The London tube system is much like a subway station you would see in New York City or Chicago. My first experience with the tube was right off of the plane. My group arrived earlier than the other group, so we set off to check in to our hotel early. We boarded the tube with all of our luggage and braced ourselves for the forty-minute ride to the Russel Square Station which is located a block from our hotel. The tube ride itself is a blur. Between the sleep deprivation and the constant looks of annoyed British citizens wondering why a bunch of luggage is taking up their much-needed commute space, I just wanted the tube ride to end. My second ride on the tube was a much better experience. I felt like I settled into the flow of people entering and exiting the station and the ways in which to stand on the tube without falling over due to a sudden jolt. The true test was when we were boarding the tube with the whole group and due to some confusion and an overcrowded train, five of us were left standing on the platform as our fellow classmates and professors rode off in the tube. This could have been a cause for panic; however, we were calm and simply waited for the next train. When it came, we boarded and remembered where we were supposed to get off and like we had done this a million times, we exited the train and met our group on the platform. The tube, in reality, is very easy to navigate and will be a great mode of transportation when it comes to exploring London.
Our first play of the trip was Straight Line Crazy by David Hare. Ralph Fiennes (LITERALLY VOLDEMORT) starred as Robert Moses, an ambitious urban planner in New York City. This play covers thirty successful years that Moses dominated New York as the king of the expressway. Fiennes’s captivating portrayal of Moses completely enraptured the audience, showing the rise and fall of his power over the transportation industry. The play begins in 1926 as Moses begins his journey to power with the construction of two expressways in Long Island that would give access to cars filled with eager patrons looking for a beach day. The play later cuts to 1955, detailing Moses’s slow and painful fall from grace. From the minimalistic set to the larger-than-life characters, this show succeeded in holding the attention of its audience through powerful dialogue and intricate set details. The set being a thrust stage and relatively bare set gave the play an incredibly intimate feel. The actors were enthralling from the minute they stepped onto the stage. The play had neither a sad nor happy end, no ribbon to tie a nice bow as the final dialogue was uttered. The audience was left with a story of real life. As the cast took their bows, I found myself beginning to weep. I wasn’t sure why I was crying, but I was incredibly moved by the great piece of theatre I had just witnessed. Maybe I was crying because I want to do something great like that with my career. Maybe I was crying because the story was a rather tragic one. Whether it be the inspiration or the tragedy, I was moved to a deep emotion. That is the exact purpose of theatre. As artists, we aim to muster change in the audience witnessing our work. In the case of Straight Line Crazy, it was a resounding success.
Theatre in London U of A 
Amazing blog! Dru this could be life changing for you! Enjoy the experience. Love You!
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