Sunday evening we all went to the Comedy Store to see the Comedy Store Players do their improv show. These are the original Who's Line is it Anyway? British Group. They have been doing this for 40 something years. Brilliant show! Lots of laughs!
The Art in London class went to The National Gallery to look at some of their permanent collection. The National Gallery is right on Trafalgar Square.
Olivia in front of one of my favorite paintings. She matches!
Some of the girls have been treating themselves to various types of ice cream. They are addicted. Guess who?
THE DRURY LANE THEATRE TOUR:
Every year we do a tour of the Drury Lane Theatre, the oldest operating theatre in London and, I believe, the World. Actually, it is the 2nd in the world. France has the first.
42nd Street is currently playing at The Drury Lane. After this show closes the theatre will be closed for renovation. Andrew Lloyd Webber, who owns it, is going to restore it to the way it looked in the Georgian Period. It won't open again until 2020 so next year's group will not be able to do the tour.
The Lobby.
Noel Coward!
Dave is the same tour guide we have had for about 7 or so years! We talked to him at the Comedy Store on Sunday. He recognized me from all of our tours and came over to say hello not knowing we were going to see him the next day!
The rotunda!
The cleaning lady, Margaret, who has been cleaning the theatre for over 300 years.
King George III and his son got into a fist fight in the rotunda. After that there were two separate entrances into the theatre both inside and outside. There are also two Royal boxes in the theatre. One for the King or Queen and one for the Prince of Wales. Today only one is used by the Royal Family.
The reception room for the Queens Royal Box. A place she and her guests can sit before the performance.
Kyleigh sitting in the Queen's chair.
The middle one is the Royal Box. We were not allowed to take pictures of the stage for copyright reasons.
Nell Gwyn who was King Charles' mistress. She was also an actress. Her mother's pub was connected to the Theatre by a tunnel.
This theatre still uses a hydraulic system using water from the Thames River. Unfortunately, Webber is removing this historic piece of the theatre to modernize it. A lot of people, including myself, think this is a terrible thing!
This is the Fortune Theatre which is across from the Drury Lane. This whole building can be placed on the Drury Lane stage and there still would be room to run around the building.
HEATHERS:
After our tour of the Drury Lane we had time to grab some dinner before we went to see the musical, Heathers. We will be discussing it in Page to Stage class tomorrow.
Lots of girls show up at the theatre dressed as the Heathers! I noticed that it is becoming the style on the streets of London.
Our Three Heathers!!!
Adam, our favorite Heather!
Students went to the stage door to meet the cast but ended up meeting the director of the movie, director of the musical, one of the music directors and writer of the musical. One of their wives is from Minnesota.
BLENHEIM PALACE:
On Friday morning, Graham, the driver we had two weeks ago who took us to Cambridge, picked us up at 8:30 am and brought us to Blenheim Palace. This is where Churchill was born. We had beautiful weather and had a fun time spending the day there. Lots to do!
The front Gate.
Our annual picture in front of the Palace.
This year instead of having a tour guide, we got headsets and did a self-guided tour.
The Key to the front door! A huge lock.
Consuelo Vanderbuilt who married the Duke of Marlborough.
There was a Yves Klein art exhibit scattered throughout the Palace especially items from his "Blue Period".
Consuelo was from the United States and very tall. She eventually divorced the Duke and married a Frenchman.
The tapestries through a number of rooms depict the Battle of Blenheim that the Duke won. As a reward he was given the land that the Palace is built on.
This painting is made to look three dimensional in the room
The carpet.
Louie XIV who's men lost the Battle of Blenheim.
What is strange about this dog in the tapestry? It is the only dog depicted. Notice it's paws. They are horse's hooves. The weavers had been weaving lots of horses and didn't notice a difference. Instead of unraveling the decided to let it go!
Metal inlay chests.
The Library. Queen Anne's statue looks nothing like her. She was pretty overweight in real life and Sarah Churchill her friend wanted to depict her in a better light after they had a huge argument. The new movie, The Favorite, revolves around the relationship with Queen Anne and Sarah Churchill. The Spencer's as in Princess Di's family are part of this dynasty.
Another art exhibit was displayed in the Library.
I want to watch TV in this chair!!!!
The current Duke and Dutchess.
With President Clinton.
The organ at the end of the room.
There is a great Churchill exhibit off of the Library. Lots of personal letters, pictures, clothes, birth bed, etc.
His military ribbons.
A cool lamp!
A view of the back of the Palace from a Library window.
The Chapel.
There was an Yves Klein exhibit in the Stables. This video was part of it.
A model of the Battle of Blenheim.
We had lunch in the cafe. I had a pork chop with root vegetables.
The Pleasure Garden: One can take the Winston Churchill train out to the Pleasure Garden the has a butterfly house, lavender garden, rose garden, a hedge maze, lawn games, plus more.
On the train ride we saw a few pheasants, and some unusual trees.
The Palace was hosting a horse show on the property.
The Maze.
The train ride back.
Various sites around the property.
Some of us went to Camden Town. Also we started going all over London putting our flyers in Fringe Theatres and other venues.
One of my favorite Camden shops. I want these lights!!!!
On Wednesday evening we went to see Dreamgirls at the Savoy Theatre. It is a truly great Art-Deco Theatre.
Celeste and Olivia with the actor that played Curtis in Dreamgirls. He was awesome. Has been in the show from the beginning. Everyone else was new.
REHEARSALS OF A Piece of My Heart:
Rehearsals are at The Cockpit and Diorama Studios and are going well. The whole show is blocked and we are now ready to delve into it a lot deeper. The play opens October 17 and ends on October 20 at The New Wimbledon Studio Theatre.
Dan thinks he is funny. Oh son, wait until the payback!
THAT'S ALL FOLKS!!!!
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