February 26, 2006

The first theatre performance for our Contemporary London Theatre class was surprisingly a poor performance relative to what one should expect from likely the foremost theatrical city in the world. The play in question was Resurrection Blues by Arthur Miller, of Death of a Salesman and The Crucible fame.

In the play were some decently big-named actors and actresses. Probably most recognizable to the average American would be Never Campbell of the hit 90's show, and one of my mother's favorites, Party of Five. The gentleman who played Veruca Salt's father in the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was in the mix, too. But perhaps the coolest thing about the evening was that it took place at the Old Victoria Theatre where one Kevin Spacey is artistic director. This wouldn't be of much consequence, however, if he had not have happened to be there...three rows in front of me. Thus, I sat some 30 feet from an Academy Award-winning actor.

London city life is impressive. I had my first London shopping experience the other day. Little shops are everywhere around these parts, but a main epicenter of consumer traffic in London is easily Oxford Street, which essentially is like a large American strip mall, but with more places to shop, more languages to be heard, and, of course, many, many, many more people--shoulder-to-shoulder, eager to explore the depths of the large stores. I needed a coat and a scarf. For some reason, I thought it would be a brilliant idea not to bring a winter coat to London.