PIGEONS:Some of you may be asking why a dead pigeon? Well, as alot of you know, I had a theory the pigeons were taking over the World! I mean, have you ever seen a baby pigeon or a dead one! Most people would say no. There are millions of them waiting to take over the world. They just keep appearing and don't seem to be dying off. Well part of my theory was destroyed this week. Rick and crew found a dead pigeon! Grant you it is only one, but it is dead! Also, Shane informed me at rehearsal yesterday that his grandfather raises pigeons and that he has seen lots of babies. They look like yellow baby chicks. He, of course, could be making this up to throw me off course...hmmm?
Anyway, we had a fantastic week this week. Rehearsals and classes are going well. The Art in London class went to the Victoria and Albert Museum, Theatre in London class went on tour of the National Theatre and saw Hamlet there, and the Page to Stage class went to Deathtrap by Ira Levin starring Simon Russell Beale, Jonathan Groff, and Estelle Parsons. Many students attended other West End and Fringe shows including a Fringe production of The Last Five Years.
NATIONAL THEATRE TOUR:
My friend, Tim Blazdell, a designer at the National Theatre, was able to give us a backstage tour of the National Theatre on Monday afternoon. We could not get on the stage of the Cottesloe or Lyttelton Theatres. The first had a rehearsal going on and the latter was closed for a few days so that they could clean all the lights and replace rigging, etc. We did get to go on the Olivier stage where Hamlet, which we saw on Saturday evening, is being performed. We went into the various shops, saw many props including leftover horses from War Horse which as mentioned last week transferred to the West End and will be going to The Lincoln Center in New York. Enjoy the photos.
Statue of Sir Laurence Olivier outside the National Theatre.
Various leftover props.
War Horse heads
Two photos of Laurence Olivier that were left over from a big anniversary gala that was held in the Olivier Theatre a few years ago.
The Lyttelton stage.
size puppets made by the same South African Company that made the War Horse
puppets for a new show that is opening in the Cottesloe this week. The puppets are younger and older versions of two gay lovers and their dog. It follows their life together in South Africa. It received a wonderful review in today's newspaper.
puppets for a new show that is opening in the Cottesloe this week. The puppets are younger and older versions of two gay lovers and their dog. It follows their life together in South Africa. It received a wonderful review in today's newspaper.
The set of Hamlet.
The Olivier Theatre.DEATHTRAP:
Hamming it up!
Heather got to the theatre a couple of hours early and decided to sit down with a homeless man and do here reading for British Literature class.ENRON:
Jake, our business major, was lucky enough to catch one of the closing performances of Enron which was playing at the Richmond Theatre in Richmond. This award winning play is touring England after a successful run at the Royal Court Theatre and the West End. It only lasted two weeks on Broadway. Great show which I got to see this past summer.
Pre-set.YES, PRIME MINISTER:
Rick and Tom went to see the comedy, Yes, Prime Minister at the Gielgud Theatre.
PRISCILLA: QUEEN OF THE DESERT
Matt, Mike, and Shane caught a performance of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert which is based on the Australian film. It is at the Palace Theatre.
WICKED:
A number of students went to see Wicked and Phantom of the Opera this week as well.
THE ROYAL BALLET:
I managed to get two free tickets (thanks to Alise Kennedy) to the Royal Ballet's final dress rehearsal of Onegin which I gave to Jarod and Joanna. They really enjoyed it! Next step is to get them backstage for a performance of an upcoming show there. The Royal Ballet is housed in the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.
AVENUE Q: FAREWELL!!!
Students are still trying to catch one of the final performances before it leaves London. Such a fun show!
CANTERBURY:
Ah! One of my all time favorite places. Canterbury is so magically and spiritual. Everytime I go there I have fond memories of all of my visits there. One in particular is when I went there in 1974, my second trip to Canterbury. I went on a summer program with Providence College led by Father MacAlista and Dr. Rodney Delasanta, the prof I had for a semester of Chaucer. In this class we read the entire works of Chaucer in Middle English. It was one of the hardest classes I ever had; however, Dr. Delasanta was one of the experts on Chaucer at the time, and I remember sitting outside the Cathedral listening to one of his lectures. He wanted us to try to find a symbol of the zodiac sign Libra because he was writing an article on how all the pilgrims were going there for judgement. He thought finding Libra would solidify his arguement. We looked and looked and no one found any sign of Libra. As we gathered at a meeting place near where the shine to Beckett used to be, I looked down on the ground and there were the zodiac signs. Libra was staring us in the face! He was thrilled. To this day I still visit that spot and think of that great teacher! Dr. Richard Grace, a History professor was also on the trip with us, and he gave us a wonderful lecture on King Henry II and Thomas a Beckett, The Archbishop of Canterbury who was murdered there by the King's knights.
The Cathedral Gate
The green Christ is only 30 years old. It was the winner of the contest to replace the original that was taken down and destroyed by Cromwell when the Puritans ruled.
View of the Cathedral after entering through the Gate
Andreas Russo, our Italian guide...
A Christ figure that was also entered in the contest for the Gate. It sits on the lawn next to the Cathedral.
Sight of the old Shine of Thomas Beckett
Sign of Libra....
Shrine and burial place of Beckett.
AROUND THE CATHEDRAL GROUNDS:
This clocktower is actually outside the Cathedral grounds.
This wall is made of flint and the bricks are from Ancient Roman Times
Archway leading to King's College which is on Cathedral grounds. It is a high school that costs $40,000 a year to attend.
The Beadle...the school's disciplinarian!
Many of the houses are made of tiles that look like bricks.
Yes, the building is tilting. One paid taxes on the square footage of the ground floor so many of the house have a smaller ground floor and larger upper floors...notice how each floor overhangs...Many of the older buildings are built this way.
RANDOM SHOTS:
No one is going to rob Mike. Not with his bodyguard standing there.
David Dean at the grafittied skate park next to the National Theatre
That's All Folks!!!!!
Ah! One of my all time favorite places. Canterbury is so magically and spiritual. Everytime I go there I have fond memories of all of my visits there. One in particular is when I went there in 1974, my second trip to Canterbury. I went on a summer program with Providence College led by Father MacAlista and Dr. Rodney Delasanta, the prof I had for a semester of Chaucer. In this class we read the entire works of Chaucer in Middle English. It was one of the hardest classes I ever had; however, Dr. Delasanta was one of the experts on Chaucer at the time, and I remember sitting outside the Cathedral listening to one of his lectures. He wanted us to try to find a symbol of the zodiac sign Libra because he was writing an article on how all the pilgrims were going there for judgement. He thought finding Libra would solidify his arguement. We looked and looked and no one found any sign of Libra. As we gathered at a meeting place near where the shine to Beckett used to be, I looked down on the ground and there were the zodiac signs. Libra was staring us in the face! He was thrilled. To this day I still visit that spot and think of that great teacher! Dr. Richard Grace, a History professor was also on the trip with us, and he gave us a wonderful lecture on King Henry II and Thomas a Beckett, The Archbishop of Canterbury who was murdered there by the King's knights.I love to see my student's reactions to all the sights in Canterbury. We did a walking tour of the town and around the Cathedral grounds with our guide, Andreas Russo whom we have had as a guide for the last few years.
Then we all were able to go inside the Cathedral and experience that on our own. After that we had time to get lunch and wander around the city. Luckily the rain held off until we were done with the outdoor tour.
The Cathedral Gate
The green Christ is only 30 years old. It was the winner of the contest to replace the original that was taken down and destroyed by Cromwell when the Puritans ruled.
View of the Cathedral after entering through the Gate
Andreas Russo, our Italian guide...
A Christ figure that was also entered in the contest for the Gate. It sits on the lawn next to the Cathedral.
INSIDE THE CATHEDRAL:
Sight of the old Shine of Thomas Beckett
Sign of Libra....
Shrine and burial place of Beckett.
AROUND THE CATHEDRAL GROUNDS:
This clocktower is actually outside the Cathedral grounds.
This wall is made of flint and the bricks are from Ancient Roman Times
Archway leading to King's College which is on Cathedral grounds. It is a high school that costs $40,000 a year to attend.
The Beadle...the school's disciplinarian!
THE CASTLE RUINS:
Some of the students walked out to the ruins of the castle.
THE CITY OF CANTERBURY:
Many of the houses are made of tiles that look like bricks.
Yes, the building is tilting. One paid taxes on the square footage of the ground floor so many of the house have a smaller ground floor and larger upper floors...notice how each floor overhangs...Many of the older buildings are built this way.
RANDOM SHOTS:
No one is going to rob Mike. Not with his bodyguard standing there.
David Dean at the grafittied skate park next to the National Theatre
That's All Folks!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment