Children of the Sun and the Theatre-Going Experience

Let me begin this post by admitting to you all that I am hardly a very technologically-oriented person... Coupled with the lack of a computer and the spotty internet in our hotel, it's taken me until now to fully understand my way around this whole blog-posting thing. But now that I seem to have it under control, there are so many topics that I feel could be discussed and brought to the table at this point. Let me start with Children of the Sun, since for me it was a play that not only deeply moved me, but also completely changed how I have come to view the experience of the theatre.

It seems these days to be a rare occasion that one should even find him or herself in a theatre--especially one in the heart of London. I asked Olmert last week how DC could compare to London with respect to it's adherence to theatrical entertainment, and I was surprised when he told me that DC is probably second in the world behind London in this respect. In a city where one would be hard-pressed to not pass the doors to a theatre on the way to the supermarket, I couldn't believe that DC could even hold a finger to this city... In my opinion, this is a horrible shame.

During the intermission of the Amen Corner last week, I went upstairs to buy a coffee and wake myself out of the drowsiness of a full day of Olmert-led lecturing. I ordered, and the man behind the bar, an enthusiastic individual of about thirty, asked me how I was enjoying the show so far.

"Oh it's excellent," I replied, though I knew that what I'd seen of Baldwin's play had yet to move me as much as other performances we'd seen that week. "I saw Children of the Sun a few days ago, though," I told him, "and I absolutely loved it."

"That's good to hear!" he replied, motioning towards the cream and sugar across the aisle. "I've seen many people come out of that show very upset afterwards."

This didn't exactly surprise me, as the ending of Children of the Sun was a heart-wrenching one indeed, and I know from talking to others in the group that compared to my impressions, it was hardly as well-received.

"Well that's what the theatre is supposed to do, right?" I asked him as I handed him a handful of randomly chosen coins, the byproduct of my not having yet become accustomed to the pound. "I mean, I feel like if you leave the theatre upset, then the play's done it's job, right?"

The look he gave me at this point was so appreciative that I was nearly expecting him to hand back the coins and give me my coffee for free. "Exactly," he said smiling. "Cheers mate, enjoy the second act!"

There have been many moments throughout this trip wherein, amidst the darkness of the theatre, I've discovered something new about myself. And it's the work of the playwright to do this, through the perfectly placed line, artfully crafted sentence structures and, no doubt, the employment of a powerful ending. In Children of the Sun we see a group of characters with whom we feel we can relate, at first... but it's Gorky's story following the demise of a group of ignorant intellectuals, that humbles us to the point of despair. By the time we think we've understood these characters, their ignorance has already ensured their undoing. It's no surprise that this play has a tendency to humble the theatre-goer. He who believes he is safely in the right through the pursuit of intellect is brought to the same level as the street-peddler and the abuser, the uneducated and the bum. Because if I've learned anything from these plays and from this trip, it's that life's about balance, life's about today, and as we learned from the Amen Corner, life is about caring for one another above all else. For ignorance can be wonderfully blissful, and, just as easily, horrifically destructive.

Museum of London

On June 8th we visited the Museum of London which was really interesting.  The museum begins with prehistoric London, where we could look at the various kinds of tools and weapons that have been uncovered by archeologist over time.  I was surprised by the general beauty of these artifacts.  The spears and shields were decorated and nicely crafted.  There is so much history underneath every stone here in London and Olmert told us that every time someone plans to dig anywhere, there must be an archeologist on site.

The next section on Londonium was also cool but had some weird display items, like iPhones and other modern conveniences to contrast with the artifacts.  By the end it was clear that it was a student designed exhibit but it was still pretty cool especially considering teenagers helped design it.  
There were also a few really awesome exhibits on the Black Plague and the Fire of London.  We learned that the Plague killed over 40,000 people in London between 1348 and 1350, while 50 million people died throughout Europe.  The video was pretty scary but I enjoyed watching it.  The video for the Fire of London was also pretty scary but very informative.  The fire started on September 2nd 1666 around 1am in Thomas Farriner's bakery and lasted for 5 days.  There was this one plaque that I found particularly amusing which described who and what people blamed for the fire.  My favorite was the idea that Gluttony was to blame because the fire began in a bakery on Pudding Lane.  By the end of it all 4/5ths of the city was destroyed and 10,000 people became homeless.  It took 50 years to rebuild the city but neither the plague nor this terrible fire prevented London from becoming one of the most important cities in the world for centuries to come. 

The Modern London section was also really interesting.  The suffragette exhibit was particularly moving for me.  I was appalled by the heinous treatment these women endured for the right to vote.  It blew my mind how people could be so cruel to women who just wanted to make life better for themselves.  This one suffragette was force fed over 250 times in two weeks while incarcerated - absolutely horrifying.  This exhibit made me appreciate my right to vote and I am so grateful for what these brave women did for the women's well being.  Even if I disagree with our nations political system, it just feels wrong to abstain from voting because it negates all the horrors these women endured.  Overall the London Museum was awesomely moving and I am really glad we had so much time to explore through it.  

Houses of Parliament [by Anna Butler, 10 June 2013]

On June 10th, we went to the Houses of Parliament.  Freda, our British tour guide, was fantastic.  She was extremely knowledgeable and called us her “little Maryland chums.”  Fun fact--here in the UK, Maryland is pronounced “Mary-land,” not “Mar-a-lind.”  According to Freda, Parliament is set up like a “ham sandwich” because it is long and thin with the building as the meat and the Thames River and Parliament Street as the bread.  After walking through the security checkpoint, we felt like VIPs as Freda took as around the rooms, bringing the history of the United Kingdom’s government to life.

Thanks to King Charles I strolling into the House of Commons to arrest and behead five right-wing members in 1642, British monarchs are no longer allowed inside of Parliament without an invitation.  Famously, the Speaker Lenthall refused Charles, saying “I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as this house is pleased to direct me…”  Ironically, the Houses of Parliament are still owned by the crown.  We learned when the queen arrives she is dressed in the “Royal Robing Room,” an ornate, Gothic style room designed by Augustus W.N. Pugin - who “dressed” the Houses of Parliament, while Charles Barry built it.  Then, Blackrod, literally a man carrying a black rod, knocks on the chamber door to the House of Commons and requests their presence in front of the queen.  Freda told us they run like “cheeky school boys” down the hall to show that they are choosing, not required, to attend.

It’s difficult to unpack the Houses of Parliament in a few paragraphs because there is symbolism behind every design and decoration.  To me, this building is the epitome of British tradition, documenting the nation’s history on its walls.  It was fascinating, and Freda made the experience unforgettable.

[By Anna Butler, 10 June 2013]

A Midsummer's Night Dream [by Anna Butler, 5 June 2013]

Entering Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, I was overcome with a feeling that I had reached my personal holy land. The reproduced Elizabethan theatre looked like it stood the test of time, nestled among the contemporary buildings of Bankside--a crowded walk along the Thames that is a blend between Brooklyn’s High Line and a beach boardwalk. That night, we were seeing A Midsummer’s Night Dream, an all-time favorite of mine. After waiting anxiously in the “queue,” the doors opened. While others stood still to soak in the sight, we rushed to stand against the stage, a prime spot for us groundlings. 

In Shakespeare’s day, this theater-going experience was commonplace, but for our group, it was once-in-a-lifetime. A band of musicians walked out onto the stage, playing Elizabethan instruments in traditional garb and transporting us to another world. For a quick synopsis: the play follows four young Athenians that are in a love rectangle of sorts: Lysander loves Hermia, she returns his affections, Demetrius pursues Hermia as well with her father’s permissions, and Helena hopelessly pines after Demetrius. In the realm of Theseus and Hippolyta, the courtly laws of love reign, as Hermia is forbidden to wed Lysander--but, in the enchanted wood, the whims of the fairy king and queen overrule the civilized restrictions. Set into motion by the mischievous Puck, the young lovers are put through humorous obstacles, and eventually, all ends happily with marriage. 

It was spectacular to see the lines I had read so many times on paper come to life. To my surprise, the “mechanicals” were my favorite part of the play. Usually I overlook their side plot, but the actors were phenomenal. The combination of Shakespeare’s hilarious lines and their physical comedy made the play perfection.

 By Anna Butler, 5 June 2013

Soane's Museum & Castle Acre [by Leigh McDonald, dated 6/15/13]

Sloane's museum and Castle Acre have been my favorite traveling destinations thus far. Both of these locations present historical artifacts in their natural location. I had not yet seen a house totally preserved in its original state, or at least a state in which it had last been inhabited. I had never once heard of Sir John Soane and knew not why people were interested in a museum dedicated to him. However, the work of the architect was almost solely presented in the architectural layout of his house. Art and work of other established men were put on display in the various rooms of Soane's house. The colors of his living room were a tribute to Pompei, while his teaching room presented various Roman and Grecian artifacts and his painting room displayed works of Hogart. In Soane's basement laid the sarcophagus of Seti. Beyond the appreciation of ancient art and culture, something much more novel could be drawn from the Soane Museum. Guests were able to walk around in the mind and life of a man born in the 18th century. Such incredible preservation is not common. I have never been to such an impressive and dynamic museum.
 
The ruins at castle acre were equally astounding. Dating back to the 12th century, the priory's front wall was still standing just enough to see the face of the church building with its awe-inspiring bind interlace arcading and the now empty west oriole window. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the site was that the stone came from about 30 miles away, and was transported by river. This same difficulty in execution, without modern technology or transportation, has continued to baffle me when viewing establishments of similar architectural excellence like the castle at Norwich.

Submitted by Leigh McDonald, 6/15/2013 

Soane Museum

One Man, Two Guvnors

One Man, Two Guvnors 

I was skeptical about this play when it first began because the comedy was pretty cheesy, but after a few minutes I was hooked. It was very different from all the others ones we have seen. It's a farce which was a nice change of pace from all the tragedies. I really liked the audience interaction, which was surprising because I didn't think I would. The main character had a different goal in the first half and the second which he was trying to attain throughout the play. The first one was that he was hungry and was continually trying to eat and in the second half he was trying to get Dolly to like him. At one point he looked at me and asked where to take her on a date. I was speechless because I knew I couldn't say dinner since he had just eaten but my mind was blank so that's all I could say. He made a joke about it which was really funny and then someone helped me out by saying take her to the beach.

The guy who wanted to be an actor was also hilarious. His scenes were so "dramatic" since he was always pretending he was in a play. I also really enjoyed the music throughout this play. It was cool how the band would go on stage and a different actor would join them with their own instrument between each scene. The band members were very energetic and enjoyable to watch. It fit perfectly with the atmosphere of the play. 

Although some of the audience interaction was staged, it was still hilarious. Christina Patterson's character was funny because it was hard to tell that it was staged. I totally believed it the entire time. I was thinking that I was so happy that wasn't me up there. She played the shy embarrassed girl really well. I was laughing the whole time.  This is definitely the best farce I've seen. 

The Bevis Marks Synagogue

I promised you a post about a synagogue, and here it is:

Once upon a time, in 11th century England, Christians were not allowed to lend money. Well, Will the Conqueror thought money needed to be lent regardless and a bunch of Jewish folk came to England with him. They worked primarily as money lenders and became a big part of the economy as such. One day, in the late 13th century, Edward I realised he owed a lot of money to some Jewish lenders. So he could get out off debt, Ed I decided to expel all the Jews of England. This led to the term cryptoJew (which I think is spelled correct) meaning that some escaped expulsion by pretending to be Christian.

About 400 years later, 1656, Cromwell the Lord Protector allowed all of the Jews back into England. Some like to think this was a redeeming quality of Cromwell, but most know he only did it because he knew of the good it would have for the (at that time) poor England economy. One caveat of this revocation of the expulsion was that no synagogue or other house of Jewish worship could be found on or seen from any main thoroughfare. Most synagogues were thus just built down grubby little alleys away from prying eyes.

This brings our story to the Bevis Marks Synagogue. After being allowed back to England, the Jewish population boomed and the small basements and attics of worship would not handle the growing congregations. The very first synagogue in London was the Bevis Marks Synagogue and it was finished September 1712.

As you can see in this picture, it is hidden behind other larger buildings, but what you may not know is that it was also built right next to the London wall as it was located at that time. This synagogue was tucked so far out of the way, if you didn’t know where to look, you wouldn’t find it. Furthermore, the building itself was designed specifically to look nothing like a synagogue. The original congregation, in order to avoid any kind of condemnation whatsoever, knew it’d be best to look like a nondescript Christian building so they employed a Christian builder. Joseph Avis ( a student of Christopher Wren) designed this building splendidly and had it built so well that the entire building, including the inside, is all completely original, except for repairs done after the 1992-3 terrorist bombings.

Unfortunately, pictures inside are not allowed so I cannot easily show you the beauty in it, but I can assure, unbiasedly, that it is gorgeous.

The curious incident of the dog in the night time

The curious incident of the dog in the night time

I can't believe we're half way through the trip already! It's flying by way too fast. My favorite play so far is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time.  I've decided to buy the novel and compare it to the play for my big 10-12 page paper. Simon Stephens did the screenplay and I've read another play by him called Harper Regan so it will be interesting to compare all three of these. The main actor who played Christopher was absolutely amazing! He really got the audience inside the mind of a boy with asperbergers.  The other actors were amazing as well. They really drew you into the play and made you feel all the emotions that they were feeling. At one point when Christopher's father was trying to reconnect with his son I almost cried. It was so upsetting to see how much Christopher's father loved him and he just would not speak to him. 

Bedsides the wonderful acting, this play also had very well choreographed scenes in between. The music and the stunts were really cool. I liked the part with Christopher walked along the wall while the other actors were holding him up. They must have practiced a lot to get all those moves perfect. Timing was so important for each of their steps. The music was also an important element because there was not much to the actual setting besides lights and some boxes. 

The play was at the Apollo Theatre, which I really liked despite the fact that my seat was awful. I was in the very front row all the way to the left so some of the stage was blocked from me. I just had to sit on my legs to see more of it, which was okay. The play was just so good that I want to see it again and again! I'm definitely reading the novel as soon as I finish Life of Pi. 

Parliament

Parliament 

Today we got a tour of parliament from Frida who was very knowledgeable. I learned so many interesting facts from her. We went in the central lobby at one point which had four saints to represent each. St Andrew for Scotland, St. George for England, St. David for Wales, and St Patrick for Ireland (Ireland is by the exit because they are are always trying to leave the union). Frida told us that funny tidbit, which gave me quite a laugh. 

The rest of the rooms were so beautiful, especially the House of Lords. There were two thrones decorated with tons of gold-one for the Queen and one for the Duke of Edinburgh. The Duke's chair is 2 inches lower to represent the status of the queen.  The emblem of England is a lion and is above the Queen's throne and the emblem of Scotland is a unicorn.  Kalie had told me the national animal for Scotland was a unicorn and when we were in Edinburgh we asked our friend who told us he had never heard anything about that. I can't wait to tell him it's actually true!

The whole building is Neo-gothic and beautifully designed by Charles Barry. The interior designer was Pugin. They are different styles but fit together nicely. The building was gorgeous inside and out.  Frida was a wonderful guide. She was quick and to the point and didn't seem to leave out any information. I'm so grateful for being able to have this experience.  

Darwin

Darwin

Today we went to Charles Darwin's house in Downes. I think this is my favorite museum we have seen. I loved doing the tour with the headset, which is unusual for me. I felt I learned a lot about Darwin and his family. It's interesting that he rushed the publishing of his book so he could be the first one to have the idea of evolution. He worked for 20 years before publishing any of his work.  He's a brilliant scientist and wanted to have his argument ready since he knew this was going to be a controversial topic. Religion was very important at this time and many people strictly believed in the idea that God created the world and each person individually. 

One shocking thing I learned today was that Darwin and his wife were cousins.  It's such a hard concept to grasp. I couldn't imagine people people doing that nowadays. His parents were first cousins too which is so strange. I'm surprised Darwin turned out to be such a great scientist and that his kids didn't have many defects. 3 of the 10 did die though so I guess that could have something to do with it. It's just weird how different things were. 

 After leaving the town of Downe, we went to Canterbury and saw the gorgeous Canterbury Cathedral. We were lucky enough to enjoy hearing the choir sing as well. It consisted if a variety of age groups and they had the most beautiful voices and the music was so soothing. 

The only downside to the day was that it was absolutely freezing! I can't believe this is June weather. But regardless, it was still awesome to see Darwin's town and go to his church. 

Lincoln' Inn Chapel

Lincoln's Inn Chapel

We went to the Lincoln's Inn Chapel today,  which was so beautiful. The architecture of the building was outstanding. I learned that the public sits in what is called the nave and the chancel is where the power sits. The chancel contains a high altar and after 1520 there was much less emphasis on what happens on the altar. It was believed that individuals needed to learn about religion in their local language. 

There are also two different masses: the mass of the catechumens and the mass of the faithful.  When the host and wine is being prepared the people who have not been baptized must leave. 

There are numerous arches in this chapel which I loved because that has been my favorite part of architecture so far.  The medieval arches are slightly pointed at the top which make them beautiful.  I really enjoyed going to the Chapel of Lincoln's Inn Fields. Afterwards, we went over the Millennium Bridge to see the Globe Theatre.  I had been looking forward to seeing this theatre forever and I was not disappointed. It was better than I imagined. Seeing Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's  Dream"  was a perfect way to end this day. 

Theater Magic

Before coming on this trip, I could probably count on one hand the amount of plays I remember seeing in my lifetime. In these two weeks alone, we have probably seen over a dozen plays and each one entirely different from the other. As I watch all these plays, it is a wonder to watch the creation of such disparate worlds in such a confined space in the theater.

When we saw War Horse, I was astounded by how the puppeteers brought JOeeeey to life. Everything from the subtle flick of the tail to the horse’s neighs, and grunts were spot on. I would have never thought of myself fighting back my tears for a puppet at the end of the play.

 In The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, I was completely floored by the acting when they “fast-forwarded” time. The music, along with the lights, combined with the way the actors contracted their bodies--it just made the scene feel completely surreal.

 The one scene I will never forget was when the rioter in Children of the Sun walked out onto the stage with the Molotov bomb. I was horrified when he threw it into the laboratory. Even though the explosion was quite dramatic, it worked. The image of the scientist sitting strapped to his chair as his whole world burns down before his eyes still lingers in my mind.

With only a week left, I am eager to go home but I am sad that we will only have time for only three to four more plays. The D.C. theater scene needs to get on London’s level!

Wednesday June 5th

Today we took an hour and half train ride to Kingsley from  Kings station, to do an over night trip in Norwich. Before leaving we saw the platform 9 3/4 from Harry Potter. 

The main focus of this day was archeology. We saw several deserted mid evil villages. The first was at Godwick. We learned that these villages were deserted for 3 reasons, Black Death, wealthy family's evading and forcing the villagers out and sheep farming. The site was quite interesting, from a plain eye's view it appeared to be just a grassy field with "bumps and lumps", which actually represented where buildings and roads were previously. 

The only buildings that were actually still visible were the barn and ruins of the church. The barn had been some what renovated and is now being used and rented for events. The church was unrecognizable besides the far window but stood as  the mid point of the village.  The church ruins was one of the first up close examples of flint being used, which was a really common in other buildings in Norwich. 

The remainder of the day was spent in a small village where our guide, Hellen Patterson, lived. There, she showed us ruins of a Cluniac Priory and Norman Castle. We toured  a small museum which we could see many artifacts and maps/diagrams of how the two were thought to have been like during their time standing.

Getting personal

“Gin Lane” by William Hogarth, depicting the evils of liquor. Please notice that the only businesses that are thriving are the liquor sellers and coffin makers. You can tell because theirs are the only buildings not in disrepair.

We just got back from seeing a couple of original Hogarth prints, which were awesome for being original Hogarth prints, but even cooler for the circumstances under which we examined them. We did have to go to the British Museum, into the prints gallery, but we went into the secret door leading to the archives and storage areas. These prints were pulled out just for us.

This isn’t the only special treatment we’ve had during the course. When we traveled to Castle Acre and Norwich, a retired archeologist, Helen, gave us personal tours of the abbey and castle ruins. When we went to Parliament and Westminster Abbey, a former tour guide Freda took us through, also on a personal tour. These experiences were so much better because we had guides who love the subject matter and have a relationship with Professor Olmert.

I had been wondering how Olmert meets all these wonderful people and creates such great relationships with them. Yesterday, I had the chance to find out. We were walking around and came upon the Brevis Marks Synagogue. That experience alone constitutes a blog post which will be written next, but I digress. We asked the kind gentleman at the door if we could have a look inside and he allowed it, for a fee of course. But as we were staring at the amazing structure from within, a nice gentleman came out and greeted us. He kindly gave us impromptu lecture on the Jewish history of London and thus the synagogue. We were so attentive and Olmert was so enthusiastic about it that they ended up exchanging contact information so he could schedule tours for this course in the future. It was satounding how easily he could start these relationships with people “in the know” and he does it all for our benefit. I feel so lucky to be Olmert’s student and to be on this amazing trip because of the wonderful we meet and the beautiful things we see, thanks to him.

Children of the Sun

            Upon sitting down in the National Theater this past Friday night, I had no idea Maxim Gorky’s Children of the Sun was about to thrash down upon my soul with such revolutionary vengeance.  I was immediately floored by the elaborate stage and the soft sunlight, all of which illuminated the ignorant horrors of the Russian upper class.  The layers of the stage were fantastic.  We could see inside the common room, down a hallway, inside the laboratory, outside the house and even outside the wall that “protected” this wealthy family.  Even though the scientist had the chance to see everything going on outside his lab through the windows, he was too wrapped up in his chemistry set to notice the obvious, like his wife’s unhappiness and the fact that his experiments were poisoning the townsfolk.  Only the “crippled” Liza spoke up about the reality going on past the wall but her words were constantly brushed quickly apparent that the most rational person in the room was always considered the most unstable and abnormal.

            Even though the play was written over a century ago, it absolutely rings true in today’s modern society.  While the scientist at first appears to have some wise words about the nature of life, it quickly becomes apparent that he doesn’t even listen to his own words.  In fact, none of the characters really listen to each other at all.  The wealthy have their heads in the clouds and fail to notice anything going on around them, so much so that a homeless beggar manages to waltz right into their home, going unnoticed until he speaks to them.  He asks them for a single egg and they send him away with nothing, only to later waste ten fresh eggs all for the sake of “play.”  This scene reminded me of how our society tends to treat the homeless.  There are so many people living on the streets who can’t afford the basic necessities while the majority of us waste food and water every day without a second thought.  The scientist spoke of the dangers of ignorance yet he was the most ignorant of the group.

            It’s difficult to put into words just how deeply this play moved me.  When Boris’ note was read aloud in the final act and it was clear he had committed suicide, I gasped aloud and had to hold back a floodgate of tears.  Then hearing Liza screaming in agony from off stage over the death of her fiancé was excruciating to watch but it was in that moment when I was completely immersed in the narrative.  I felt like I was sitting there in that very room, totally forgetting that it was a performance.  Never in my life has a play taken hold of my mind and soul.  I was blown away and emotionally exhausted by the end but I have to say it was easily the most amazing spectacle I had ever seen on a stage. 

Reboot.

Oh dear, those past three days..ugh. I awoke 5 June with a sore throat and slightly blocked nose. "No biggie," i thought to myself, "it's probably just a small head cold and will disappear in a couple hours." So I proceed to find a chemist (a pharmacist) and bought some lozenges on my way to Kings Cross Station. Thankfully I was not sick enough to miss getting the picture of Harry Potter's trolley at platform 9 ¾.

The day went smoothly and we all got the chance to walk around the most beautiful ruins I've ever seen. We visited first the Castle Acre priory, which dates all the way back to 1090. HOW DO YOU GET MORE INTO HISTORY THAN THAT? Except that we then visited a castle from about the same time period. Mind you, WE WALKED DOWN A ROMAN ROAD to get there. Bad-effing-ass. The story of the priory and the castle and all the different parts are fascinating. I really suggest a visit should you ever get the chance. And if you do, go visit Dr. Helen Paterson. Not only is she knowledgeable, she is a retired archaeologist with YEARS of experience and can really tell you whatever you may want to know about these sites.

We walked all day around these and went to a delicious dinner afterwards at the only local pub. I had been feeling all right most of the day since the lozenges seemed to be helping, but exhaustion was getting to me. I managed to hang out with my classmates at the pub after dinner though. The next day, however, I was getting worse. My throat hurt far more, my nose was far more stuffed, I was still tired. We went that day to Norwich (pronounced Norridge) to see a gorgeous cathedral and a 15th century hall/pub/brothel. This is when I discovered that my camera hadn't charged overnight so I couldn't even get pictures of it all.

By dinner time, everyone was pooped and I had a full-blown chest cold now. Everything ached and I just wanted bed. When we finally arrived back at our flat after a too-long train ride, we discovered that our flat had blown a fuse. Between four girls with computers, laptops, etc., there were only two outlets working and nothing could be done until the next day. We woke up in the morning and what do we see now but water coming through the light fixture in our bathroom ceiling. We just couldn't deal with that. So, the summary for yesterday morning: no camera charged, no power, a leak in the bathroom, possibility we would have to switch flats, and I'm still sick as a dog. UGH.

TODAY however, we have all had a chance to reboot. We had a light day of lecture yesterday when we returned to the flat in the afternoon, everything was repaired. We were able to charge everything and take a nap. We saw Children of the Sun at the London National Theatre (which was Ah-mazing!!!) and everyone loved it. We basically all got a chance to just take a moment and breath. This was glorious. So today will be a good day. Everything is looking better and we can get back to normal, mostly. I'm still waiting for this cough to go away completely.

War Horse and the ghost sign

We saw this today. It is a ghost sign. Sort of. This one has been repainted, so I guess it doesn’t really count as a ghost anymore. Maybe it’s more of a zombie sign? Anyway, we saw this and something told to take a photo of it…It must have been my subconscious reminding me of the play we would see later in the day: War Horse. I have just remembered this photo, this moment, and my heart has been re-torn into so many pieces.

If that play doesn’t turn the hardest heart into melted butter, then nothing ever will. There is just so much in the play: there is commentary on life and death, there are jabs at the fallacies of war, there are jibes at the folly of man and mixings of technology and nature. In sum, this play has all the elements to make one simultaneously sneer, question existence, and cry simultaneously. And that’s exactly what I did.

Probably the favorite of these moments was when Albert was crying over Joey while his mother was crying over the deaths of the young men from the village (i.e., his mother was crying over the poor lost souls of young men while Albert was crying over a horse). His mother yells at him, naturally. How could he cry over a stinkin’ horse when those poor people were losing their lives? But on the other side, how could she not mourn the horse, who was forced into the war?? Those young men volunteered for their service, and thus for whatever fate may give them. I’m not saying mourn Joey instead of the soldiers, but both deserve equal recognition, certainly.

There was far more to that play than this blog post can let on. Thankfully there were moments of humour set in the play, or I’d have been a wreck when leaving the theatre. Seriously, if you ever get the chance, see this play, preferably in a London theatre. Even if you are afraid of crying, think you won’t cry, whatever, see this play.