London: Whirlwind.
Unfortunately, it has been far too ridiculously long since I last wrote of my shenanigans here in London. I'll hit some major points to catch you up, though most of this you've probably seen in my statuses and pictures.
- "THE DREAM" -
The Rose Theatre Kingston's A Midsummer Night's Dream, or just the Dream as the cast and crew lovingly referred to it, was a success. It was an amazing experience for me. From watching rehearsals to technical runs to opening night, but mostly meeting and working with Sir Peter Hall and Dame Judi Dench, of course. The show opened with splendid reviews and had a sold-out run. Definitely great all around.
- TIME TO TALK -
In the time I have been at the Rose, I have been able to see Sir Peter Hall talk about directing Dream and Shakespeare's Advice to the Players (i.e. the verse), as well as Inside the Actor's Studio type conversations with Sir Patrick Stewart and Dame Jude. All very lovely and exciting and thrilling and wonderful! :D
- SHOWS -
So besides Wicked from the first week or so when we were here, I realized I haven't mentioned what I've seen. Well, I won free tickets from Anglo (our program here) to see Sister Act (the musical) to which I took Luis and we both absolutely adored it. Then I got free promotional tickets to see a play called The Little Dog Laughed which was quite funny and interesting, which Stacey saw with me. I also went (and actually bought tickets to do so, lol) to see Royal Shakespeare Company's Twelfth Night and Measure for Measure at the Almeida. In addition to seeing a children's show called Room on the Broom and an amazing show by the aerial theatre troupe Ockham's Razor called The Mill at the Rose Theatre Kingston. Within the next week I will also be seeing Dumb Show which is just starting its run at the Rose.
- EUROTRIP -
My crazy week of travelling around Europe that took place the same week as Rollins spring break was pretty incredible, I must say. This started with PARIS by bus (and ferry) with Luis, Deidra and a tour group. Some highlights besides just seeing the sights were going to the top of the Eiffel Tower (even if it was frigid cold), the crazy guys that said "Sexy boom boom, hakuna matata," whilst trying to tie their stupid bracelets on us, eating far too much at breakfast largely because it was included, going to mass at Notre Dame, etc. Paris was followed by me heading off to ITALY the morning after we returned, where I flew into Rome meeting up with Nick and Cary for a bit less than a day really. But that was still enough time for two rounds of amazing Roman food and a late night trip to the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. From Rome, Nick and I took the train back to Florence where he was staying with his sister, Emily. I was staying in the Hotel Medici which was only about 2 blocks from the Duomo, complete with an amazing view from the balcony of the Duomo and the rest of Florence. Nick and I went with Emily to the Medici Palace and had an amazing Tuscan dinner that night. Nick and I also browsed and did some shopping in the market and the food market as well as checking out the Duomo. Despite pretty horrendous weather (cold, terribly windy, rainy, generally yuck), it was certainly a really good time. So to check that you are keeping up: that was Friday-Sunday in Paris, Monday to Rome, Tuesday -Thursday evening in Florence. Thursday night, Nick and I flew here to London. Friday I attended class and turned in a research paper I had due, then that evening we both flew to DUBLIN, where my roommates, Deidra and Antonela, and Nela's friends, Elizabeth and Ogi, also were. Dublin was a bit more chill than we expected for the weekend leading up to St. Patty's, but Nick and I had fun at the carnival and exploring the parks. It was actually sunny too, so that was a great addition to the weekend. Sunday night it was back to London and Monday morning Nick flew home. Just thinking about everything that took place that week is tiring, but it was so fun!
- CARY CAME TO LONDON -
My most recent adventures in London were with Cary and her friend Amelia, who visited from Rome Monday- Wednesday of this week. Monday they got in and we spent the afternoon at the Tower of London, followed by a trip to the Oxford Street Primark (pretty cute clothes at incredibly cheap prices), and the evening concluded with great Cantonese food in Chinatown. Tuesday, we started out with the tour of the Globe Theatre, followed by fish and chips with tea, then I had class so they explored the British Museum. Then we stopped at a nearby souvenir store, which had a cat! After that we headed to the British Museum, which was absolutely incredible. Cary and I got so caught up in the first part of the exhibition (Shakespeare, Beowulf, all kinds of other amazing literary-ness, the Beatles, Alice in Wonderland...) that we almost missed seeing the illuminated manuscripts, the Gutenberg Bible, and the Magna Carta! After stopping by the City Uni library to use the internet, the three of us made delicious nachos, including homemade chips. Wednesday we went to go see the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace, but the crowd was absolutely ridiculous so we saw the massive amounts of people more than the actual ceremony. Then we went over to Westminster Abbey and toured in there, which was very cool. We stopped in at a pub where I had a delicious beef, brie, and cranberry sauce sandwich (thanks to Cary ordering it first). Still hungry, a stop was made after for Cornish pasties and then we headed to see Harrods. It was great seeing Cary (for more than just briefly) and it makes me excited for Rome at the end of the month.
So there it is. Finally. I welcome any questions or comments you may have. :)
Cheers.
<3 Shan
- "THE DREAM" -
The Rose Theatre Kingston's A Midsummer Night's Dream, or just the Dream as the cast and crew lovingly referred to it, was a success. It was an amazing experience for me. From watching rehearsals to technical runs to opening night, but mostly meeting and working with Sir Peter Hall and Dame Judi Dench, of course. The show opened with splendid reviews and had a sold-out run. Definitely great all around.
- TIME TO TALK -
In the time I have been at the Rose, I have been able to see Sir Peter Hall talk about directing Dream and Shakespeare's Advice to the Players (i.e. the verse), as well as Inside the Actor's Studio type conversations with Sir Patrick Stewart and Dame Jude. All very lovely and exciting and thrilling and wonderful! :D
- SHOWS -
So besides Wicked from the first week or so when we were here, I realized I haven't mentioned what I've seen. Well, I won free tickets from Anglo (our program here) to see Sister Act (the musical) to which I took Luis and we both absolutely adored it. Then I got free promotional tickets to see a play called The Little Dog Laughed which was quite funny and interesting, which Stacey saw with me. I also went (and actually bought tickets to do so, lol) to see Royal Shakespeare Company's Twelfth Night and Measure for Measure at the Almeida. In addition to seeing a children's show called Room on the Broom and an amazing show by the aerial theatre troupe Ockham's Razor called The Mill at the Rose Theatre Kingston. Within the next week I will also be seeing Dumb Show which is just starting its run at the Rose.
- EUROTRIP -
My crazy week of travelling around Europe that took place the same week as Rollins spring break was pretty incredible, I must say. This started with PARIS by bus (and ferry) with Luis, Deidra and a tour group. Some highlights besides just seeing the sights were going to the top of the Eiffel Tower (even if it was frigid cold), the crazy guys that said "Sexy boom boom, hakuna matata," whilst trying to tie their stupid bracelets on us, eating far too much at breakfast largely because it was included, going to mass at Notre Dame, etc. Paris was followed by me heading off to ITALY the morning after we returned, where I flew into Rome meeting up with Nick and Cary for a bit less than a day really. But that was still enough time for two rounds of amazing Roman food and a late night trip to the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. From Rome, Nick and I took the train back to Florence where he was staying with his sister, Emily. I was staying in the Hotel Medici which was only about 2 blocks from the Duomo, complete with an amazing view from the balcony of the Duomo and the rest of Florence. Nick and I went with Emily to the Medici Palace and had an amazing Tuscan dinner that night. Nick and I also browsed and did some shopping in the market and the food market as well as checking out the Duomo. Despite pretty horrendous weather (cold, terribly windy, rainy, generally yuck), it was certainly a really good time. So to check that you are keeping up: that was Friday-Sunday in Paris, Monday to Rome, Tuesday -Thursday evening in Florence. Thursday night, Nick and I flew here to London. Friday I attended class and turned in a research paper I had due, then that evening we both flew to DUBLIN, where my roommates, Deidra and Antonela, and Nela's friends, Elizabeth and Ogi, also were. Dublin was a bit more chill than we expected for the weekend leading up to St. Patty's, but Nick and I had fun at the carnival and exploring the parks. It was actually sunny too, so that was a great addition to the weekend. Sunday night it was back to London and Monday morning Nick flew home. Just thinking about everything that took place that week is tiring, but it was so fun!
- CARY CAME TO LONDON -
My most recent adventures in London were with Cary and her friend Amelia, who visited from Rome Monday- Wednesday of this week. Monday they got in and we spent the afternoon at the Tower of London, followed by a trip to the Oxford Street Primark (pretty cute clothes at incredibly cheap prices), and the evening concluded with great Cantonese food in Chinatown. Tuesday, we started out with the tour of the Globe Theatre, followed by fish and chips with tea, then I had class so they explored the British Museum. Then we stopped at a nearby souvenir store, which had a cat! After that we headed to the British Museum, which was absolutely incredible. Cary and I got so caught up in the first part of the exhibition (Shakespeare, Beowulf, all kinds of other amazing literary-ness, the Beatles, Alice in Wonderland...) that we almost missed seeing the illuminated manuscripts, the Gutenberg Bible, and the Magna Carta! After stopping by the City Uni library to use the internet, the three of us made delicious nachos, including homemade chips. Wednesday we went to go see the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace, but the crowd was absolutely ridiculous so we saw the massive amounts of people more than the actual ceremony. Then we went over to Westminster Abbey and toured in there, which was very cool. We stopped in at a pub where I had a delicious beef, brie, and cranberry sauce sandwich (thanks to Cary ordering it first). Still hungry, a stop was made after for Cornish pasties and then we headed to see Harrods. It was great seeing Cary (for more than just briefly) and it makes me excited for Rome at the end of the month.
So there it is. Finally. I welcome any questions or comments you may have. :)
Cheers.
<3 Shan