WOW.

I really could not tell you the last time that a show has made me feel so many emotions all at once. I ugly cried. Laughed my ass off (sorry), and felt everything in between. This show was truly a masterpiece and cannot express how much I enjoyed it, and also hated it at times, which is a good thing.

I’m not sure where to start but I would say my favorite moment was when Lizzie jumped in to save Eugene. Also when Bella and John FINALLY got together, ugh. I just felt the strongest emotions during these parts. During the first one I was like wow, because of the effects of her jumping in and then the complete blackout, which wasn’t done many times in the show. And the second moment because of the TENSION between them was so truthful and ugh just so good.

I LOVED the lighting design for this show. I knew from the very first 10 seconds that this was going to be an amazing show. The system of lights they had that moved all together was so cool, I had never seen that before. I also enjoyed the use of silhouettes, I have seen shows where they get over used but I dont think this was one of these shows, they were perfect. I also really enjoyed how scene changes weren’t super crisp, and the lighting would just shift rather than completely go to black or really indicate “HERE’S THE SCENE CHANGE”, it all just flowed very smoothly.

I also cannot express how good the acting was, as we all obviously saw. I mean those actors were AMAZING, I don’t know how else to explain it. I loved that this show was about building character, and they really could not have done a better job, everyone was just ugh, chefs kiss. One of my favorite parts was the fact that they weren’t great singers! It made it feel so much more raw and truthful.

The music was amazing.

The sets (or lack there of) were beautifully done.

I cried so hard. Happy and sad tears.

I loved this show so much and will be going back.

Today we saw London Tide, an amazing musical performance at the Nation Theatre. Everything about this play was amazing to witness. The technical aspects were enchanting and the way they manipulated the theatrical elements was fantastic. The lighting was amazing the way they kept parts of the stage lit while also giving the actors the perfect amount of lighting to highlight what the audience was supposed to see while also keeping the rest of the stage in a dramatic shadow. The way they used the electricals moving them up and down and even having someone hang off of them was amazing. The stage movement and blocking was also incredible to see. I’ve never seen the stage itself move before and was amazed when they used it to show off the incredible blocking during the dances and scenes. Every movement of the blocking was instrumental to the story and the way they always utilized the entire space while keeping so much of the stage open was brilliant. The costumes looked amazing the way each one could let you instantly know the social status of characters as well done. I also greatly enjoyed their use of scenery such as the large wooden pillars on the sides of the stage and the way they navigated through them while also using them as things such as a coat rack. The amazing quality of the sound left me immersed within the world of the story for the whole production. They paid so much attention to detail within the sound work that several times I didn’t notice background sound such as waves crashing or a light breeze was playing until they stopped for a transition or music number. All in all London Tides was an amazing experience that I would recommend everyone to try and see as it was damn near if not the peak of Technical perfection in theater.

Walking through the Tower of London, I was truly impressed by the sheer amount of history and information that was being put on display. We started the tour by seeing the Crown Jewels, which were a bit underwhelming at first, until I got a look at the whole exhibit, and was in awe of the sheer vastness of the collection. Learning about the royal coronation ceremonies from that was incredibly interesting, and seeing all the different tools and implements of the practice was fascinating to me. The wide collection of different ceremonial maces, crowns, swords, dining ware was amazing to see, and thinking about how well those artifacts were preserved was really cool as an aspiring archaeologist (I do not have any pictures from the exhibit, however, as they did not allow photography there, apparently for security reasons). Walking through the prison towers and cells around the area was fascinating, especially learning about all the different torture implements and famous prisoners that have been kept up in the towers many different cells. I found the prisoner Charles Bailly, a papal agent caught in London attempting to smuggle to multiple members of the ruling class detailing plans for a Spanish invasion of Eastern England, to be particularly interesting, especially, as he made multiple, very neat, inscriptions along the walls of the Tower of London. Wandering the battlements was incredible, as each room contained wildly different histories and exhibits from the ones before it, starting with King Edward I’s bedchambers and telling about such things as the Royal Beasts and WWI. 

My favorite exhibit, however, was the White Tower, which I almost missed most of because I was afraid we would run out of time. When I was told about how the higher floors had a dragon statue and a highly impractical combination gun-ax on display, however, I knew I had to go back. And I was not disappointed at all, being greeted not only by those two displays, but with the sights of other oddities like highly decorated weaponry, a look at the vast weapon stores kept below the tower, The Lumley Horseman, a full chapel, and even a small arcade-esque Musket shooting game (that sadly was not working when we were there). The White Tower had so many incredibly interesting finds that pulled at my archaeologist heart, and it is definitely a place that I would like to visit again.

If I am completely honest, I did not think I would care too much for the Tower of London. I know, sue me! I think it came from a place of not having fully understood the historical weight and history that it holds in the city. But I am glad to announce to everyone, that I am now more cultured over its history!

Let’s start with my first impressions. As soon as we got off the Tower Hill underground station, everyone GASPED at the sight of the Tower of London. It looked so cool from afar, and I was so excited to enter. Before we made our way, we stopped to see a surviving part of the Wall of London. It was a defensive wall built around 200AD back when London was a Roman town port called Londinium. My brain cannot comprehend how even that small part of the wall has survived till this day. 

We continued our journey into the Tower of London, and our first exhibit was “The Crown Jewels” which I was most looking forward too. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint. Other than maybe the fact they didn’t allow any pictures, and how fast it went by. Anyway! I was absolutely blown away by the detail and beauty of all the pieces in that exhibit. It was so interesting to read up on all the different traditions and all the coronation regalia. I knew royal coronations were important, but I never realized just how much goes and has gone into it. Such as the 12^th century coronation spoon displayed at the exhibit. How it survived parliament’s destruction of the crown jewels in 1649, making it one of the oldest artifacts in the collection. I was so impressed by the insane details on all these pieces, especially the Sovereign’s Coronation Robes, which are also known as The Supertunica and Imperial Mantle. I had such a hard time finding my favorite piece. Then I stumbled into the artifacts and regalia used at Coronations Banquets and fell in love with the Grand Punch Bowl and its Ladle. It could hold 240 bottles of wine !! But the tradition was abandoned in the 1800s’ because of how expensive it was. 

My second favorite exhibit had to be at Tower Hill. Although I don’t love executions, it was interesting to read about all the different kinds of prisoners and their stories. The story that stood out to me the most was about Queen Anne Boleyn, who was imprisoned and then later executed for not providing a son for King Henry VIII in their 3 years of marriage. He sent her to the tower and found her “guilty” of adultery with four men and incest with her brother. When I read that, my jaw dropped. She denied the accusations, and I believe she was telling the truth. Because that was a crazy statement to make, and a crazy sentence to read. But it gets funnier because she was actually calm at her execution, laughed, and commented “I have a little neck”. When I read that, I immediately thought of when I say “I’m so small and petite”. All the older people won’t get it, but if you know you know. 

The Tower of London was right beside the Tower Bridge, which I was lucky to have walked through. I got to see the tower from a great view and discover a different part of London.  It was filled with so many food places I couldn’t wait to eat! I was also matching with the bridge (not planned), which means I really am the main character.

I am so amazed by the history of London so far, and am excited to see what’s next. Tonight, I will be seeing London Tide at the National Theatre. I hope it won’t be too depressing, But alas, I will be going now. 

CHEERS,

Belinda (your fav)

For a theater major I would say I’ve seen an embarrassingly small amount of theater in my life. With that small caveat, I think London Tide was perhaps the most impressive play that I’ve ever seen. With intresting choices like using the batons to imitate the movement of waves, provide scale to rooms, and even letting an actor hang off one during a musical number it’s not something that I’d ever really thought of as an option for scene/lighting design. That being said, it worked perfectly. Speaking on the scenic design, I find the show’s minimalist approach to be a perfect fit for a story with such a large scope.

Tech elements aside, the performances were also great. I felt all four romantic leads were highlighted and were each given moments to individually shine. Perhaps the best performance though was delivered by Jake Wood in his appearance as Gaffer Hexam. Even as a minor character when he was on stage he commanded so much attention and provided such a nuanced portrayal of a character that could have simply come off as a very one note angry brute. His portrayal gave a window into someone molded by their surroundings of questionable but often understandable morals. To me his performance, in particular in the song the burning boat, really pulled together a lot of the family dynamic we see in the other two Hexams and highlighted his children’s decisions for the rest of the play.

Overall, I loved London Tide. Aside from the show itself, I loved the experience because it gave me the opportunity to see a show of a calibur that I’d never gotten the privilege of viewing before. Do I think it’s the best thing ever in every way? No, but it’s mix of drama with a few songs set to the backdrop of gorgeous technical work made for an experience that really shows why theater is such an important part of our culture. It’s a show that I won’t soon forget. 

I see you’re back…I suppose I should say hello. Don’t think I didn’t see you following me in the streets earlier. I’m onto you, you creeps.

Anyway, jokes aside–last night we saw London Tide at the Lyttleton Theatre, which is one of the theatres in the National Theatre building. Unfortunately, the picture of the free program is the only picture I am permitted to post, lest I get banned from the National Theatre forever.

London Tide is an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel Our Mutual Friend written by Ben Power with music and lyrics in conjunction with singer-songwriter PJ Harvey; it was directed by Ian Rickson with Ian Ross as the musical director. The show premiered with the National Theatre in April.

I thought that the work done by the entire team was absolutely phenomenal. It utilized many interesting, complicated, and evocative effects in production as well as an unpolished, honest tone in its performance that made it stand out to me in ways I could not have imagined just by reading the synopsis. There were technical effects I had never seen live before, such as a stage that can elevate and lower itself and very coordinated flywork with a grid of lights. Due to its being set on a river, there were a lot of unique effects that had to be interpreted by the production team, and were often displayed in creative ways.

This play revolves around change: the change in the tides, the change in public opinion, and the changes within characters, to name a few. As such, I observed that the director’s vision in putting on this production was to show an ever-dynamic setting from a basic, minimal set design by Bunny Christie and staging that ebbs and flows like the bank of the Thames. This interpretation allows for the people to be the central element of the story; this shows through all of the production elements. The lighting design by Jack Knowles highlights the characters and the changes that they go through exceedingly well. Throughout the entire play as well, the sound design by Tingying Dong and Christopher Shutt kept me entirely immersed in the world created by this absolute masterpiece of a play, which through a snapshot in time shows the most pivotal moments of all of these characters’ lives. With all of these special effects shown in the production, I think that it would have been very easy for the play to become a spectacle, but because of the wonderful acting and direction, I could never begin to think of it that way. I had no complaints whatsoever about this play, and given the chance would love to see it again.

I would go so far as to claim that it is the best show this side of the Thames (and maybe also the other side as well?).

Stop following me!

CW

As I close out my third day in London, perhaps my favorite thing, of which there are many, is the history behind every ounce of the city. So, as one might assume, the tower of London was one of my favorite things we’ve had the pleasure of seeing so far. A location that works as a sort of architectural amalgam of the city’s history, with pieces on display ranging from gifted samurai armor, dragons and a number of live ravens which traverse the ground waiting to interact with patrons lucky enough to come across them.

One of the most intresting parts of the tower though isn’t the architecture or pieces on display, it’s the sheer number of people who have at one point or another been imprisoned there. The one I’d like to talk about, or ones in this case, are the twin Kray brothers who stayed in the tower in 1952. As some of the last two people to be imprisoned there the Krays’ stay was because of their failure to show up for National service when they were younger. An interestingly tame crime considering they’re mainly remembered for their later involvements in murder, racketeering, armed robbery, arson, etc. 

As we visited every exhibit, walked many flights of stairs, and passed through generations of London’s history one couldn’t help but get excited about the culture. Upon our exit, I think I’d have been hard-pressed to find a favorite thing I saw. Perhaps the crown jewels or a collection of terrifying torture devices, at the end of the day though I think my favorite thing was simply seeing a singular, somewhat funny, item. Coming all the way from a nobleman’s castle in Bavaria the tower displayed an ax pistol. The reason I love this so much is it’s a piece of history where the inception of it in theory makes sense but in practicality, it seems almost impossible to use and becomes perhaps the silliest item on display. A picture has been attached for reference. Overall, the Tower of London was a great experience with exciting things to view, it just makes me excited for the wealth of other museums and such in the area!

As soon as the production ended and the lights dimmed to complete darkness, this author jumped from their seat to reward London Tide with a standing ovation and applause. Tears poured from my eyes countless times as this compelling and prolific tale captured the heart and soul of Dicken’s Our Mutual Friend with a fabulous modern artistic retelling. Purpose and visibility are given to meaningful heartfelt themes that are still so very relevant to our society just as much as they were in Dicken’s time. An incredible feat was accomplished by the storytelling of tonight by the writers, directors, actors, band, and set crew of London Tide. 

The Lighting

The moving lights created the dazzling surface of the river surface. Actors could grab hold of their bars and physically rise up. The lights could also sink so low that the actors could be lost in the sea.

The changes and small shifts between hues of cerulean, cobalt, aquamarine, teal, vermillion, and amber altered the tones of each scene passionately.

The backlit background created a focus on the characters and their lived experiences instead of trying to dazzle the audience with maximalist sets. Lines were often incorporated to help the navigate the audience of what the set looked like in the minds of the actors, which was enriching and fun to watch. Eerie silhouettes of characters and their profiles created haunting effects that allowed for truth and ghosts to never truly die until the fog dissipated. Remembrance and honesty would prevail in this tale once all had been revealed and set right.

The Set

The moving floor and ceiling was fascinating to watch as characters went through moments of unsteadiness, change, or suffocating claustrophobia.

The pillars on the outside replicated old planks and posts of a dock. The posts were scattered and used clustered to the wings of the stage like a gradient, where the actors could slowly, chaotically, or meaningfully exit and enter scenes.

Uses very few props and recycles them throughout the story to create entirely new props and scenes. Genius things like driftwood planks as imaginative ships. Chairs and tables are used as beds and slums. 

The open floor design of the set creates an open invitation to each viewer to use imagination and interact with the scene within one’s own mind. The view to the very back of the stage, backlit with diffused LEDs and a screen while overlaid with a clear tarp creatively illuminates movement and gives the illusion of water. A similar smaller clear tarp is used during a scene depicting drowning and suffocation and connects its imitation of the currents in the Thames perfectly.

Creatively, the orchestra pit was used to depict a bank of the river, as actors fell in and out of the Thames. 

Costumes are symbolic and show epic parallels between the characters, their tragedies, and their successes. Bella handed her dress of stained reputation and tragedy to Lizzie at the news of the death of Lizzie’s accused father.

We see shoes and lack thereof and the actors interact vulnerably and intimately with the water and its edge.

The Music

The live band on stage allowed for flexibility of delivery for the actors and fluidity of the show. Not to mention it sounded amazing and the drums, guitar, and piano floated a melancholy tune throughout the production. The deep rich sound of the beating of the drum and the soft lilts and falls on the keys enriched the atmosphere beyond what words can express.

This production did well to experiment with each song or ballad. Some felt almost punk or rock in nature compared to some that sounded classical or soulful.

Other critics have called this production, incorrectly, a musical. However, this production is closer to a play with ballads that expertly progress the plot.PJ Harvey has such a wonderful sense of voice. Each ballad is tailored to the character’s energy and interacts with what had happened in the scene before. There were not too many or too few songs as each was sung with purpose and incredible voice.

The Plot

The plot device of the river to represent the controlled environment of London society is genius. In the river, the characters are swimming in water made from the intersectionality of societal issues, such as poverty, sexism, money, life, death, love, hate, despair, suffering, and grief. When characters fall, they are taken into this river by these forces. This allegory expertly depicts the experience of surviving in London as a lower or middle-class.

The ending of Lizzie taking control of her destiny instead of surrendering the freedom of her future to the love interest Eugene was well done as well. It was satisfying, progressive, and profound.

The Acting

Each member of the cast had very memorable moments of delivery and bluntness that added to each scene. There was a clear pattern of triumph. Life and death, relief and sorrow, and comedy and tragedy brought waves of soul-piercing rushes of emotion. The audience engagement was especially notable. Many laughs, oohs, sighs, and a few sobbing gasps could be heard echoing through the Stalls. The kiss shared between Bella Maclean and Tom Mothersdale playing Bella Wilfer and John Rockesmith was particularly a moment that brought tears to this author’s eyes and many of my fellow audience.

Dance and movement change scenes with ease and naturally progress the plot. The chorus was able to grab and change each scene with a shift of a chair or a flourishment of floating a table away. The actors did a fantastic job of moving throughout the play without jarring motions as if they really were sinking or floating throughout the heaviness of the water that entraps them in this tale of the Thames. As rumors or details are shared about a character, that character will move hauntingly behind the scenes as it progresses. This only increased the intimacy and insight we have with each person on set.

The use of the actors to narrate themselves is very well done and creative. For so many important characters and plots happening at once, each was easy to follow with the asides and anecdotes of the characters.

The feminist asides were expertly written into the play. Several lines concerning women not having to apologize or be responsible for the acts of men of power imposed on women were crucial to portraying this story sensitively in the 21st century.

If I haven’t been able to see this production first hand, I would have thrown myself in the river Thames.

Today we took the tube to the Tower of London and had a great time exploring the many museums and exhibits within the grounds. I had a ton of fun going through the white tower where they held the armory with the many different weapons throughout history. I’ve always loved history and medieval things so being able to see the different armors and weapons was very interesting. The dragon statue within the White tower was so cool and innovative seeing it made from pieces of armor as well as flintlocks and breechloaders was a cool touch.I also saw the crown jewels and different ceremonial objects and tools used in coronation processes. It was interesting and the Large diamond on the scepter is the only diamond I’ve seen that actually looked beautiful. Many people in history were immortalized from being locked up in the Tower of London one such person was the only american to ever be imprisoned within the tower and Henry Laurens a slave trader and later politician. Apparently the guards played yankee Doodle on his arrival which he found amusing but was horrified that he had to pay for his own food and security. Keeping close correspondence with his wife via letters. While there were other prisoners I thought this one was amusing because he was the only American to be held there and I just think that’s kinda neat. One thing I will note about the Tower of London was the obscene amount of children that were running around every building. It was super crowded and very loud. I am also nearly sure that the guards at the Tower Excluding the beefeaters were the British equivalent of ROTC kids as one of the guards looked to be thirteen and looked quite funny in his bear hat considering the hat covered nearly his entire face.