Famous people wherever I look...really!
The last couple days have been interesting, to say the least. Very exciting times! I'll try to recount everything I can remember, since so much has happened. This may be quite long, but I promise it's worth it:
Slept from 7pm through 7am Tuesday into Wednesday, but was feeling better in the morning. Went to class, where Callum (read his bio if you get the chance -- great work!) instructed (more like guided, really) the advanced oral interpretation class on six of Shakespeare's sonnets. It was a lot of fun and interesting. He's so knowledgeable about all things Shakespeare and theatre! Continued working on our RT scripts (of which mine is due, ready and rehearsed on Monday). After class went to the West End for lunch at a mediocre Italian restaurant (called, creatively, The Italian Restaurant), a bit of shopping, dinner at a small diner-type restaurant (which was quite good and very inexpensive), and finished off the night with Marguerite, the new musical (opened at the end of May for its first run ever) by the writers of Les Mis and Miss Saigon. Wonderful show, and a great day overall. So after we returned to the hotel, everyone decided to go out to the local pub, The Steeles. Everyone got drinks (except for me, of course) while Ryan, Heather and I rehearsed our sonnet for Thursday morning's class. Happened to run into the rest of the USMers while we were there, so Ian and I decided to rehearse the sonnet we were doing together once we got back to the hotel. On the way out, we were slightly disoriented and trying to figure out which direction the hotel was. A British guy was smoking and asked if we were from America, we all politely said yes, and he responded by saying he lived in LA eight months out of the year. The group continued talking to him about the differences between England and America, especially London vs. Los Angeles. After a bit, he said he was the assistant director for The Dark Knight, as well as Harry Potter 4-6. Are you kidding?!? He was really nice and fun, so we hung around outside Steeles for about another 45 minutes before heading back to the hotel. He also said his usual hangout was at a different pub (which is closer to the hotel, actually), and said we could join him any night after a show. He also gave great suggestions for jazz clubs and other events and places while we were here.
Today! Went to class. Callum did an hour-long (or more?) presentation on all sorts of interesting facts about Shakespeare's Globe, the history of theatre in England, and Shakespeare's plays and modern interpretation and performance. Afterwards, we performed out sonnets. I thought I did quite well, especially for a non-actor. We then finished our RT scripts and read them outloud within our groups of five. Mine (Cinderella by Roald Dahl) turned out very qell (I think, anyway) and everyone seemed to enjoy reading and listening to it. After class, Donna and I immediately headed to the West End to catch the matinee of Under the Blue Sky, which about teachers. Quite good, though not what either of us expected. It's in London for a very short run, so I'm glad I got to see it. Also it starred Catherine Tate of Dr. Who fame -- she was great! The whole cast was, really. (And the lighting, and the set, and the show itself, and...) Afterwards, Donna and I left the theatre and turned right to almost (literally) run into...Catherine Tate. She smiled and said hi, so I did the same, but she was on her way before I could ask for an autograph. However, the male lead from the first act (there were three short acts with no intermission) was standing next to where she had come from. I was able to have him sign my program and talk to him a bit about the show. Then he was on his way, and so were Donna and I. (Like I said, a very exciting couple of days!) We came back to the hotel, I changed for dinner (my sandal broke!), and we went to Steeles (which is a pub that serves delicious Thai food). I ordered our meals and while we were waiting, who shows up? Arlene (who runs the Institute), her friend visiting her (who was very sweet...more on that in a bit), Bob (an advanced student with me), and...Dr. Stump, who handed me twenty dollars (as he did with all the USMers and told me to go out and get a nice meal with it). We all talked about the experience so far, especially the shows and how wonderful it is to have Callum. Arlene's friend (I can't quite remember her name...Judy? I'll call her Judy, but I don't think it's right.) commented that she loved the sonnets I had done and said I was a talented actor. I laughed, but she went on to say that while she first though I was shy and melted into the background somewhat, I had "quite a talent" and couldn't wait to see where I would go. I explained that I went to college for stage and theatre management. "Judy" told me that I didn't have to do what I originally intended, but that I had a nice "back-up plan". I was very much flattered. She continued that she had watched and talked to Callum during and after our sonnets. "Judy" then said Callum had been very surprised and impressed with my progress in less than 24 hours and he couldn't wait to see what I could do during the RT pieces. if I had been flattered before, I don't know what I would call my emotional state at that point. I have so much respect for him as a performer and a theatre "expert," so knowing he was impressed with my growth from first-read to performance was tops! Really.
Now Donna and I are back in the room, in early for the night so we can rest and catch up on sleep. I may go visit my assistant director friend tomorrow night at his choice of pub; see what other great stories I can get out of him. And maybe I'll speak to Callum tomorrow for a bit...don't know about what; he just always has interesting information and is truly a fascinating person.
Really, what a perfect couple of days! Can't wait for the rest of the trip, especially if it keeps up like this!
Slept from 7pm through 7am Tuesday into Wednesday, but was feeling better in the morning. Went to class, where Callum (read his bio if you get the chance -- great work!) instructed (more like guided, really) the advanced oral interpretation class on six of Shakespeare's sonnets. It was a lot of fun and interesting. He's so knowledgeable about all things Shakespeare and theatre! Continued working on our RT scripts (of which mine is due, ready and rehearsed on Monday). After class went to the West End for lunch at a mediocre Italian restaurant (called, creatively, The Italian Restaurant), a bit of shopping, dinner at a small diner-type restaurant (which was quite good and very inexpensive), and finished off the night with Marguerite, the new musical (opened at the end of May for its first run ever) by the writers of Les Mis and Miss Saigon. Wonderful show, and a great day overall. So after we returned to the hotel, everyone decided to go out to the local pub, The Steeles. Everyone got drinks (except for me, of course) while Ryan, Heather and I rehearsed our sonnet for Thursday morning's class. Happened to run into the rest of the USMers while we were there, so Ian and I decided to rehearse the sonnet we were doing together once we got back to the hotel. On the way out, we were slightly disoriented and trying to figure out which direction the hotel was. A British guy was smoking and asked if we were from America, we all politely said yes, and he responded by saying he lived in LA eight months out of the year. The group continued talking to him about the differences between England and America, especially London vs. Los Angeles. After a bit, he said he was the assistant director for The Dark Knight, as well as Harry Potter 4-6. Are you kidding?!? He was really nice and fun, so we hung around outside Steeles for about another 45 minutes before heading back to the hotel. He also said his usual hangout was at a different pub (which is closer to the hotel, actually), and said we could join him any night after a show. He also gave great suggestions for jazz clubs and other events and places while we were here.
Today! Went to class. Callum did an hour-long (or more?) presentation on all sorts of interesting facts about Shakespeare's Globe, the history of theatre in England, and Shakespeare's plays and modern interpretation and performance. Afterwards, we performed out sonnets. I thought I did quite well, especially for a non-actor. We then finished our RT scripts and read them outloud within our groups of five. Mine (Cinderella by Roald Dahl) turned out very qell (I think, anyway) and everyone seemed to enjoy reading and listening to it. After class, Donna and I immediately headed to the West End to catch the matinee of Under the Blue Sky, which about teachers. Quite good, though not what either of us expected. It's in London for a very short run, so I'm glad I got to see it. Also it starred Catherine Tate of Dr. Who fame -- she was great! The whole cast was, really. (And the lighting, and the set, and the show itself, and...) Afterwards, Donna and I left the theatre and turned right to almost (literally) run into...Catherine Tate. She smiled and said hi, so I did the same, but she was on her way before I could ask for an autograph. However, the male lead from the first act (there were three short acts with no intermission) was standing next to where she had come from. I was able to have him sign my program and talk to him a bit about the show. Then he was on his way, and so were Donna and I. (Like I said, a very exciting couple of days!) We came back to the hotel, I changed for dinner (my sandal broke!), and we went to Steeles (which is a pub that serves delicious Thai food). I ordered our meals and while we were waiting, who shows up? Arlene (who runs the Institute), her friend visiting her (who was very sweet...more on that in a bit), Bob (an advanced student with me), and...Dr. Stump, who handed me twenty dollars (as he did with all the USMers and told me to go out and get a nice meal with it). We all talked about the experience so far, especially the shows and how wonderful it is to have Callum. Arlene's friend (I can't quite remember her name...Judy? I'll call her Judy, but I don't think it's right.) commented that she loved the sonnets I had done and said I was a talented actor. I laughed, but she went on to say that while she first though I was shy and melted into the background somewhat, I had "quite a talent" and couldn't wait to see where I would go. I explained that I went to college for stage and theatre management. "Judy" told me that I didn't have to do what I originally intended, but that I had a nice "back-up plan". I was very much flattered. She continued that she had watched and talked to Callum during and after our sonnets. "Judy" then said Callum had been very surprised and impressed with my progress in less than 24 hours and he couldn't wait to see what I could do during the RT pieces. if I had been flattered before, I don't know what I would call my emotional state at that point. I have so much respect for him as a performer and a theatre "expert," so knowing he was impressed with my growth from first-read to performance was tops! Really.
Now Donna and I are back in the room, in early for the night so we can rest and catch up on sleep. I may go visit my assistant director friend tomorrow night at his choice of pub; see what other great stories I can get out of him. And maybe I'll speak to Callum tomorrow for a bit...don't know about what; he just always has interesting information and is truly a fascinating person.
Really, what a perfect couple of days! Can't wait for the rest of the trip, especially if it keeps up like this!