The Donmar

The Donmar Theater is my favorite place to see shows now, well besides The Globe, but I like them both for different reasons. The Donmar is a theatrer in the middle Convent Garden. It is a small blackbox theater that allows the shows to be so much more intimate. This may have been why the two shows I saw there were in my top four shows (Anna Christie, Luise Miller, Doctor Faustus, and London Road.) I think the reason I loved those plays so much was because I was able to see their faces, and get into the show. Almost all the shows that weren't my favorite were back row or upper circle rows. There were exceptions though.

The first show I saw in London was at this theater. It was call Luise Miller. All I can say is that Alex Kingston took my breath away. Here is a picture of her:

All of the actors were really impressive to be honest. It was basically a Romeo and Juliet story.

The last play that I saw in London was also at the Donmar. It was Anna Christie.

Here is a poster for Anna Christie. Yes, Jude Law was in it, and yes he was amazing.

The show is about a woman's life, and how a girl can be judged more harshly than a man who does the same thing. Both lead actors were really impressive, and they were still in the preview period of the show.

These two shows confirmed for me my career choice. I felt like this theatre was made for actors and designer who wanted to put on shows without worrying about money. I feel as if they only worry about the artistic integrity of the play, and all aspects of it. I love that, and I want to be a part of it.

Doctor Faustus

octor Faustus

The Tragicall History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, commonly referred to simply as Doctor Faustus, is a play by Christopher Marlowe, based on the Faust story, in which a man sells his soul to the devil for power and knowledge

I got to see Doctor Faustus at the Globe on the first Friday of the program. This play was just so amazing. The cast was completely committed to every moment of the show. There were special effects, blood, amazing costumes, and great movement throughout the entire play. Here are some awesome pictures from the production:

These dragons were AMAZING!

The actor Faustus did just fine, but I loved Mephistopheles (below.) I felt as if he had to be exhausted at the end of each performance, not a physical exhaustion, but a mental exhaustion. Although, the rest of the cast had to be wiped out after each performance. Between costume changes, and character movement, they must have wanted a 10 hour nap after each show. 

Doctor Faustus was the most visually pleasing play during study abroad.

The Beggar's Opera

This was  the fifth play that I saw in London, and I was really excited about the location that the group got to see it at: Regent's Park. I heard really great things about that space, and I wasn't disappointed. I hoped the weather was good, but it wasn't. It rained almost the whole time.

It is an opera in three acts in 1728 by John Gay. It is the only remaining satirical drama that is still popular today. It was first performed at the Lincoln Fields inn theater and ran for 62 consecutive performances. I thought it was interesting to find that that was the longest run of a show up to that point. It was revived in 1920 and ran for an amazing 1,463 performances. 

I was pretty sure that I'd like this opera because in The New York Times there was a quote that the play was actually and anti-opera that made fun of Italian Operas back in the day. Gay wrote the opera without grand music and opera themes. Instead he focused on poverty, politics, and injustice. He didn't just zone in on the corruption of the upper class, but he wrote about the corruption at all levels. I imagine that made it so everyone could enjoy the show.

I have to say this play was one of my least favorite shows, but I still really enjoyed myself while watching this play. All the plays on the trip were really great. I spoke with people after the program was over, and they said we had gotten really lucky with what we had seen. 

These two actresses were the best in the show. They had the most entertaining cat fight in the entire world. Here is a picture of it:

So, no, it wasn't the best show, but it was good night out. 

All's Well That Ends Well

Alls Well That Ends Well

Yay Shakespeare!!!! My love for Shakespeare has been increased due to working as a company member with The Grassroots Shakespeare Company this summer. Alls Well That Ends Well is one that I have never scene, but there is only some much information that is available on Shakespeare plays. Most believe that this play was written between 1604 and 1605. It didn't show up in any publication until 1623 when it appeared in the First Folio with other Shakespeare plays. 

Like anton's The Cherry Orchard the classification of the play is a little mingled. It was originally written as a comedy, but there are discussions addressing the opinion that it may be one of his 'problem plays;' however, Hamlet is grouped with the 'problem play.'

Interesting things about the play:

There is no evidence that it was popular in Shakespeare's life.

Critics think that Bertram's conversion is too sudden. This could be due to missing text?

No recorded performance until 1741 at Goodman's Fields,

This show was my first globe experience, and it confirmed my love for Shakespeare and Globe, but definitely not my love for this play. 

Here is a picture of my favorite character Parolles. I loved his spurs.

Usually the audience feels like Bertram is such a bad guys, but I ended up feeling bad for both Bertram, and Helena. The actors were really great. I've never seen a woman cry so much on stage.

I decided I'm going to be in a Globe show. I had four favourite productions, and one of them was at the Globe, but that was not this one. It was Doctor Faustus, and it was amazing, but more of that to come.

Welcome to London

Week One

I got in London three days before the program started, so I could fight off jet lag without having to drag other people down in my tiredness. Dan, Casey and Jaron were already here, so they picked me up from the airport. A luckily chance brought Robbie into the group. His flight came in at about the same time as mine, and we were able to meet up with him. The first day for me dragged on, but I'm thankful for Dan. He took me on a walk around London, and I was too tired to really appreciate everything that was in front of me. We got on the tube at the airport and travelled down Hyde Park to pick up lunch at Boots. I soon realized that if I want to get by without spending much money here I have to eat sandwiches or pasties (which is toasted bread filled with a cheese or meat.) To say the least I have been spending more money. The food had been a bland disappointment, but over the week I found more things and places that I like.

Once we walked past St. Paul's, then over Millennium Bridge I got to see the GLOBE! At first Dan pointed out the building next to it. I was definitely confused, and disappointed. Yes, I was tired. Super tired. Please don't judge. I looked to the left of that random brick building, and was appeased. The Globe is beautiful, and I hope to perform there one day. 

We walked up the Thames river and past the Tate Modern, and National Theatre, then we stopped for fish and chips at the Founders Arms. All the boys got fish and chips, but I'm afraid after the first week I still haven't had any. I might not either because every one commented on how their stomach couldn't handle it very well.

After that we all headed back to the hostel we stayed at, then because of my tired zombie state I passed out. 

Day two for me was more relaxing. I woke up early with Dan and Casey and went to the Donmar Theatre to get tickets for the show that night. Luise Miller wasn't on the itinerary for study abroad , but it was the first theatre experience that I had in London. This play was definitely a good one to see, but also I've been here for almost two weeks now, and it is still the best play that I've seen. All aspects were just amazing: lights, costumes, makeup and acting. The script was also just so beautiful. The next day was pretty eventful. Christopher Clark got in from the airport and we took a boat out to Greenwich. The boat ride was an epic journey at sea, or at least the Thames River. 

Our group went up top and sat with a couple of other tourists. Once it started to sprinkle everyone went below, but we stayed up top... Until it fell so fierce and blew so hard we abandoned boat deck, and went below. It was too late thought. We were already soaking wet.

Once I got to Greenwich I was able to cross the Meridian Line and stand on both sides, visit the birth place of Queen Elizabeth, and the Maritime Museum where Chris passed out in half a second, for the first out three times that day. 

The most horrible/great thing about that day was that we missed the boat back to London because Roberta closed the gate even though the boat was still there. We all got refunds on our boat tickets and used the extra food to eat at Wagamama's (which ended up to me my favorite restaurant there.

The next the program officially started, and everyone flew in. Then the plays began!

Airports

I haven't been in an airport since I was about 14. Now I'm travelling by myself, thousands of miles across the globe, over the ocean, and into a different country all by myself. I would love to say that it's no big deal, but I'm finding myself very intimidated; however, my ultimate goal is to have all the cute airport security officers hit on me. Yes, he was married, but was definitely flirting. Okay, that's not my goal, but if it was I would have a perfect airport security officer flirting rank! ... Well I'll keep you posted on that one.

I feel like airports aren't ever in an actual place. They exist in the state they were built in, but they aren't actually in that state. They exist on their own little planet and once I got past security I was then in a foreign nation that nobody wants to live in, but has to visit if they want to get to where they are going. Once I get to London I may feel different. Once again, I'll keep you posted.

The Cherry Orchard

On 7/19/2011 we are going to see Anton Chekhov's play The Cherry Orchard.


The Cherry Orchard was Anton chekhov's last play. It was also written over several years. I get to see this play at the National Theater in London, but it Originally premiered at the Moscow Art Theatre in January of 1904. The actor and director Constantin Stanislavski (yes, that's the one who invented 'the method') was the director of the cherry orchard and he was probably the person to start the debate of whether the show is a comedy, or a dramatic piece of work. Chekhov wrote the play as a comedy, but Stanislavski directed the play as a drama.

There were things in chekhovs life that may have inspired him to write this play. He had his own cherry orchard out in the country of Moscow, but had to sell the orchard due to health problems. Afterward he learned that the new owner had cut the whole orchard down. Then, later in life he returned to places he went during childhood, and found that industrial deforestation had devastated the land.

I found it really interesting, but not really surprising that this play was directly affect by the things that happened in his life. Also, it makes sense that the genre is confusing since he wrote the play while experiencing different things in his life.

Here are some interesting things about this play:
The play opened on his birthday January 17th.
Some believe that this play was a tribute to himself.
Anton was confused and basically upset about the direction Stanislavsky took the play with.

I'm excited to see the play and will update this post with a response when Tuesday comes.