January 4th 2014 - The Museum of London

 I first went to London for my 16th birthday with my mother 5 years ago. On this first trip I specifically avoided all the museums.  Personally, I never thought of myself as a person who enjoyed museums and I was more interested in sightseeing. So, when I first looked at our itinerary I was not exactly excited for all the museums we were going to visit.

Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised by how

much I enjoyed visiting the Museum of London.  I also became very grateful that it was our first experience in London.  I learned so much significant history about London that helped me appreciate the city's history.  This appreciation made the rest of my trip all the richer because I understood the history behind the architecture and the culture.  Tour guides we would meet in later tours would reference specific historical events and I would remember all these facts that I learned at the Museum of London. 

I have never actually taken a class on European history.  I knew about historical events from media and cultural references I had seen and heard of, but I never really learned the true facts and affects of all these events.  I was able to learn about how events such as the fire and the plague caused such drastic changes in London's landscape and development.  For example, London's architecture completely transformed after the fire. This is why many buildings that were part of London's earlier history cannot be found anymore.  

Additionally, I realized that I can grow and become a person who appreciates museums.  I was surprised at how interested I was in everything and how much fun I had simply exploring.  In the past, large museums have intimidated me because they can be so large with no direct path, so you never know when you are "done".  This museum was arranged perfectly in chronological order.  You always knew where to go and everything was arranged by year.  In this way, I had a better sense of the actual history and how separate events caused the future.  My favorite time period was the 1920's onward because everything started moving so fast and there was so much accomplishment in such a short amount of time.  I honestly do not know if I would have appreciated this museum as much as I did if I had gone when I was 16.  However, this experienced greatly changed the way I felt about museums in general and it prepared me for all the museums we had in store for us.

January 4th 2014- "Lost Boy"

When I first looked at our show list I was more looking forward to all the West End shows. The first show we saw was in the smallest theater I had ever seen in my life.  I sat front row and I was afraid that if I crossed my legs, I would trip the actors. I was so impressed by the way they used the small space.  I figured it would be a really small cast because of the size of the stage, but they would have a full chorus on stage during specific scenes.  They were jumping and dancing and I could not believe how they could do it all without tripping on each other or falling on the audience.

I was so pleasantly surprised. I was not expecting to be so moved and to see such an excellent work of art. Melody was a very present and effective element during this show.  Unlike many musicals, the music in this show does not try to sell a tune. The songs were not particularly catchy or flashy. These are not songs that you will leave the theater singing or that you will quickly put on your ipod.  However, this music drove the story forward. They felt natural.  It was not awkward at all.  The songs were so much a part of the story that it flowed so well that you did not even realize it was a musical. They were used as a form of expression.  The songs were used to express the thoughts, feelings, and emotions. The different styles reflected the point the story was trying to convey.

What affected me most was the satire. I did not expect to cry as much as I did. It illustrated and satirized society in a very emotional way. I personally question certain things our society seems to associate with "growing up". Alcohol, sex, and simply showing that you are "tough".  I also think that men have this overwhelming pressure to "be a man" and prove their masculinity.  I loved how the show turned that idea on its head and displayed how this sort of behavior actually makes you more of a child.  It was a very human show.  I also was very taken by the number in which Captain Hook was dancing with the bodies of dead soldiers.  It was very uncomfortable and dark but it made the point perfectly. It got me thinking about war and other events that sacrifice the lives of innocent people because someone is trying to prove their worth or "manliness".

Because I was sitting so close, I saw subtle and incredible acting.  Their facial expressions were so genuine.  They also had amazing vocal skills.  At the end of the show, the entire company belted a song and it sounded so beautiful and overwhelming that I got goosebumps.

January 5th 2014- London Film Museum and Houses of Parliament

Throne used in "Elizabeth" starring Cate Blanchett

The London Film Museum was very small but had a lot of cool props used in actual films.  I especially liked the props used in the movie musical "Oliver!"  It did get me thinking about a discussion we had earlier in class concerning the movies and musicals.  "Oliver!" was of course originally a musical.  However, now there is a trend of turning non-musical films into stage musicals.

Theater and films have an interesting relationship towards one another.  They are the same in that they both have the same main purpose, which is to tell a story.  They are different because theater is live and film can be edited.  They illustrate different forms of telling one story.

I do not have a solid opinion on turning movies into musicals.  I am not against adapting and experimenting.  But like anything else, it can be done right and it can be done wrong.  Creators must be inspired.  In this day in age it is getting difficult to decide of a movie is getting adapted into a musical because someone was inspired and has a vision, or if its simply just another way to make money.                                                                

Thunderbirds!

                                                                         After exploring this museum I decided to go on my own and explore the Houses of Parliament.  I had seen them all before but they are the most beautiful sights in London and I cannot get enough of them. I got great pictures of Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and the Eye of London.

January 6th 2014- Thames River Cruise, Royal Observatory, National Maritime Museum, and the Queens House

The Thames River cruise had such gorgeous views.  I found the division caused by the river interesting.  I loved seeing the views and the differences in architecture between the two sides of the river.

My favorite thing of the Royal Observatory was

standing on the Prime Meridian! I also liked the accompanying museum.  It got me thinking a lot about the importance of time.  Time affects the activities we chose to do.  Greenwich Mean time is technically the starting point and the ending point of world time.

I felt the National Maritime Museum was more of a children's museum.  The Queens Museum next to it was absolutely beautiful.

January 6th 2014- "Peter Pan Panto"

I had never been to a Pantomime before so this was such an interesting experience.  I feel like I know more about English theatrical tradition after experiencing this unique form of theater.  I expected the show to be smaller.  I did not expect it to be as large, spectacular, and well-put as it was. I heard that pantomime was a low-type of theater so I was expecting it to be more low budget. Oddly, it was one of the largest theaters we saw shows in. I was also surprised by the use of contemporary songs.  I was not expecting that at all.  Although, the type of audience participation met my expectations. It was very childlike, yet it had a lot of adult humor.  I understand why it is not a popular theater form in the U.S.

I honestly was not even thinking of "Lost Boy" while watching the Panto.  They were so completely different from each other that I could not watch them with the same mindset.  I think the story is relevant because the themes of childhood, imagination, and being lost are universal.  Everyone relates to the desire to cling to your childhood.

And I met Henry Winkler! 

January 7th 2014- British Museum and the West End Scavenger Hunt

Rosetta Stone

This museum was so large and overwhelming.  I did love seeing the Rosetta Stone.  I found myself spending the most time looking at Roman statues.  I thought they were interesting and beautiful.  I could look for this type of aesthetically pleasing scenes and sets in the theater.

The West End Scavenger was a lot of fun.  I
participated in the game fully.  I learned that I do not like walking in the cold (:P)  It was great seeing different theaters in different atmospheres.  I felt like it gave me a clear idea of what shows were playing in London and the different settings and types of theaters.  I later found myself knowing where certain theaters were and where certain shows were playing because I remembered it from the scavenger hunt.

Visiting Trafalgar Square during the Scavenger Hunt 

January 7th 2014 -"The Commitments"

I felt "The Commitments" was a lot of fun.  However, it was only fun because of the songs.  I could not really make out a plot that interested me.  The songs did not tell a story in any way. I am not sure if it is easier for the English to understand the Irish accents the actors were speaking in. All I know is that I had a lot of trouble making out what the actors were saying.  I do not have much to say about this show other than the fact that it had catchy songs that I liked.