. There are SO many stands and shops there it is kind of overwhelming, but it is a really nice area to walk around and look at things, and it was fun to hang out. Then we came back and had all had a pizza party together, which was lots of fun.

Today we had class in the morning and then went for a tour of the Shakespeare Globe Theatre (pictured with this post). We had a fantastic tour guide, and it walking around made me really want to see a play there. After that we came back to the apartments, and tonight lots of us are doing laundry, packing, and getting ready to leave tomorrow. We are only seeing one show this week -- Matilda the Musical on Thursday. It has gotten rave reviews, and we are all pretty excited.

I don't know how much I'll be able to get on the internet this week, but I will try to make another post soon. Next weekend is our free weekend, and I know that the hostel we are staying at has WiFi, so I will certainly post from there. We are more than halfway to the end. Time goes too fast!

Cheers!

Fela: Boundless Energy

A fusion of musical, concert, biography, and dance, Fela represents a thoroughly original approach to musical theater and displays the possibilities for the future of the genre. Set in The Shrine, Fela's beloved nightclub in Nigeria, Fela and his supporting cast of women dancers, looked over by the imposing figure of his mother, present a story of their final concert there. Fela's innovative Afrobeat, politically-driven music is the primary focus of the show, and is interspersed by verbal accounts of the oppression and violence imposed upon them by British colonialists in the 1970s.

From the moment the show begins with introductory, live dance music, the energy of the production is immediately apparent and permeates through the audience. Colorful posters and projections of newspaper clippings from the period cover the walls, and rotating lights and disco balls complete the night-club vibe. Sahr Ngaujah, the sole carry-over from tbe Broadway production, is so convincing in his portrayal of Fela that it is easy to forget he is acting. He captivates the audience with his astounding singing and dancing (pulling off a persuasive fake-saxophone playing act as well), and enthusiastically invites the audience to get up, sing and dance with him. Rather than a static presentation that remains the same each time, this show is truly a collaborative experience between the performers and audience that changes with each new group of people, and the result is refreshing and invigorating.

However, for all of its celebration of this charismatic figure of Fela, the show shys away from showing his less appealing attributes, and tailors our perception to only what it wants us to see. Fela was an active polygamist, marrying 27 wives and living with all of them in his house. While there is certainly an argument to be made that by marrying them he saved them from being prostitues alone on the street, it is hard to believe that this was his only motive. Without undermining the undeniable suffering that was wrongly inflicted on Fela, I believe the play could have looked at the man from different angles to give us a more complete picture.

Overall, I thought the play was a resounding success in that it was bursting with energy, filled with dazzling but not overwhelming spectacle, and drew me into a culture that I was previously unfamiliar with.