Flyer, Monkey's Fist, and Pint Discussions

Work today was...interesting...to say the least.  Surprisingly uneventful, but interesting none the less (we bring the fun wherever we go!).  The morning was pretty quiet, although there were several groups in today.  The group in the General Office reported power issues backstage, so Greg and I went back there to take the lighting unit apart and check the wiring (which was all fine).  He thought that we had tripped a circuit somewhere else in the system, but the only way to check was through the Intake Room, which is down in the Crypt and requires a key...so we took a short break while Front of House was scouring the building trying to find the key, and when we returned backstage to check things out again, we discovered that it was just a double-switch issue: two switches control the same lighting system, and they can cancel each other out if they are not put in the right combination.  Easy fix.  :)  I also spent part of the morning transferring the photos from our adventure yesterday onto the computer, which Ed later used to produce a wonderful little flyer with instructions for taping down, removing, and coiling cable correctly.  (Hopefully, the video will be online at some point...it was taken with a different camera than mine, so I'm not really in control of that...)

The afternoon was just an assortment of random activities...Ed made the flyer and we took down some stuff from the Grand Hall after the Tea Dance was finished.  The mirror ball was especially fun to take down, because it involved a climb up to the roof.  The view is pretty amazing from up there, but the attic was ridiculously hot.  We also spent a good chunk of time trying to figure out how to tie a monkey's fist knot...I know how, and I've done it successfully in Stagecraft, but the rope I had was really crappy and I wasn't able to do it.  When Ed, Greg, and I were all simultaneously attempting it with an online guide and different pieces of rope, someone compared us to the monkeys with typewriters who after an infinite amount of time are supposed to create the works of Shakespeare.  :)

At the end of the day, we all had a pint out in the courtyard, which was lovely and shady after the hot day.  (The walk to the cafe for lunch was not very pleasant in this heat, and it's only a block away!)  I may have come closer to discovering why I enjoy my coworkers so much: subjects such as quantum physics and perception rates for humans versus pigeons were just some of the fun subjects that we discussed over our drinks...find me a crew in the US that is that nerdy and wonderful, and I will be a happy stage manager.  :)

Grand Hall and Cable Video

Work today was relatively quiet again, but I still had an absolute blast.  Most of my day was spent in the Grand Hall prepping for a Tea Dance that is taking place there tomorrow.  It was pretty basic stuff...just rearranging some of the lighting and clearing the space (fortunately, Front of House took care of all of the tables and chairs that needed to be struck and reset...with my whole lower half still aching from Dover, that was not a job that I wanted to do!).  Most of my work involved moving ladders, cutting gels, and manning the lighting desk.  I also did some general work for YPT, since tech is a week from today...I'll have to do some paint shopping later this week.  Fun times.  The really exciting part of the day was actually toward the end (I stayed around until about 8:00 because of this): Ed and Rob were making a video on proper cabling procedures, so I was their camera-person and did voice overs at the beginning (with a cameo at the end).  It was pretty hilarious, and, to be honest, I'm amazed that none of us cracked up on camera.  After a lengthy process of rehearsing, taking process photos, and taping the three-part sequence, we went back to the greenroom for the premier...which would have been much more exciting had we been able to figure out how to hook the camera up to the TV.  (But hey, I can't really complain: I spent several extra hours with the most lovely people I have met since I arrived here, and I had an after-work round with them.  Although cider on an empty stomach may not have been the best idea, and I sense that I will be in bed early tonight...)  Main note from today: I love my coworkers.  And I find it remarkably unfair that I finally feel as though I belong and will potentially never see some of them again after this next week ends.  They are kind, warm, intelligent, hard-working people, and they truly embody the spirit of theatre that I love....and I am grateful to them for welcoming me so willingly into their group.

Petticoat Lane, Waterstones Hunt, and a Quiet Evening

Today was pretty relaxed at times...although I spent more time walking than I would have liked.  I decided to do some shopping since this was potentially my last Sunday in the city (or, at least,  my last Sunday living at King's Cross), so I headed to Petticoat Lane first.  My prize item was a pair of boots (£5) which will be stealthily tucked away until autumn...despite the chaos of the market scene and the rude people at times, I really like the atmosphere there: people arguing over prices, trying on clothing articles over whatever they were already wearing, music playing loudly (needless to say, there were several Michael Jackson tributes).  The guy who sold me the boots actually asked me about Gary, Indiana when I told him where I was from...I think he was expecting a charming small town, and he seemed pretty disappointed by my description.  (He did tell me that I was a very nice girl and wished me well with school, and another vendor said "Such a beautiful smile" as I was walking through...so I suppose that the trip to the market satisfied both the urge to shop and the urge to have complements thrown at me.)  :)

After I had scoured the rows of stalls, I had planned to spend the afternoon at Waterstones.  Unfortunately, as I left Nido in the morning, I realized that I forgot to double-check which stop I needed to go to in order to visit the bookstore, and it seemed silly to go back upstairs just to check that.  I asked someone in Information at one of the tube stations, and she gave me information that I think was correct (sending me to Tottenham Court Road), but it was a different location from the central one, and thus, I could not find it from memory.  I also went to Euston in search of the branch there, but I was unsuccessful again.  By this point, I was running out of time (they close at 6:00 on Sundays) and my feet and legs were killing me.  The hill-climbing yesterday definitely took its toll, and wandering the city in search of the bookstore just made me feel exhausted, which was ironic since I just wanted to curl up with a book and a cup of tea.  I passed several branches of WH Smith and a Borders, but I just wanted the Waterstones atmosphere!  Eventually, I gave up my search and returned to Nido, did a google search to find out where I should have gone, and checked Mass times at St. Aloysius.  That part of the evening actually worked out pretty perfectly: I took a short nap (after which my legs and hips were stiffer than a Brit's upper lip) and set out an hour before Mass, both to compensate for my potentially slow walking and to stop at the WH Smith at King's Cross/St Pancras to pick up a new book (I figured that I could just make tea back at Nido and have a makeshift version of my previously planned afternoon).  They had the next book in the Tudor Series (my name is Corrina and I am a Philippa Gregory addict), so I bought it (as well as groceries from the Marks and Spencer next door), then headed to Mass.  During the evening at Nido, I did laundry, had dinner and read...this is really thrilling, I know, and I hope that you will still read tomorrow after my relatively quiet post today.  :)  I did have one moment of excitement, though: I went to the cafe to read and drink my tea while my laundry was in the dryer (which did not break this time!), and I spent part of the time watching a group of guys watching whatever game was on at the time.  I was sitting around the corner, so I could see all of their reactions, but not the game itself: the perfect view, in my opinion.  Every now and then, I would just hear a synchronized gasp of horror and know that something exciting was happening...it almost reminded me of high school football games and my (still, to this day) ignorance of the rules of the game, but still enjoying the excitement of the game itself.  :)

Day Trip to Dover

Today, I experienced what may be the best part of living in one of the greatest cities in the world: leaving the city for the day and experiencing some classic history and culture.  I got up early today and took the 9:00 bus to Dover.  I opted for the bus rather than the train for two reasons: the chance to see more of the country during transit and the cheaper fare.  To be honest, I dozed for part of the outward journey and read for the return, but it was nice to see some of the countryside anyway.  Dover, as a city is pretty quiet, at least the corner of it which I saw (the coach station is really close to the castle, so I did pretty minimal exploring...of the town at least...read on...).  When I arrived though, there was a church fairy event going on at the base of the path leading up to the castle, so there were plenty of happy children to be seen.  :)  Now on to the first climb of the day: the walk from the bus station to the castle is approximately one mile,, from what I had read.  It's also uphill most of the way.  I made it, but I'm sure that my calves will be in a sorry state tomorrow  morning (I was actually really surprised that I could walk again after the three hour ride back to London tonight).  The staff at the castle were really accommodating and helpful, which was lovely after my hike, and I made my way into the grounds with ample information.  As I was entering, Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon ere preparing for post-coronation events, which I, of course, had to watch.  (And it was because of the historical significance and my interest in the time period...and not because Henry was still young, handsome, manly Henry rather than massive, vengeful, scary Henry...nope, not at all...)  The two royals and their companion were all on horseback (Katherine was riding sidesaddle, which was very impressive given the weight of her costume) and the two men did some typical tournament activities (a jousting-style exercise involving hitting a swinging target with a lance, and another involving cutting a cabbage in half while running past it).  At one point, the companion was doing a better job than Henry, so I wondered if his execution was on the schedule for today as well.  (Come to think of it, he wasn't theree anymore when I returned to the green after the tunnel tour...)  After the long ride into Dover, I decided that lunch would be a good idea before my tour of the Secret Tunnels of WWII.  Maybe I should set a goal to drink tea in all of England's major castles...

I ventured on next to the tunnel tour, which, considering my limited interest in military history, was pretty interesting (and a bit chilly underground!).  The beginning of the tour uses dramatized audio clips as you walk through the hospital section, which added to the ambiance much better than an ordinary tour guide might have (particularly in the surgery room...I was expecting blood and gore, but this was much better, especially when the power failed mid-operation).  To be honest, I found the medieval tunnels on the other side of the grounds more interesting, if a bit spooky.  (Note to parents: when you are exploring dark, ancient tunnels, do not let your children run around screaming.  It does not make other visitors happy.)  The grounds were just as hilly as the rest of the area, so I got quite a workout just wandering from building to building.  Eventually, when I felt as though I had seen as much of the castle grounds as possible, I decided to check out my real reason for visiting Dover: the White Cliffs.  (Consider this my shout-out to AP English.)  And no, I did not want to visit them for suicidal purposes, so do not consider my King Lear pilgrimage a cry for help.  :)  I did, however, understand their potential for offing oneself after my mess of a hike trying to find my way to the cliffs themselves.  (I could see them from the castle grounds, but the paths were very unclear.)  Due to some odd directions, I ended up back down the hill near the coach station, and the climb up again was worse after wandering the castle grounds for several hours.  At one point, I actually had to make my way through a section  of uncleared woods (all the while wondering what wild beasts might live in Dover) to a narrow road, which was just as curvy as it was hilly.  I dodged traffic for about 20 minutes while I climbed, and by the time I reached the car park for the other visitors to the cliffs, I was ready to drop off them!  The cliffs were oddly rejuvenating, however.  It was perfect weather for the trek as well...warm sunshine on your skin simultaneously being cooled by the sea breeze.  At every turn, there was a new smell of wildflowers and wind, which was such a clean contrast to the polluted air of London.  I wandered down the path for about fifteen minutes, then found a spot to perch and watch the sea.  I stayed there for quite a while, and it was incredibly peaceful.  I looked back at the castle and could tell that I had come a long way, but it just made me feel stronger for not giving up during the long walk.  And with the cliffs looming and the sea below me, I suddenly felt very small...which was good for me, I think.  I felt relaxed and at peace, and it was almost as if the stress that I typically harbor had  been carried away by the wind.  It did not matter that I had no idea what I would do tomorrow or that I haven't done anything related to "God's Ear" since I left...if I were at home, that would have driven me crazy, but when I was surrounded by the sound of the sea and the wind, everything just felt okay.  I find it pretty ironic that a place with militaristic and suicidal connotations could turn out to be a place of enlightenment for me, and I feel as though I will be back again in the future.  :)

I eventually pulled myself out of my reverie and made my way back down the hill into town.  (Surprisingly, the downhill journey is not much easier...it's so steep that you want to run, but you know that if you do you will be unable to stop.)  I still had a while before the bus was due, so I had dinner at a pub.  It was no match for The Famous Cock (I'm such a loyal customer!), but the bartender was very polite and asked me where I was from and how I was enjoying the UK.  I read for almost the entire return journey (although I did take some time to watch the sunset), so I foresee another Waterstone's trip in my near future...but I won't worry about that right now.  I expect that I will sleep very soundly after today, with a few less worries and aching feet.  :)

Workplace Creativity, Tea, and The Woman in Black (could be my biography...)

My Friday began as usual: Professional Development.  I was thoroughly pleased today, though, because attendance was taken at the beginning and the end of the session...I was really getting irritated by the number of people who were not returning after the break but still receiving credit.  (Plus, although I would rather be somewhere else, the guy who leads it actually is doing a really great job and tries to keep things as interesting as possible.  He deserves more respect than that.)  The topic was "Creativity in the Workplace," which was interesting at times...we did some fun brain-teasers (including one where I was the only one to speak up with the correct answer...go me!) and an assessment of our thinking styles.  I'm a right-brained limbic thinker...hmmm...emotions, intuition, and interpersonal communication?  Never!  :)

Since I was already in South Kensington for the seminar, I went over to the Victoria and Albert museum (for the second time) to check out some more of the exhibits.  (The last time I went, I stayed right up until closing.)  My main goal was to see the exhibit on England during the Renaissance (particularly since I am currently hooked on Philippa Gregory's series about the Tudors).  I also stumbled upon a room filled with larger-scale pieces, including casts of several tombs of royals past.  I was particularly excited to see King John (I'm such a Shakespeare nerd...) and Eleanor of Castille.  (Did you know that Elephant and Castle station is named because of a misunderstanding of that queen's name?)  While I was at the museum, I had afternoon tea in one of the cafes (I lead such a sophisticated life, don't I?) and considered my plans for the rest of the afternoon.  Again, my inner dork rears it's adorable head, because I decided to visit the Twinings tea shop near Covent Garden (besides, I had already had three cups of tea by this point in the day, so it seemed fitting...).  The aroma was incredible and the small exhibit at the back of the shop was interesting.  Since I was so close to Covent Garden, I also opted to visit the Tea House (about a block from the station) in search of a teapot.  No luck with my search, but the shop is beautiful and I really enjoyed just looking around.

This evening, I went to see "The Woman in Black" at the Fortune Theatre.  All of the publicity alluded to the fact that the show was full of scary moments, but I honestly did not expect quite as many jumps.  I can understand why the show has been running for so long, though.  The design was simple (it is meant to take place in the theatre itself), but you could tell from the shabbiness of the curtains that something eerie was going to happen.  And nothing is more eerie than backlighting a scrim to reveal the inside of the previously locked room, whose door just opened on it's own (except for amplified, echoing shrill screams...).  They used a lot of shadows and dim lighting to build the suspense, and I have never felt silence utilized more effectively in creating the unsettling atmosphere.  :)  I really enjoyed the performance, as creepy as it was.  My only bone to pick was with the audience...I sat behind the rudest couple, who seemed to think that because they were whispering loudly to one another in German, that rendered us unable to hear them.  The woman also left her seat and returned several times throughout the show, climbing over her friend to reach the aisle.  Also, I do not understand why every "jump" moment must be followed by everyone in the audience talking about how scary it was while the actors are continuing with the story...not to mention the fact that the silences were often broken by people adjusting their seats or unwrapping candy.  Had a phone gone off, I might have screamed out of frustration.  However, I feel that it is a credit to the actors and the designers that I was still enraptured by the production despite all of the distractions...perhaps they even kept me from being wound up so tightly that the first jumpy moment would have made me scream.  :)

Dimmer Rack, Unexpected Opera, and Celebrity Death Scandals

Work today was another assortment of random tasks.  I find it almost funny that I seem to be consistently busy just as I am ready to make my way home.  Today, my end of the day activity (after a morning of random fetching and sorting) involved helping Ed construct a dimmer rack for the Rec Room.  The dimmers lead up to the attic, so needless to say, we were pretty gross by the time it was done.  It was actually pretty toasty outside today, so I can only imagine how you are all feeling back home.  Before I left, I also ran into Josh, who has been appointed as our technical guru for YPT, so we had a brief chat about the effects.  He is going to handle the hourglass effect.  I'm pretty stoked about that.  :)

We had a choice of cultural excursions tonight, and I opted to go to The Unexpected Opera Company's performance of "The Barber of Savile Row," a version of the original opera set in 1950's London...a pretty clever twist if you ask me.  Figaro's hair itself deserved a round of applause...I have never seen something more magnificently awful in real life, only on the covers of Harlequin romance novels (Megan, I'm talking to you!).  Had I known the breaking news at the time, I might have not mentally compared it to that of Farrah Fawcett.  The show was delightful, and a different experience from what I had expected.  It was performed in The Scoop, a small outdoor amphitheatre on the southbank (right next to the government offices)...if a show can keep an audience entertained for three hours while sitting on concrete steps, it's a success.  :)  One character in particular, the head of police (from the Royal No-Cockup Metropolitan Police Force), was absolutely hilarious and made the opera feel like a stand-up act whenever he was onstage.  (One particularly fun moment was when he announced the audience participation bit: "We'll be doing Wagner's 'Ring Cycle'...you half can be Vikings, and you lot can get raped and pillaged!"  He also referred to his nightstick as a "Hackney Lie Detector.")  The villain showed his evil colors by condemning the modern music in favor of Gilbert and Sullivan (just as he was about to start singing "Modern Major General," the head of police marched in with the troops shouting "Don't you bloody dare!")  Also, being the good Catholic girl that I am, I found the sequences involving men in drag as nuns hilarious.  :)

Speaking of drama, Nido is in an uproar right now over the "Michael Jackson: Dead or Alive" scandal.  (And yes, I am aware that making that joke just secured another few bricks in the pathway to purgatory...)  According to the BBC website, his concert has been postponed...I'm not really sure how that will work...:)

Hostels and YPT Day

Ah Wednesday...my day to get some rest before work.  :)  I headed out of Nido just before noon so that I would have plenty of time to prepare for YPT today.  Almost as soon as I arrived, the duty manager for today (Alex, who is an absolutely delightful man) came down to the technical wing to find a technician for a repair job in the general office.  He knew it was lighting related and thought that a fuse had been blown, and I was the only technician in the building (and believe me, I use the word "technician" very loosely when referring to myself!).  Fortunately, when I went to the space, it was just a blown lamp (the bulb itself), so it was just a matter of taking the blown lamp to storage and finding a new one that was similar.  I'm really good at matching things.  :)  But it was one of those weird managerial issues...had there been a dire problem that wasn't just easily solved by a trip to the lighting storage, there is not much that I could have done.  Either way, they were fine in the end and Luke carried around a radio for the rest of the afternoon in case anyone needed help.

The cute place that I found in Battersea where I had hoped to say is now unavailable, so I did a bit more searching for accommodations during tech and performances.  I eventually found a hostel situated above a live music pub in Brixton, which is about a half hour from BAC on the bus.  I booked it, and I'm actually pretty excited about being there for a few days.

YPT was interesting...more technical issues to work around than usual.  Sam requested a mini-disc player (is it just me, or did that technology never reach the US?), and the first two that I brought to the space were not functioning properly.  The third was a charm, although we then discovered that the track she needed was not even on this particular disc.  Since the sound system only had one external hook-up for equipment, I kept juggling cords back and forth between the mini-disc player and the CD player.  I will have no problem setting up equipment next week.  :)  The kids were wild as always...funnily enough, I could envision how a twelve-year-old Corrina would have felt as part of this group (pretty miserable, to be honest...).  I wish that they knew what they were missing, though...Sam is awesome, and she has so much to offer as an instructor, and they are wasting their limited time with her.  Also (and this may be my anxious teacher gene coming through), there are some kids who are obviously not trouble-makers, but they retaliate or try to fit in with the other kids and get in trouble while the other brats go unnoticed.  Just an observation...there's not much I can do until tech except try to support Sam as much as possible.  The performances are rapidly approaching, so hopefully, they will start behaving...although I'm not really holding my breath.  :)

Draping, Hostel-Hunting, and My Favorite Pub

Work today was split pretty equally between running-around and sitting at a desk...not a bad combination for a tired girl like me.  :)  When I first went in (after my morning cuppa), I did some random fetching for the show in the Council Chamber (an elementary school's Shakespeare review), which included a lovely trip to the chair store (where we were building last week).  I have determined that the chair store is the second-creepiest place in the building, the first, of course, being the crypt under the main stairs.  I also worked with Ed as we attempted to turn the Member's Bar (from which the bar was removed a few weeks ago) into a cinema-like atmosphere for a film component of an exhibition on Jerzy Grotowski (the original set for "Akropolis" is in one of the upstairs rooms as well).  The project was begun by Rob yesterday, so we finished putting up scaffolding and draped off the room, conveniently covering the paint job that was done last week.  :)  It was actually pretty tiring, climbing a ladder and hanging the heavy curtains.

Eventually, Luke called down to the technical wing to tell me that BAC would not be able to put me up in housing during tech for "Time Was," but they will take care of my expenses if I stay elsewhere.  Thus, I spent a good chunk of the afternoon sifting through the various websites devoted to the hostel/hotel/guest house scene of Merry Olde London Towne.  :)  The most fun ones included beautiful descriptions, but personal ratings with warnings of giant rats and unsanitary communal bathrooms.  I eventually found a guest house that is really close to BAC and reasonably inexpensive...hopefully, I'll be able to snatch up a room before they are all gone.  :)

I topped off my evening by visiting my old haunt, The Famous Cock.  No noteworthy, Earth-shattering news to report, but I just like to mention when I visit obscenely-named pubs because I miss making my friends laugh.  :)

Quiet Monday and Grasses of a Thousand Colours

Work was relatively quiet today...a few groups were setting up in various spaces, but it was pretty low-key nonetheless.  I spent most of the day working on YPT stuff, which was not too exciting.  I also recoiled some cable that had gaffa tape stuck to it which was disgustingly sticky...the type which has obviously been overheated and is now just a clothy mess of goo.  Toward the end of the day, I helped Stuart with some lighting set-up in the Council Chamber, which was a nice change of scenery...I would have gladly stayed and finished it up, but I had to run back to Nido for food before my theatre experience tonight.

I went to the Royal Court Theatre (for the second time) to see "Grasses of a Thousand Colours" by Wallace Shawn.  I was particularly excited because he is in this production, along with Miranda Richardson and Jennifer Tilly.  The show was...interesting...let's just say that I'm glad that the program is also a copy of the text so that I can reexamine it later after I've let it soak in.  And few things are quite as awkwardly hilarious as seeing a man that you recall from childhood for his delivery of "Inconceivable!" as he rambles a monologue about his relationship with his nether regions.  I laughed like the love-child of MO'Hara and Prendy, and it was glorious!  The space was lovely as well...a small studio theatre, with unassigned seating.  I sat in the center of the second row, so I was never more than ten feet from the actors.  The show also utilized some pretty cool projection work, which was an interesting contrast with the simple set (just a rug, large white sofa, lamp, and podium).  Miranda Richardson was clearly the strongest of the three women for most of the performance (the weakest being Emily McDonnell, the only one in the show that I did not recognize), although Jennifer Tilly had her surprising moments.  After the show ended, I went outside to the stage door to be a raving fan...come on, how many times will I get to meet these people?  Apparently, Miranda Richardson went out another way (grumble), but I did get to take a photo of Wallace Shawn as he left and he signed my program/script.  Jennifer Tilly (criticize her acting as you will...and I know you will, you heartless beasts!) is a sweet, sweet lady.  Not only did she offer to take a picture with me, but she also asked me my name so that she could personalize her autograph to me.  So once again, my heart is warmed by the kindness of someone unexpected.  :)

The Globe (and other Tudor Playhouses!)

Today, I continued my random acts of nerdiness by visiting Shakespeare's Globe and feeling like a kid in a candy store.  :)  I knew that sometimes photos are not allowed within the theatre itself due to rehearsals, so I planned to arrive for the first tour in order to beat the actors...unfortunately, I managed to get off the Tube at the wrong stop (I was sure it was "Tower Hill" but it was actually "London Bridge") after taking a long ride around due to closures.  It actually turned out to be a great mistake, because I was able to walk along the bankside in the cool morning with very few other people around.  Oddly enough, one of the big things I noticed was that I could actually smell the sea-like air, which is usually covered by the smell of tobacco...but since I was the only one out, I did not have to worry about that.  It was so peaceful and quiet, with just a few early joggers out and about...the city is still asleep at 10:00 on Sundays.  I made my way to the Globe with about fifteen minutes until the next tour, so I strolled through the exhibition while I waited.  The tour contained primarily information that I already knew, but it was still enjoyable.  The space itself is so beautiful, and I had such a wonderful time at "The Comedy of Errors" a few weeks ago, so it definitely has a warm, happy aura about it.  The exhibition itself focused equally on establishing the world of Shakespeare's era as well as elements specific to this particular theatre.  The south bank was constantly described in detail as an area of ill repute right up to the point in which the Puritans shut things down.  The last part of the exhibition was particularly interesting, in which they described Sam Wanamaker's efforts to have the Globe rebuilt.  Following my exploration of the displays, I went on the other tour (much less popular: there were only three of us total on this one!) to the site of the original Globe as well as two other theatres in the area: The Swan and The Rose.  The Globe site is actually rather sad; right now, it is an open courtyard which is partially covered by an apartment building (which was made with concrete foundations, rendering excavation impossible).  According to our tour guide, most of the people who are really interested in preserving a space such as this would not be able to anyway, as they cannot afford to live in the area.  Similarly, the site of The Swan (best known as a bear-baiting arena) is now a large building, but is gradually being converted into a rehearsal space for the actors at The Globe.  A building now surrounds the excavation site of The Rose, which is under water currently.  Now that The Globe is fully constructed, The Rose is the next large project, and they are attempting to continue excavation and eventually build a glass stage atop the original site (making the archeological site visible beneath the stage).  It was pretty incredible to see how close these three theatres actually were...they literally all fall within one city block of each other (which also explains the extreme rivalry between them..."A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" is actually a sarcastic comment meant for the other playhouse and it's proximity to the open sewer, and yet we consider it one of the most romantic quotations ever written!).

After I had tea and visited the giftshop (the whole time attempting to resist buying an "Out Damned Spot" tea towel...I know, I'm a dork...), I decided to walk back the way I came.  The bankside was not incredibly busy, but still starkly different from the peaceful walk I took on my way to the Globe.  It was also much hotter outside...it had been an overcast morning, but the afternoon was bright and sunny.  I walked back past the Tower of London (where it became pretty crowded with tourists), then thought that I would cross Tower Bridge back to the southbank again and see what was around on the other side off the beaten path.  I walked for a while, eventually stumbling upon a church with a large courtyard that was shaded and smelled heavily of roses...I might have to stumble back that way another day.  As inconvenient as my becoming lost can be at times, I have seen so much of the city just by wandering in the wrong direction, and today, for the first time, I opted to just keep walking...so I suppose that the roses were my reward for being curious.  :)

England People Very Nice

Today, I had my second experience at the National Theatre for the matinee of "England People Very Nice."  The show was just the right combination of laugh-out-loud comedy and serious social commentary...and I loved every minute of it.  For the first few minutes of the show, I actually felt consciously aware of the smile on my face, and it was not about to leave.  The script dealt with the topic of immigration to England over the last several centuries, specifically highlighting the French Protestants, Irish, Jews, and finally Pakistani/Bangladeshi immigrants.  The first act set the stage for the necessity to laugh at some of the circumstances and pulled quite well from stereotypes (ie an Irishwoman throwing her two fighting friends from the house out into the street because "I'm giving birth in here!"), while the second act eventually gave way to the conflicts between Muslim immigrants and their first-generation children in England (including reactions of the Muslim community to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the Tube bombings, which were incredibly moving).  It was incredibly poignant at times, which made the comedy all the more delightful since it felt like a surprise (in the midst of anti-Islamic persecution, our hero still manages to invent Chicken Tikka Masala!).  From a technical standpoint, this show was my personal stage management dream.  The set consisted simply of a tall wall with doors built in, sections of which could be pushed downstage to change the space.  Furniture was used to differentiate locations, several of which were revisited during different scenes in different time periods, including a bar in which the barkeeper always starts with the phrase "Fecking (insert cultural title here)" and one of the regulars always has one living upstairs from him..my favorite one was "Fecking Americans...where are they?  They'll come in right at the end, I'll bet" during the WWII segment.  :)  Sight lines did not really apply, and all of the costumes were visible on racks upstage.  The reason why I would love to work on a show like this was the use of projections...it was incredible!  At times, there were Monty Python-esque animated segments, some of which included the specific characters onstage at the time.  However, the really incredible effect was the combination of animated effects with the live action: doors appearing as projections on the wall, then the actual door opening, or a man being hanged in the animation on the back walls, just before a dummy with a noose falls from a trap above the stage.  I loved it...the last time I saw projections really interacting with the story was in Spamalot (hence the Monty Python reference earlier), and I thought that this was such a clever way to deliver the messages.  Throughout the different time periods, an interracial couple (played by the same two actors) always formed, further emphasizing their overall message of the human race as the only race that matters.  I had a wonderful time because I had the chance to laugh out loud and truly feel entertained while still feeling moved by the message.  The only shame, I suppose, is that I would only really be able to work on this specific production here...many of the jokes mocked English culture as a whole, which would not translate to a US audience.

After the show, I had tea in one of the theatre's cafes and finished my book ("The Boleyn Inheritance"), so after Mass, I stopped by a bookshop to pick up more reading material.  I find it particularly interesting to read these  books about Tudor England while I'm here...when I read a passage from Katherine Howard's perspective as she was led through the Tower of London, I could visualize the route since I visited last week...that was certainly exciting!  And I'm recognizing several of the palaces (of course, Hampton Court appears frequently) as well, even specific rooms that are mentioned.  What I would give to have a library card right now!  As I have said before, I have to make time to read when school starts again...that is so much more important that many of the time-drains in my life, and I have a to-read list in the works right now...

Hunterian Museum and Waiting for Godot

Once again, today was a very good day.  Professional Development was not nearly as boring as usual...I'm starting to sense a pattern: the first half is a snooze-fest, but if you show up again after the break, you are rewarded with interesting info.  (More than half of the people did not show up again after the break, so I had some grumbling to do, of course...)  One of the activities was a values survey to help us gage the type of organization that would best suit us, which was pretty enlightening.  Maybe I'll take it again in six months and see what has changed...

I spent the rest of the afternoon at the Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons.  It was really interesting and a bit gross at times.  The collection is one of the oldest medical collections in the world (many specimens were collected in the 1700s), and the preservation is amazing.  (There were actually some bone structures that were preserved through tanning, similar to leather...)  Some of the specimens on display reminded me of the Body Worlds/Body Works exhibits that have been touring (I've seen two such exhibits, one in Indy and one in Chicago), but there were so many different animal examples as well.  As usual, the most fascinating yet sad specimens to see (in my opinion, at least) were fetuses.  I was particularly taken by a set of quintuplets that were preserved soon after birth (two were stillborn and the other three died soon after birth...they were so tiny!) in the mid 1700s.  One of the museum volunteers (a retired ear, nose, and throat doctor) led a brief talk involving some of the specimens, entitled "An Evening with Venus; A Lifetime with Mercury" which dealt primarily with the effects of syphilis.  I certainly felt my midwestern pride since Indianapolis was the Syphilis Capital of the United States in the mid-nineties!  :)  The particular specimens that we examined were mainly skulls which had been eaten away, which was pretty disgusting...and the treatments were not much better.  (When you cannot tell if the madness is caused by the disease or the mercury used to treat it, I would consider that a serious problem...)  And, while we're on the subject of Georgian nether-regions, I must mention one of my other favorite artifacts: a condom from the 1750s made of sheep gut, designed to be washed and reused.  Just another day of culture in London!  :)

The utter highlight of my day (for which I expect many a comment after this is posted) was my evening at the theatre.  I went to the Theatre Royal Haymarket to see "Waiting for Godot."  Let me preface this by saying that I'm not the biggest Becket fan...just throwing that out there.  I have to be in the mood for him, which strikes pretty rarely.  That being said, the show was incredible...but then again, when your leading men are Sir Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, it's pretty hard to go wrong, right?  The set was so stark and grey, and yet so incredibly detailed that you could imagine what else might be lurking behind the wings in this desolate wasteland.  And I have never seen such beautiful use of gobos for lighting texture before...I was actually glad to be in the upper balcony so that I could fully appreciate the effects (textured gobos in intels are amazing!).  The cast also featured Simon Callow and Ronald Pickup, as well as a child actor who is far cooler at the age of 11 than most of us will ever aspire to be.  (Where do you go at the age of 11 after working with this cast?  Seriously, you have to keep climbing...)  The cast was so energetic and full of life, and I could feel all of that energy from my spot up in the cheap seats.  The two people next to me actually left at intermission, which I cannot understand...even if you don't understand the show, when will you get to see a cast like this again?  After seeing "Catastrophe," it was pretty exciting to notice some of the various "Becketisms" within the text, as well.  (I purposefully avoid reading shows that I plan to see, this one included.)  After the show, the excitement continued.  I ran around the block to the back door of the theatre, where there were about fifteen other people waiting for the cast as well.  I probably waited for an hour total (but hey, after watching a segment of eternity spent waiting for Godot, I could deal with an hour of waiting for the cast), but it was completely worth it because my program is now signed by all of the cast sans Patrick Stewart.  I also hugged Sir Ian McKellen, then practically danced back to the Tube station (all the while thinking "Oh my God, I just hugged Macbeth and Gandalf...oh God!" and other such incoherent thoughts...nerds, consider ye warned, for I am now your Queen!).  :)  Sir Ian is such a gracious, kind man, and was cordial and warm to everyone who was waiting for autographs.  Tonight felt like another reminder that I'm doing the right thing by choosing to spend my life in this industry.  I've had several moments like that since I arrived here, and that is definitely an affirmation that we all need every now and then.

Work, Wellcome Collection, and Swine Flu

Work today was pretty slow at times. St. Mary's College was loading in another show, and they are really self-sufficient, so I only had to do some basic fetching for them (the bin labeled "Working Birdies" is a liar...) and other housekeeping stuff...setting up safety railing on the seating, finding a narrower table for the lighting/sound equipment so that the operators could actually sit behind it, etc. I did some work on YPT stuff as well, which was not too exciting...I'm ready to shop for props, though, so I just need to get petty cash from Finance and I'll be ready to go. I will tackle that task next week...

For our cultural excursion tonight, we had a choice of visiting the National Portrait Gallery, the British Film Institute, or the Wellcome Collection. Since I had already seen most of the National Portrait Gallery (but still plan to go back for the contemporary exhibit) and could see the British Film Institute another time, I opted for the Wellcome Collection...well, that and the publicity info made it seem too tempting to pass up. Their tagline is "For the Incurably Curious"...that would be me. :) The museum itself is pretty small (I made my way through in under two hours), but really enjoyable if you like obscure culture. My favorite part was the "Medicine Man" exhibit, which featured a fairly random collection of items from diverse parts of the world. Some of my favorites included Darwin's walking stick (topped with a tiny skull...just a bit creepy!), anatomical models from the 1700s (most of them were half the size of a Barbie doll and contained removable parts...there was also an obstetrics teaching tool, which was eerily similar to a model I remember seeing at the hospital with my mom during a comfort measures class), and a Peruvian mummy (which was pretty gruesome). Some of the more disturbing items included a steel corset and a pair of shoes to be worn post-foot binding. They also have an exhibit called "Medicine Now" which featured interesting sections on genetics, obesity, and malaria. The choice of the two diseases seemed odd until I read about the intent: one occurs primarily in developing nations while the other occurs primarily in developed nations. It was a really fascinating contrast, and the exhibit consisted mainly of artistic interpretations of the diseases along with displays of commonly related items (diet books, weight-loss pills, malaria medications, mosquito netting) with audio clips available. The whole exhibit was a museum/art gallery hybrid, and it was brilliantly presented. One section, which stressed individuality, featured some interesting installation work: one was a video of children from Essex who were filmed for 15 seconds doing whatever they wanted to express themselves, side by side with a new video taken of them 10 years later. The idea was brilliant...of course, I've seen people show photos of themselves as children, but this was so much more engaging because both "versions" of the same person were interacting with the viewer simultaneously. I loved it! I also took part in another installation, which is an ongoing experiment in facial features attempting to determine the "average face." It began with the computer taking a digital photo of you, which it then blends with the other photos of other participants. They also asked you questions about your lifestyle so that they could research further into facial differences between various groups (smokers and nonsmokers, drinkers and nondrinkers, people over and under 40, London residents vs other UK residents vs non-UK residents, etc).

My day was topped off when I returned to Nido and checked my email: apparently, there's a confirmed case of the N1H1 virus at Nido. However, they did not do the best job of informing us: we have one email with the subject "N1H1 Virus at Nido," another with the subject "H1N1 Virus at Nido," and a third saying "Recall: N1H1 Virus at Nido"...riddle me this: how long will it take for the halls to be overcome with panic. I know, I'm getting more cynical by the day, negative swine that I am (pun intended)...well, I guess I'll just keep washing my hands like it's my job. :)

YPT and Stockholm

Odd schedule today...I will never understand why I feel so exhausted by Wednesday night even though I get to sleep longer that morning. I went in to BAC at about 12:30 (I seem to arrive earlier and earlier on Wednesdays, just because there really isn't anywhere that I would rather be) and started by doing some research online regarding our set pieces for YPT1. You can only look at so many oversized (but not quite oversized enough) digital clocks before you're desperate for another task. I did a few minor fetching/inventory related tasks (compelling stuff, I know), and during the process discovered that the Council Chamber is a pretty terrifying place when the lights are all out and you can't locate the switch. (Almost as creepy as the room full of puppets that Greg and I stumbled upon yesterday...)

YPT itself went really well. The kids were at their usual level of rascally-ness (I'm sure that term will catch on eventually), but we made some really solid progress with a new movement piece. Sam and I had some more chats about the show's needs, and she's looking into the location of the set pieces for the hourglass effect from the last time it was done (and the digital clock will probably be a projection...yay!). The only thing that has really annoyed me about the kids is that they will not just shut their mouths and listen to Sam...she'll start to explain the activity, and then they'll shout out guesses of how they think it will work, then ask the same questions twelve times because they don't listen to each other, either. However, the sessions are relatively short (2 hours), and they sometimes manage to pleasantly surprise me with their work once they actually start listening.

After YPT, I opted to stick around and see the show that we set up yesterday. The group (as I finally found out) was from St. Mary's University, and the show was "Stockholm" by Bryony Lavery. Actually, I decided that I should see the show only after I found out who the playwright was: I am familiar with "Frozen" (and by that I mean "I have seen a handfull of monologues and scenes performed to death at Cathedral from 'Frozen'"), so I wanted to see what Lavery's other works were like. I really enjoyed the show, and I felt as though the Rec Room was a pretty perfect venue. The show is gripping to the point that you feel like a voyeur, and the seating was set up in the round with gaps for various set pieces to fit. In that way, you as the audience feel as though you are part of their house, but you still feel uncomfortable because the only people who should witness a relationship falling apart like this are the couple in the relationship. There was no fourth wall, not even during the dialogue between the two actors, adding to the discomfort that I relished in as I watched...not only should I not be seeing this, but they know that I know that I should not be seeing this. (That's the whole point, though...and I sat in the front row while most other people squeezed into the safety of the second row...sort of my challenge for the actors to "bring on the discomfort!") It's the kind of show that you cannot effectively perform on a proscenium stage, and that is the type of work in which I prefer to be involved. Add to that the fact that the actors were incredibly well-trained, which was a breath of fresh air after the last student show I endured. I did not feel as though I was watching students, apart from the relatively young age of the performers. I'm certainly glad that I stayed for this tonight, and I'm a bit sad that I will not be able to work with some of these artists again. The design/production team were all lovely people, and I think that their kind and gracious attitudes may have also contributed to my enjoyment of this production. I'm definitely guilty of letting personal opinions of artists impair my ability to appreciate their work...I'm not proud of that, but it's the truth. If you're rude to me when I help you load in your equipment, I will not consider your design remotely beautiful...but this group was lovely all around.

Tool Box, Pint, and Midsummer Night's Pantomime

This was a great day...I say that with confidence and a smile on my face.  I went in to BAC at the usual time and helped the Rec Room group with a few minor things (moving ladders, footing the ladder in order to help prevent Ed from plummeting to his death, fetching lanterns and torches...and by that, I mean desk lamps and flashlights...I know, it sounded so dramatic before that clarification!).  Most of the rest of the day consisted of general tidying up, including several hours sorting stuff in the Tool Box with Greg, with my hands getting more and more gritty and the piles of stuff getting more and more organized.  The work can be dull at times, but I couldn't ask for better company.  I also did some odd jobs with Ed (including carrying a heavy dance-floor downstairs...can't escape them, I guess...) before taking a break to wish well to our coworker Maureen, who is leaving this week for her wedding in Jamaica.  She's a sweetheart, and really made me feel welcome during my first few days at work.  Our final task, which I stayed later than planned to assist with, was rigging up a track for a curtain in between the Heavy Store and Tech Playspace.  It was a feat, and might be a safety hazard, but it's in the air, at least.  Once again, I managed to grow a pair and deal with the often rickety ladder...although, since I got the ladder and Ed stood on a rickety stack of platforms, I can't complain too much.  :)

I planned to see a show tonight at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, which is not far from BAC, so I opted to stick around until closer to show time rather than dashing to King's Cross and back, and I'm really glad that I did.  The building has a different atmosphere after 5:00, and I was able to just hang out with Greg and Ed in the courtyard.  And Greg bought me my first pint (cider...after a few moments of confusion and slight mockery at my not having ever really had alcohol before...), and I could not have asked for a better pair to enjoy it with me.  I haven't felt like "part of the group" in any setting for a while now, so the hour or so of conversation in the courtyard was just what I needed.  So, for those of you who were placing bets on how long it would take Corrina to become fully integrated, in the last two days I have been asked directions to an obscure street in Vauxhall, ordered a sandwich with "to-mah-to," and had a pint with my coworkers.  Time to pay up.  :)

The show tonight was pure entertainment...no deep meanings here, but sometimes it's nice to just be amused.  It was "A Midsummer Night's Pantomime," performed on a tiny stage in a gay bar in south London (Royal Vauxhall Tavern).  And it was awesome...switching between original text and modern comments, filled with more innuendo than even Shakespeare intended.  They actually compared the RVT to the Globe in its heyday in terms of its purpose as a center for artistic expression and bawdy behavior.  :)  Hermia was played by the tallest drag queen I have ever seen (self-proclaimed as "six foot eight in heels"), and who can argue with a Puck with a red mohawk, tutu, and combat boots?  Oh, and the lovers were rearranged again at the last minute by Puck...apparently, Athens has pretty liberal views on same-sex marriage!  Oberon/Theseus was played by Dusty Limits (for those regular readers who recall my night at the burlesque show), who was charming as always.  I really wish that Indy had a venue similar to some of these smaller theatres that I have visited...maybe that's my calling.  :)

Assorted Tasks and "Aunt Dan and Lemon" (With A Sentimental Surprise!)

Today was both busy and low-key at work, depending on the moment.  I'm starting to think that Production Stage Management might be on my horizons...especially if I were lucky enough to find another venue similar to BAC that I loved just as much.  We had another college group start working (somehow, I never actually learned which school it was), and although they had a fairly tech-heavy show to load in, they also had a really competent crew at work.  Several of them also seemed genuinely kind, and were incredibly appreciative of Ed's and my help...always nice to be around a professionally-behaving group that is considerate!  :)  I spent the first few hours at work helping them out and getting the space in order.  They are in the Rec Room, which is about 3/4 Strother size (I love how all of my room descriptions are measured in "Strothers"), so there was just enough room for our small group to work efficiently...they also had a full day devoted to set-up, so it won't be quite as chaotic as our last group was, with load-in, tech, and performances all in one day.  I also realized that I am actually gaining some upper body strength, because Ed and I had to carry five scissor-platforms downstairs to heavy storage.  I don't want to know how much they actually weigh, but let it suffice to say that on my first day of work, I could barely move two platforms from storage down the hall to the Grand Hall.  (Not that the five platforms were easy to move, but we worked out a pretty good system and I did not feel as though my arms would fall off this time...)  At noon, I had a meeting with Luke to discuss YPT and my prop/scenery hunt.  The meeting ended with me emailing the director a list of questions about her desired effects (which, in turn, led to me emailing some of my lovely techie friends at home about a piece of scenery that makes me nervous...).  I'm going to start prop hunting (in a "purchasing" sense) soon.  After lunch (during which I ordered my sandwich with tomato, pronounced "to-mah-to"...yeah, someone's blending in...I wasn't even thinking about it either; the word just kind-of came out that way and I sort-of had a double-take at myself...), we went back up to the Rec Room (where most of the lights and scenery were set up without problems) and solved a minor conflict involving painting the doors to the room (there are four total, one in each corner, and two needed touching up with paint while one, painted bright red, just needed to be painted over completely).  Eventually, I was sent to the paint shop (about fifteen minutes walking) to get more supplies, and everyone was happy.  :)  When I left, some of the technical staff were starting to work on building a shelving unit in the lumber storage area to hold long planks of wood (funnily enough, the storage is called the "chair store" although there were only a small stack of chairs down there, which we promptly moved to begin construction).

I would have stayed and helped with construction (since I actually know how to use some of that equipment!), but I had to dash back to Nido and drop off my bag and eat, because I had tickets to "Aunt Dan and Lemon" at the Royal Court Theatre.  It is part of the "Shawn Season"...as in Wallace Shawn, who I have heard described (to my agreement) as "the US's most profound and most overlooked playwright."  I'm holding my breath waiting for someone to say "Inconceivable!"  (Yes, he's that guy...)  The show was wonderful, and I really enjoyed myself.  I felt so comfortable, almost as though I was just listening to him telling me his story (even through the perspective of the protagonist, a woman), which I attribute to a combination of the simple, homey scenery (set originally in her flat, switching to various locales as seen with the table, chair, bed, rug, etc) and the simple language that still managed to convey a powerful message.  The scenes shifted seamlessly, and it was almost startling to watch the furniture serve it's multiple purposes for various locations (Lemon's childhood bed, for example, changed into Aunt Dan's deathbed and the bed on which Aunt Dan's friend has a brief seduction prior to murder).  I felt moved, and as I was watching actors onstage, I was glad that the program was also a copy of the text so that I could read some of the passages again.  The message turned surprisingly political toward the end, which I knew was a feature of Shawn's work, but did not really foresee throughout the production as a whole.  The most profound piece of the message, which really stuck with me throughout the production, is the idea that our lives are not made up of the things "I did" or "I saw" or "I said."  Life is really made up of the other people who influenced us, who taught us, and who made us into what we came to be.  That poignant thought, which is so simple but so true, really made me think of the people waiting for me at home.  I am so happy here in London, by myself for the most part, worrying only about the day at hand (although, controlling as I am, I try to plan out all of my time and often change my mind at the last minute).  But more than that, I am so touched that you, my readers, take the time to read up about my day.  Maybe that is why, although I am alone, I haven't really felt lonely while I have been here.  I have the city, and I have all of you thinking of me, and I am truly grateful for that, so thank you, and I send my love from here to wherever you are as you read this.  :)

Nerdy Museum Day

Another day of culture in old London town.  :)  I spent most of my day at the Science Museum, which I had planned to visit a few weeks ago but rescheduled in favor of something else.  I'm really glad that I went today, though, because I had a great time.  The headlining exhibit right now is "Wallace and Gromit Present A World of Cracking Ideas," which is all about inventions.  It was an adorable layout, designed like Wallace's house, with a lot of kid-friendly, interactive areas.  It also contained some of the original set pieces from the claymation, which was pretty exciting for me.  My favorite section contained ideas that never really caught on, some of which made me laugh audibly (my favorite was the chocolate teapot, followed  by instant water...just add water!).  I also checked out an exhibit called "Who Am I?" which was a fascinating study of the human body and what makes it individual.  It contained information about blood types and DNA and the like, which was to be expected, but it also followed several volunteers who had all of this information recorded and presented.  After seeing their blood types and face casts, it was interesting to hear everyday information about them as well.  The exhibit also discussed some psychological elements, including phobias, and an introduction to evolutionary information as traced through DNA.  Another exhibit that I particularly enjoyed was a visual history of medicine, presented largely through models and recreations of rooms.  The displays ranged from a small model prehistoric surgical procedure (using a rock to puncture a hole in the skull in order to release demons) to a full-scale recreation of an operating room during open heart surgery in the 1980s.  I think that I enjoyed this exhibit so much because it was presenting information that I already knew in a different way...the models were so incredibly detailed, and they had such a broad range of time periods and procedures.

When I had seen the exhibits that particularly interested me, I went down to the cafe for afternoon tea, then walked next door to the Natural History Museum.  When I visited it a few weeks ago, I had not checked out the Evolution or Primate exhibits, and since closing time was looming, I opted to have a quick stroll through them.  Both exhibits were small, lining the upper balcony that overlooks the main atrium, but they were interesting nonetheless.  The primate exhibit did not contain as many specimens as some of the other specific exhibits, but it had quite a bit of video footage and sought mainly to compare various other species' social behavior with that of humans, so both exhibits really sought to put humans in their place in the grand scheme of evolution.

Although Sundays are great days for museum outings, everything tends to close fairly early, leaving me with an open evening and not much to do.  Ah well...it's time to prepare for the busy work week ahead and plan out my free time.  As of right now, I am seeing four shows between tomorrow and Saturday afternoon (not including whatever productions are in progress at BAC), so I should probably conserve my energy for now!

Trooping the Colour and Waterstone's

This morning was far more exciting than the average Saturday for me and my fellow Londoners: the Queen's Birthday was celebrated with the Trooping the Colour parade. I left Nido early in the hopes of not being at the back of the crowds, and I surprisingly managed to get a spot fairly close to the front along the parade route. I arrived as the early festivities were going on and watched several groups of soldiers march by before the bands (which were the size of a small army), and finally the members of the royal family. As the carriages were leaving the palace, I was surprised by their speed...I barely managed to snap a photo of Prince William, Prince Harry, and Camilla before they were gone, and I didn't really recognize Charles until someone pointed him out. The Queen was lovely (her carriage moved slightly slower), and it was thrilling just to see her in person. Once the royal family passed, most of the crowd dissolved, but I stayed where I was since I knew that they would return by the same route. Thus, I got a spot right up front for the return trip (where I didn't have to worry about a giant in front of me again), so I was able to take a few more photos. The bands were fantastic (particularly the band mounted on horseback...playing drums while on a horse is a pretty impressive skill), and I loved seeing all of the pomp and pageantry associated with the festivities. One of the guards passed out, though (we saw some others carrying him on a stretcher to the first aid station)...the beautiful weather would certainly have overheated anyone in those heavy uniforms. (He wasn't a bagpiper, though, so I could not make any references to having "a piper down!") When the soldiers on horseback paraded through, I realized just how terrifying a battle must have been back in the day...it was intimidating to me, and they didn't even have weapons drawn! (Speaking of which, the soldiers calling out orders to the soldiers lining the pathway had a sword, which I think should be my prop of choice when delegating tasks on a show...I was all ears, and I could not even understand him, but I was ready to serve and protect should the man with the sword need any assistance!) It was an exciting day to be in the city...so many happy people and so much national pride. Saint James's Park was full of families and couples having picnics and people reading in the shade, and it felt like the perfect morning. :)

Since my mood was already in the clouds (and since I finished reading my current book while waiting for the parade to begin...the main reason why I did not just stake out a shady spot in the park), I opted to treat myself this afternoon and go to Waterstone's Bookstore...I may have literally salivated as I approached the building. I haven't been in a Border's for such a long time, and this place is essentially Border's Cubed. I could have stayed there all day quite comfortably, just looking at all of the lovely books...I definitely need to start making more time to read for pleasure when school starts...that would definitely be beneficial to my mental and emotional health. :) When I made my purchase ("The Boleyn Inheritance," the sequel to "The Other Boleyn Girl"), I walked back to the Tube station and stopped for lunch at a cafe. In the evening, I went to Mass at Saint Aloysius's Parish (about a fifteen-minute walk from Nido), which made a very relaxing end to an excellent day. (Although, of course, Nido brought be back to Earth when all of the dryers mysteriously stopped working while my entire wardrobe was in the wash...but ah well...I saw the Queen and visited a glorious bookshop today, so I an certainly deal with having my clothing strewn across my dorm room as it dries!)

Intercultural Skills, The Tower of London, and Phedre

Professional Development today was actually not a snooze-fest! Miracles happen! (Has anyone else noticed that my entries are becoming more and more sarcastic as the weeks go on...?) Seriously, through, the topic was Intercultural Skills, which I find interesting anyway. We discussed differences between various cultures relating directly to the business world as well as differences among age groups (Veterans, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y). The hand-out also had a pretty detailed chart of differences between Generation X and Generation Y, which was surprisingly enlightening.

After Professional Development, I headed over to the Tower of London for the afternoon. When I arrived, I had just missed one of the Beefeater Tours, so I checked out the nearest tower (which contained replicas of rooms in a medieval castle, including Edward the Confessor's bedroom) before making my way back to the main gate to catch the next tour. Our guide, as all the Beefeaters are, was delightful and hilarious, and I had a blast. I remembered a couple of the stories from my last trip here, but since I am now ten years more worldly, I think I appreciated them with a new light. :) After the tour, I went straight for the Jewel Tower, passing the time in line with my copy of "The Other Boleyn Girl"...ironic, eh? The Crown Jewels were just as impressive as I remembered (my favorite was Queen Victoria's small diamond crown). I went to the special exhibit about Henry VIII afterwards (with my opinion of him slightly tarnished by my book), which was interesting...he was certainly an insecure man at heart, as represented in his armor by a codpiece to match his ego. Enough said. As closing time quickly approached, I managed to make my way into the Bloody Tower and around to some of the other smaller exhibits. I was there for three hours, but I still felt like I could have been happy just wandering the paths.

Even if the Tower had remained open, I had little time between my sightseeing and my evening plans...just enough time to run back to Nido, change clothes, and devour a makeshift dinner while standing in the kitchen before hopping on the Tube to Covent Garden. Tonight, I saw Helen Mirren in Phedre at The National Theatre, and the production was breathtaking. The set was simply beautiful, and designed like the edge of a Mediterranean beach. The lighting, likewise, was entirely void of spectacle, but so effective in tracing the various positions of the sun over the course of the day. Helen Mirren, of course, was incredible, and although I was in the third to last row of the theatre, I felt every word she said. And yes, I cried this time. I was unfamiliar with the story prior to reading the program, but I am familiar enough with the style of the Greek tragedy to know the outcome as soon as the characters first appeared. However, this fact did not draw from my connection to the characters whatsoever. I felt tears welling up because Phedre struck a chord with me, and I am not even sure what that chord was. Although this was Ted Hughes's version, rather than an original Greek text, I was glad to be able to watch the action unfold, knowing the ending without specific details. (I loved this version...within five lines of the first scene, I thought, "I have to read this again later...") I never had the luxury of seeing Oedipus before I had read it or been told the outcome by someone else, and I have often wished that I could have had the opportunity to truly experience a production and discover the truth with the protagonist rather than knowing his fate the entire time. Thus, I felt refreshed by the opportunity to watch the action of this similar story unfold, knowing the end but not knowing which path we would take to arrive there.

Council Chamber Prep, Jack the Ripper, and Public Transportation

Based on my present calculation, I spent around six hours on public transportation today as the result of the Tube Strike.  Unfortunately, not all of those hours were spent reading, as I was still attempting to navigate the bus routes.  My two hours to BAC were expected and I left Nido early this morning to compensate.  However, the two hours from work to Tower Hill for our cultural excursion, as well as the two hours from Liverpool Street back to Nido seemed a bit excessive...

Today, we prepped the Council Chamber for a student group that will perform this weekend.  Most of the morning was spent hanging lights (with me pushing Stuart around the space on the lift and attaching lighting instruments to a cord for him to reel up)...it was refreshing to do a familiar task, and Stuart is a fun workmate.  He and Luke actually gave me a rundown of the variety of culture within their home county of Essex, which was enlightening.  :)  After our lunch break, we had the lovely task of laying down a dance floor...oh joy!  :)  I'm still kind-of sore from taking down the black curtains in the General Office earlier this week, and I know that I will be achy tomorrow after taping down the dance floor.  We also set up microphones, chairs, and a projector and screen, so I really watched the room transform over the course of the day.  I also spent a little time working on the prop hunt online, but I felt like my service was better needed upstairs...and you can only look at so many giant, but not quite giant enough, digital clocks before you need something else to do.  :)

In the evening, we had our Jack the Ripper Walking Tour, which was enjoyable apart from the irritating people in our group.  (Can't win them all...)  Our guide, Richard, was very sweet, though, and the walk took us all over London's east end, which was an interesting glimpse of the socioeconomic diversity of modern London as well as a gruesome history lesson.  By the end of the tour, most of the group had wandered off to the pubs, but Richard was very gracious and even helped us look up the bus routes to get back to King's Cross...and, after the very long bus ride as well as all of the running around at work today, I know that I will sleep well tonight!  (I was awoken at 3:00 this morning by drunk hooligans yelling in our hall...ah, the joys of student living!  They had American accents, too...my countrymen have really failed to impress me as ambassadors!)

YPT1 and Bus Routes

Since I had YPT1 rehearsal tonight, I went into work later in the day.  Fortunately, I overestimated my travel time, because it actually took me around two hours to get from door to door.  Given, a good portion of that time was spent waiting for the buses to arrive at their stops (every 5-10 minutes...such a lie!), but still, I was pretty weary by the time I arrived at BAC.  It took about the same amount of time to get back to Nido as well.  When I first arrived at BAC, Ed was the only one in, (Greg came in later and Rob is doing a cycling race in France this week), and he was missing in action when I searched the building, so I just did some more cable labeling and cleaned up the greenroom for my first hour before my production meeting.  When he returned to the greenroom, I chatted with Ed about ways to make the storage areas easier to navigate (mainly because they have so many temporary staff members come through BAC and equipment tends to disappear and reappear in strange places...).  My suggestions may lead to more labeling on my part, which is fine by me...as I have been known to say, I enjoy making order out of chaos.  :)

The meeting itself was really productive.  We filled out the production agreement, which is a piece of paperwork that serves as the technical reference sheet with all necessary technical elements, equipment needed, important dates, etc.  Since we do not really have a specific design team (one of the technicians will do the lighting design during tech), I will be in charge of acquiring props and scenic pieces, some of which will be very challenging.  (We are ending with an hourglass effect which will involve sand running from giant cones attached to the grid...and I get to figure out how we will make this work...hmmm...)  When I was preparing to set up, Luke actually told me that I'm doing a really great job, which meant a lot.

Rehearsal itself went well.  They began with a shorter warm-up than last week's (we're getting pretty stretched for time) and choreographed a possible movement piece based on the Riddle of the Sphynx.  They also continued the changing scene, which became a bit congested toward the end...some of the kids were angels, but the majority of them just would not stop talking and trying to draw attention to themselves by just being silly, which was incredibly irritating.  I was pretty popular at one point, though: One of the students asked me where in the States I'm from, and I gave my usual response "Indianapolis...in Indiana...near Chicago?" which made him incredibly excited since he's visited Chicago.  Then one of his friends asked me if I voted for Obama, and they thought that I was pretty cool because I did.  Take that, cynics...I'm considered cool by some 13 year olds because I voted for Obama.  :)

Tidying Up and Bus Rides

Considering that today was spent still tidying up the lower storage area of BAC, I actually had a really good day.  :)  I went in at the usual time and, after my cup of tea, started out by labeling cables by length (the next set of cables after yesterday's section was completed).  It was only slightly awkward when the other intern started working on it as well...she does not have much initiative and is not very friendly.  (Fortunately, I was able to find the website for the radio station we listened to yesterday and thus block out the awkward silence...)  By the time the massive pile of cables was sorted out, Greg and Ed were in for the afternoon, so there were a few more ideas regarding which projects needed to be completed.  At one point, the other intern and I were sent to the General Office (small black box space, which used to be the general office when the building was the Battersea Town Hall...most of the spaces are now named for their original purpose, hence the General Office, Council Chamber, and Members Only Bar).  She was leading the way, so I just thought I would see where she led us...which turned out to confidently be right to the copy room.  Slight misunderstanding (although why she thought we should go to the copy room to check lighting inventory and take down black curtains is beyond me...).  She checked the inventory (although she did not seem overly confident in what everything was), while I used a ladder to take down the curtains...it would have been nice to have someone footing me, but I was fine on my own.  By the time I had untied everything, she had disappeared, so I folded everything (very awkward job by yourself) and lugged it to heavy storage.  Needless to say, I was knackered by the end of it (yes, I'm blatantly using British slang because it was the most appropriate word to use for that instance), so I took my lunch break, which was once again awkward by the other intern's silent presence.  (Not to brag, but I'm definitely the one with the personality, it seems...)  You could tell that some of my coworkers didn't really know what to do with her either, because she's an acting major with incredibly limited technical skills...not that I'm a technical goddess, but I've really improved over the last few weeks from just doing the tasks (please reference my relationship with ladders from my first day until now).  After lunch, I continued labeling and sorting cables, which gradually evolved from lighting to Audio/Visual stuff...at one point, I was sorting the cables based solely on appearance, since I still have no idea what most of them actually do.  :)

The Tube Strike began today and will last until Thursday night.  Although I left work before the lines were officially closing, I opted to take the bus so that I could be sure of the route and get a rough estimation of the time (and because I was not really in any hurry to get back to Nido).  Since Battersea is a little out of the way, I will have to take three different buses total, but I actually enjoyed the route quite a bit...the first bus on the way to Battersea crosses the Thames at Blackfriar Bridge (I live on the north side of the river and work on the south side....ay, the controversy!), so I have a great view of the hub and bub of downtown (which will be particularly interesting at 8:30 AM).  The whole journey by bus is about an hour and a half, whereas the Tube is 45-55 minutes, but I spend my entire commute reading, so time is not really an issue.  I think that this is one of my greatest sources of happiness in the city: the fact that I am guaranteed at least two hours of reading time every day on my way to and from work.  :)

Cleaning, Cables, and Famous...Pubs :)

Work today was incredibly laid-back.  I arrived at 10:00, but no one else was there until closer to 10:30, and even then, I spent most of the morning planning out everything that needed to be done with Rob.  (As well as helping Fergus Dick move the last of the South Thames College's stuff out of the Council Chamber...fun times to be had by all!)  Ed and Greg arrived at 12:00, so we were able to actually get some work done at that point...and by that, I mean that I watched them do some electrical work and fetched cables/tested headsets.  Since the show schedule is so much lighter this week, our time is basically dedicated to tidying up the work/performance spaces, which can be a bit dull at times.  I eventually set to work labeling cables and sorting them, which was actually not too bad a job...it's repetitive, but I do well with tasks like that (in the same way that I enjoy making paperwork...).  The time went much quicker since we turned on some music, and since I was in a central location, I was able to chat with the other technicians as they made their way in and out of the greenroom and drink tea while I worked.  Ed and I had a fun chat about British and American slang (I believe that I will be fully immersed in the culture when I feel the urge to call someone a wanker).  I am also now a recognized figure at the cafe across the street...and I found out why the owner always laughs at me: he thinks my pronunciation of "tomato" is amusing (and my frequent apologies when I do not understand his accent, I would imagine!).  :)

When I arrived back at Nido, I headed out with two friends to The Famous Cock for dinner...because I'm immature like that (hey, there's a reason why I included the full name of the South Thames College drama instructor earlier in this post...).  And we also went, giggling aside, because the dinner I had there last Monday was delicious (as it was tonight).  We took the Tube this time rather than the long walking route (even the Tube ride is lengthy considering that it is only one stop away).  This may become our Monday pattern...  :)

Kensington Palace, Apsley House, and Parks Galore

I spent most of my Sunday at Kensington Palace, along with a short visit to the Apsley House and a lengthy walk through Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park.  The Palace was beautiful, especially considering it's simple exterior.  I had expected more hype regarding Princess Diana since this was her residence and she is heavily featured in all of their publicity, but I was still not disappointed.  The state apartments themselves were lovely (I saw the one of Queen Victoria's beds), although it is obvious that Kensington is the red-headed stepchild of the various palaces.  They had a special exhibit about the Debutantes, which I found incredibly interesting.  (And not just because of the gorgeous gowns...)  I actually sat in the final room, which featured filmed interviews with Debutantes from the last year that the season took place (1958, maybe?) for quite a while.  I was more interested in their personal stories than the artifacts, particularly the variety of opinions on the whole event (for some, this was obviously the highlight of their lives, but others laughed at how ridiculous it all was in retrospect) and the differences in lifestyles among the debutantes.  (I particularly enjoyed hearing the story of one girl who was set to go to Oxford after her coming out...she was one of only four that year who were going to university, so they were the "freaks" of the group.)

When I had toured the palace and gazed at the Sunken Garden, I consulted my guide book to see what else would be of interest in the area (it was still relatively early and the palace was the only site I had planned to see) and opted to visit Apsley House, the home of the dukes of Wellington since Arthur Wellesley.  The museum itself is small but beautiful, and the audioguide contained several fun anecdotes from the current Duke of Wellington (specifically his sliding down the bannister of the main staircase as a child).  Highlights, of course, included the giant statue of a nude Napoleon clad in a fig leaf (which apparently came off during a bombing during WWII and was the first repair job to be executed afterwards) and the sword that the first Duke of Wellington carried at Waterloo.  And, yes, they do have a pair of wellington boots on display, but they are in a display case in the basement (which is not part of the audio tour).  

In between the two homes/museums, I wandered through Kensington Garden in the hope of just walking to Apsley House.  Of course, my avid readers will guess what happened: Corrina wandered throughout the parks until she eventually found a tube station and made her way Underground.  I still do not know exactly where Kensington Garden ends and Hyde Park begins, but I made a valiant effort.  In my defense, the road I traveled along was not shown on the maps of the parks...maybe I should just blame fairies and gnomes so that I can feel better about myself and my navigational skills? :)

The Winter's Tale

This afternoon, I went to see "The Winter's Tale" at The Old Vic Theatre...after the burlesque show last night, I think I may be balanced again.  :)  Of course, I managed to get lost on my way there (I actually went to the wrong Tube station...fortunately, I started my journey ridiculously early to allow time for becoming lost), but I collected my ticket, purchased my program, and made my way to my seat without any issues.  I, being the frugal college student, purchased the cheapest possible ticket online (£20) and was thus seated in the second from last row of the uppermost balcony.  There were only two other people in my row and no one was in the row in front of me, which meant that I actually had a great view of the stage (and I could see the stage manager).  The theatre itself is lovely and much more spacious than it seems from the outside, which is probably due to its height.  The production was both simple and visually stunning: the perfect balance of natural beauty.  It was directed by Sam Mendes (who directed American Beauty, during which he became friends with Kevin Spacey, who is the Artistic Director of the Old Vic...you learn something new every day!), and I could definitely sense hints of American Beauty in some of the design elements...mainly the music that played over several of the scenes.  The cast included both American and British actors, many of whom Sam Mendes has directed previously either in film or theatrical works (including Simon Russell Beale, Sinead Cusack, Richard Easton, Rebecca Hall, Josh Hamilton)...the one with whom I was most familiar (maybe because I watched Reality Bites shortly before leaving home) was Ethan Hawke, who essentially stole the second act.  I loved the play itself (which is my typical reaction to Shakespearean works when I am first exposed to them), although the plot had more climaxes than The Dark Knight (yeah, I said it!).  The production design was in a Renaissance-esque time frame, although the time period was not strictly maintained (the costumes were the only indication of a specific time, and they varied...my favorite was a light green toga worn by Perdita during the beginning of the second act...oh, and I got the reference with the name "Perdita"...it means "lost" and she is "lost" as an infant...the Spanish minor randomly helps me once again!), and this production featured some of the most beautiful lighting effects I have ever seen onstage: The first few scenes featured artificial candles that were flown in to different levels far upstage, as well as several rails of actual lit candles, which were extinguished by the actors during a scene change.  There were also some dramatic shifts from natural lighting to a deep blue wash with a white followspot during soliloquies, which I had never seen used as a way to justify the soliloquy...very effective, in my opinion.  Most of the scene changes utilized actors, as it was a minimalistic set (mainly chairs and tables), but the shifts were choreographed as beautifully as the few dance moments.  At the end (the statue scene, for those who know it), I could feel the tears forming, although I managed to maintain my composure this time.  The play was very moving, though, and the acting was superb.  It was an afternoon well spent, I think!

Cathedrals, Museums, and Burlesque Shows

Today was busy, with some moments that were far more exciting than others.  Nevertheless,  I will sleep very soundly tonight!

We started with Professional Development, with the topic of "Business Communication."  Who knew that speaking and listening were equally important, or that meetings should have agendas? (Gasps of horror!)  Ah well...

After the seminar, I went to Saint Paul's Cathedral, which was even more incredible than I remembered.  There were moments when I was sitting beneath the dome in which I felt like I was looking at a photo or a painting: there was no way that something actually in front of my eyes could be that exquisite.  I climbed to the Whispering Gallery (a beautiful view, but slightly anticlimatic when you don't have a friend to whisper with you), then up to the Stone Gallery.  I actually managed to get some fairly nice one-handed photos of myself with the skyline behind me.  I particularly enjoyed the Crypt (I know, I'm grim...), especially Christopher Wren's tomb itself.  When I had wandered sufficiently, I went to the Crypt Cafe for tea and gingerbread so that I could decide how to spend the rest of the afternoon (as I had a theatre ticket for tonight).  Since the Museum of London had been closed yesterday, I opted to go today, and on my way, I passed three other churches designed by Christopher Wren: Saint Vedast-alias-Foster, Saint Anne/Saint Agnes, and Saint Mary-le-Bow.  Saint Vedast-alias-Foster was particularly captivating...I almost felt drawn to check it out as I was walking by, and when I approached it to find out what it was, I saw that they keep their doors open all day for personal meditation.  They also have a charming little courtyard, which was very peaceful, particularly since it was sunny at that point in the day.  I stopped there long enough to look around the sanctuary and sit in the courtyard for a few minutes, and it was lovely to be able to take a breath of fresh air after rushing around the city.  I made my way to the Museum of London with only an hour to explore.  The museum is fairly small by comparison to others, but it had some interesting and unique items (the death mask of Oliver Cromwell, for example).  They also had a very reverent memorial area to those who were killed in the Tube bombings, and they are currently working on updating the modern exhibits in preparation for the 2012 Olympics.

After the museum, a stop at Nido for dinner, and an attempt at a catnap, I went to Leicester Square Theatre for tonight's cabaret/burlesque show.  Yes, I went to see a burlesque.  And it was fantastic!  The headlining act was Miss Polly Rae and her Hurly Burly Girlys (Polly was absent, unfortunately, as she is competing for Miss Exotic World in Las Vegas), and Dusty Limits was the emcee.  It was hilarious!  Dusty highly encouraged the purchase of drinks so that the bar staff could play the famous Leicester Square game of "rohyphnol lottery."  (He explained it as "You pass out, you wake up, and you realize that I've redecorated your flat...and shagged your brother.")  He also sang (among his many tunes) a very dirty version of "Music of the Night" from "Phantom of the Opera," after which he asked us not to think of it as a song, so much as "a cheque to cash."  The other acts were Frank Sanazi (yes, he was dressed like Hitler, and yes, he referenced his band, the Iraq Pack) and Frisky and Mannish, a duet that had me rolling in the aisles when they turned classic love songs into stalker anthems.  And, of course, the Hurly Burly Girlys were fabulous.  One of their pieces actually made me realize the divine purpose of my stage managing the dance show: so that when I saw a burlesque parody of "Danse des petits cygnes," I would laugh harder than I have since the techie version of The Full Monty at the Theatre Banquet!  :)

Busy Day

Today, I watched a show go through the most rapid-fire tech process imaginable: plotting (cuing) at 10:00, dress rehearsal at 1:45, show at 3:30.  Had it been an effective show, it would have been a dream.  :)  Unfortunately, "Whodunnit in the Community Centre" will not be winning any Tonys this year...or ever.  Basically, take a poorly constructed murder mystery and throw in random interludes with songs from Chicago, and you have the show.  (And let me tell you, "All I Care About Is Love" sounds really creepy when it's being sung by an 18-year-old boy from east London...Billy Flynn was not Cockney in any way...)  There were a few divas (and fairly incompetent ones at that...) but the group was overall much more respectful than the other South Thames College group earlier in the week (same director, though...who's name, Fergus Dick, just makes him sound like a creeper).  Also, Fergus brought his young daughter, who ran around the stage during plotting, warm-ups, and intermission.  (Again, it brought me back to my memories of The Children's Museum.)

Despite the subject matter, the experience was actually pretty cool.  Ed, my technician coworker who designed the show and ran lights, is delightful, funny, and kind, and I had a great time working with him.   During the actual show, I was the sound op so that he could focus on lights, so we made quite a few remarks about the show from the safety of the booth.  :)

In the evening, I went to our scheduled cultural excursion at the Museum of London only to find that the museum was closed (it actually closes at the time we were told to be there) and the sign-in person had already left (yes, I was ten minutes late, but it had taken me over an hour to get there from Battersea on a bus and multiple Tube lines).  Pretty frustrating, but I will hopefully get to state my case tomorrow during Professional Development (with about 50 comrades who were in the same situation).

Herbs, Surgeries, and Rascally Young Performers

Since tonight was my first rehearsal with the YPT1 kids, I did not have to go in to BAC until 3:00.  I celebrated by sleeping until my roommate left for work, then took my time getting ready.  Of course, I had forgotten about the fire drills that have been scheduled for Wednesday mornings, so  I had to pick up the dressing pace toward the end.  :)

On my way to Battersea, I stopped at London Bridge to visit the Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret.  It was the perfect combination of interesting and creepy, largely because it is in the attic of an old church, requiring a walk up a wooden spiral staircase before you even reach the front desk.  The herb garret smelled oddly comforting...just the right mix of familiar smells, like cinnamon, lavender, and a lot of dust.  (The attic was actually sealed off for almost 100 years until it was reopened in the mid-20th century...some dried opium poppies were found still attached to the rafters when it was rediscovered.)  That section also included display cases of Victorian surgical tools, which were pretty scary.  (As much as some people dread surgery now, we have come such a long way in the last 100 years...)  The Operating Theatre looked like any normal lecture hall, with standing-room risers built into the building (3/4 arena style), with a chalk board and an operating table in the center.  It is referred to as a theatre in accordance with the origins of the word, a "seeing place," as this room was a space for medical students to witness surgeries in Victorian London...however, pretty grimly, the medical practice also used the space to gain profit, selling tickets to the Victorian crowds and allowing them to watch as well on the weekends.  This room was also only for women's surgeries (a men's surgery was in another building nearby, which was destroyed).  I read that the floor of the operating theatre is actually a false floor...underneath the floorboards is another layer of solid wood to keep blood from seeping through the floor into the church below.  Since I chose to visit this and the Imperial War Museum in the same week, I must be punishing myself for sleeping well...:)

I made my way to Battersea as usual, stopping by Waterstone's for reading material on my way.  (I love public transportation so much right now, because I am guaranteed an hour and a half of reading time every work day!)  I did random jobs for the first hour (sorting gels, assisting Steve, one of the technicians, with rearranging the lighting storage) before my meeting with Luke to discuss YPT (Young People's Theatre).  The director of YPT1 (12-14 year olds) was supposed to be there, but she was stuck on the train, so we'll have our production meeting next week.  He talked  me through the paperwork and his expectations of me as their stage manager (rehearsal reports, basically...I'll be fine!).  We also realized that the performances are actually in the middle of the week after my internship technically ends, which we are trying to work around now (I may be living in the guest artist housing at BAC for four days before heading up North, which is fine with me).

I went to the rehearsal for YPT1, which reminded me at times of my work with Nancy Eddy when I was younger.  The director, Sam Butler, is awesome, and was thrilled to have me on board.  They began with some basic warm-ups and team-building games, then started an object work exercise: They had a scene set up with an arrangement of objects, and they had to enter, use the object and leave...then we started layering the scenes.  It will continue to be built over the next few weeks.  The kids were pretty rascally at times, which was a shame, but hopefully they will calm down over the next few weeks.  I'm really excited about working with the group, though, especially since I will have a London show on my resume by the end of the summer.

I also forgot to mention this yesterday, but I met a guy from Evansville at work.  He's another technician, and he graduated from Butler a couple of years ago.  It's a small world, I suppose, and he seemed just as thrilled to meet someone from home as I was.  :)  (Up until this point, I've been tickled pink just to meet someone who knows where Indiana is, let alone someone who has lived in Indy!)

Tidying Up and Gel Cutting (Exciting, I Know...)

Today at work, I felt more productive than I have for the last week...which is ironic, because I have the least amount of information to report.  I went in early, drank a cup of tea and read my book while I waited for the other technicians to arrive, and cleaned out one of the weird spaces where a party had supposedly taken place last week (picking up streamers, etc).  The space is actually a room under the main stairwell, which I have heard referred to as "the crypt" and which, if I were in a cheesy horror novel, I would assume is the room in which the undead villain lives.  :)  As it turns out, today was set to be a general "tidying up day," so I helped Ed, one of the technicians, clean out the light booth (I think he referred to it as the "control booth") in the Council Chamber and the upstairs lighting closet (storage)...many teacups were returned to the cafe.  During one moment of down time, I actually washed all of the dishes in the greenroom (we have a small kitchen space with a sink, mini-fridge, and microwave), because that seemed like something an intern might do.  :)  Then we started sorting and reorganizing the greenroom and electrics storage.  (The plan is to clean all of the spaces, starting with the center of the building and moving out, hence the beginning in the greenroom.)  I spent most of the afternoon cutting gel sheets down to reasonable sizes so that they could be more readily stored...lots, and lots, of gel sheets.  :)  I finished the pile right before I left, though, so I was able to walk to the bus stop with a great sense of accomplishment.  Plus, I don't really mind tasks like that where I'm semi-independent if I know what I'm doing...it was nice not having to ask someone for my next project every twenty minutes.  The gel storage area looks glorious now, by the way.  :)  And since we didn't have to stress about preparing a performance space, everyone was in a really upbeat and chipper mood, so the day flew by.  (My coworkers have the perfect combination of youthful energy and blatant sarcasm...I feel as though they threw my best friends in a blender with my British uncles.  Where else could you hear the phrase "Dew rag?  Sounds a bit like douche bag..."?)