Understatement and Minimalism

London Blog 1

Part 1: London Calling

By Isaac Overman

I knew immediately that I would fall in love with London. However, I was skeptical to again adventure overseas due to my previous journey to Paris two years prior—fearing that it would be redundant. But I have to say that I was most assuredly wrong to hesitate. London in many was is similar to Paris: they are both large cities, capitals of first world countries and also extremely expensive to live in. However there are a few key differences that are stark. Namely the lack of language barrier, the focus on walking rather than the metro/tube system and the cultural diversity of London. Anyone who knows me knows that I love to eat. I will seldom turn down a good meal. Both places have unique offerings. France is the birth place of modern fine cuisine. The proving grounds of the greatest chefs in the world. However in Paris, the best food is undoubtedly French as one might suspect, but London is the opposite. England does not have a stellar reputation when it comes to its native cuisine, but where it excels is the diversity of food that has been gathered. London, as of the time I am writing this, is the culinary capital of the world. This diversity is what immediately struck me when I entered London. So far, every piece of food that I have tried has been from a different part of the world and was filled with the culture that it came from. This is only possible because of the English’s natural understatement. It’s like London was a blank canvas on which any culture was invited to make its contribution. This is markedly what separates London from any other city I have had the pleasure of visiting. It simply has no identity while maintaining thousands of different ones.

Part 2: Minimalism at its Finest

This evening we witnessed “Straight Line Crazy” and to say it was compelling is a gross understatement. What drew me in was the minimalism. Despite having the budget and cast to warrant a much larger and flashier set and stage, they instead chose to have key objects on stage and left the stage relatively uncluttered at the beginning. This was marvelous because the play begins with Moses on stage, totally empty but happy in the place he loves. Throughout the play many objects are added to the point where the map has taken over the entire floor. He is surrounded by things and people at the end, but he is haunted by the true emptiness that his life has amounted to. Moses is not portrayed as being a evil man but it is clear that his focus was on the wrong thing all along. I walked out of this play moved, grieving for a man that gained a legacy at the loss of his wife and closest friends. My review is this. It is a must watch play that breaks down what it means to live a life that leaves a legacy. It is easy to write off this as a story about greed or classism, but I believe that would be missing the point entirely. This is a play about a single man, how he lived and how his legacy shaped New York.