London

Did spent the last weekend - that wone before uni started - in London!
What a great time I've had: good weahter (it was quite cold but dry), did do some sightseeing and, of course, did watch some west end shows!

Arriving in Stenston and getting to Wembley is quite a challenge but I did it! It took me around two hours to get to the hotel - but I managed without taking the wrong way.

Friday I strolled aroung the city, seeing St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster, The Hourse Guard and the Tower Bridge.
Saturday I just watched the Change of Guards, as I attended a matinee as well as an evening performance.
Sunday I had to leave in the afternoon what couldn't keep me off a shoppin gtour through Harrod's and the Covent Garden Markets.


I know I am told crazy by a couple of people: I attended 4 west end performances within 3 days! I loved it!

All started with WICKED:

Ashleigh Gray as Elphaba and Dianne Pilkington as Glinda. First I was a bit upsad as I had hoped to see Alexia Khadime performing. Nevertheless, Ashleigh Gray was amazing! Her performance and voice made my flesh creep; to say nothing from Dianne Pilkington! Still I am strilled!
Ashleigh did imitate 'Glinda's' voice in 'Loathing' - I have never heared that in the german or the Melbourne performance. The iridescent lights in 'One short day' and the performance of 'Defying Gravity'. All those has to last till I can see Wicked in Oberhausen (I got a ticket for the first puplic show in March!!!! Can't wait March to come).
A friend of mine came along and even he would say it was an extraordinary show...

After a day of strolling around London I bought a ticket for Avenue Q on friday. Did see a song being performed in a charity show 2007 in Bochum. I liked that one much.
Wondering why TV sreens were pointed to the audience I couldn't wait the show to start. It turned out that the screens are used to visualise some parts of a couple of songs for the audience. Great fun!


On saturday I thought of attenting two shows. The main problem here: I knew Pia Douwes is performing in London's Chicago for two months only. But in which show would she be - matinee or evening? The nice assistent at the ticket shop did phone the theater to find out. As Pia would perform on both shows I got a ticket for the matinee one.
Never have seen Chicago before - not the film either. What is the show about? Would I understand everything? YES!
Seeing Pia on stage as 'Velma' was great and I had nearly no trouble understanding. There was the one or other dialouge which was hard to follow though but at least I was fine!

After the end I searched my way to the Palladium Theater. Anybody who says that's easy - let's be told the story:
Finding the station is not hard and getting off the tube at the correct station is not hard as well. But then my problems started: Which exit do I need? Wandering around and trying to work out the map I finally decided for oen exit - it was the right one. Having round 90minutes left I searched a café to sit down for a bit. The next challange and I was not successful! The first ones did close at6pm, others were too crowed to step in and yet others just to expensive. While looking around I got lost - just couldn't remeber if I had to take Oxford or Regent Street and in which way I had to turn - was it right or left?
Asking people on the street didn't help me either - I asked several other tourists. After quite some time I spotted a policeman and finally was told the way back...
Time was already preceded and I hoped to get into the theater. Again I was mistaken: The doors wouldn't open till 7pm; an hour before the show starts. Furthermore the doors to the seats wouldn't open before another 30minutes! Great! I was fessed up. There is no 'really' Foyer but you are taken in a 'gangway' to you seats and then you can't get to your seats....
Anyway, the show recompense for that! It is a seperate show and not the musical way of the film! I liked it much. Things like the costumes on those scenes the nuns perform in church, I didn't like - they don't fit for me; are to colourful. But in realtion of the story the costumes do fit. Voices were great! Have seen some trailor of the musical in before and wasn't sure what I would think about it. I am glad I've seen it now. No regretting!


There are just a couple of things I can't make sense of. Though, if you do - tell me please!

1. There is left-hand traffic in GB, that's clear. But why on earth do I have to stand on the escalator, which is placed on the left side as well, on the right-hand side?
2. I know from German Shows that there is no encore in most shows. That's a pity - but allright. Nevertheless, there will be 2 or 3 curtseys. What happend in the west end shows is: The last note was sung, the audience applauded, the actors gave a bow and immediatly lights were turned on! One wouldn't have the chance to give standing ovations. Song ended, applause, lights on and everybody leaves... Couldn't deal with that in wicked but experienced the same in Chicago and Avenue Q. Sister Act handled it a bit different. They performed 'Raise your Voice' once more and bowed at the end 2 times...
3. Why the hell are there no shows on sundays? Next to Saturdays and Fridays that should be the day where most people would watch a show... It was really suprising...


Anyway - I loved those 3 days in London very much and can't wait to go there again ....