I honestly can’t say exactly what I did each day between days 78-101 because my life has been a rollercoaster of events. However I can give you the big overview.
I went to Belgium for Thanksgiving to meet Kori’s family. While the experience was amazing I must admit that it made me extremely homesick. It’s already hard being away from home at thanksgiving…but being in a home for the holidays and its not yours and your family isn’t there….just makes you realize all the more how far away you really are.
Also on this trip I gained a new found respect for being forced to take French as that is one of the 2 languages of Belgium (the other being Dutch) and I REALLY used my skills.
Belgium was amazing and possibly ranks as my 4th favorite country that I have ever been to. The list going;
1. 1. Italy
2. 2. Scotland / England tied
3. 3. Belgium
Brugges was all that everyone had said it would be. Like stepping into a fairy tale.
The most important events since have been all the shows that I have been seeing!
I have seen the following shows since we last spoke:
Jersey Boys
This was amazing! If I can separate in my mind that the actor Nick Massi spoke like he learned his accent from terminator movies. Apart from him the show was top notch.
Phantom of The Opera
I saw Phantom in the center of the 3rd row and I honestly couldn’t of imagined a more magical experience. I am a firm believer in paying good money to see shows. Perhaps I was too spoiled as a child but I honestly would rather see 2 musicals in great seats then 7 in bad seats. I think that where you are sitting effects how you feel about the performance. I know for a fact that if I hadn’t been in the back of the top balcony I would have enjoyed Les Miz so much more. Everything about this show was flawless and I have no complaints!
Love Never Dies (a new revised version)
Ok so Andrew Lloyd Webber shut down LND for a week and did some intense rehearsals and re-opened the show with changed plot and music. I am anxious to hear what the critics say at the official re-opening the end of this month but I would have to say that I approve of almost all of the changes. There is a bit too much Raoul in this version and I hate the new ending. Literally hate it with a fervid passion. But I’m over it and lets be honest…I went so I could hear Ramin Karimloo sing and he was even better then the first time (how is this possible)
Oliver
So here is the deal. As a Christmas gift I got my tickets to Jersey Boys and Phantom and Billy Elliot. I was required then to go see Oliver. Now before walking in to Oliver I did not like it one bit! After seeing Oliver on stage…I do not like it one bit! Oliver is not my kind of musical. However I think it was worth seeing just to watch all the children singing about food in the first scene…it was adorable
Chicago
So Chicago was not ever actually on my mind as something that I was going to see. I saw the tour when it came to Kansas City and didn’t particularly like it. (however it was in the outdoors and if I recall it was raining). So I was walking to get tickets for Legally Blonde and they were sold out. Just as I’m walking back to the tube station…Chicago catches my eye and I think “why not”. I end up getting major discounted tickets for the 4th row center!!!!!! I can’t even begin to describe how happy I am that Legally Blonde was sold out. This is one of the best productions that I have ever seen in my entire life.
Pricilla Queen of the Desert
Today I saw Pricilla Queen of the Desert which is opening on Broadway this spring (if it isn’t opened already). I think the show is great. I’m not sure how the Tony award giving community will react to it with La Cage aux Folles having just been up last year. The show is in the same vein and so it seems too soon for another drag show to be in the running since they are usually spaced out. That being said…this show will deserve every tony that it will undoubtedly be nominated for. It is clever and just plain smashing! I loved every minute of it and I am SO GLAD that I was able to see it. This is evident from the mass pile of merchandise that I bought before the show…at intermission…and after the show. Plus the two young guys were REALLY hott (only i would fall madly in love with drag queens)!
So those are the shows that I have seen since November 22nd. Meanwhile, I finished my time with The Actors Centre. It was a great opportunity and I’m so glad for all the experiences that I had.
I have been diligently packing all this week whilst getting over this horrible sickness that had me bed ridden since last Wednesday. My classes are over and all that is left is to turn in 2 assignments tomorrow morning, followed by the staged reading of the play that Jamie, Josh, and I wrote in our playwriting class.
I leave in about 1 day and 13ish hours depending on when I post this and I’m not sure how to feel about it. I have been counting down the minutes and seconds that I had till I got to go home. But I never really associated going home with leaving...till now.
It has all become very real in the past 24 hours. I have realized that this “thing” that I dreamed of since middle school is over. I have waited and waited to study abroad and now I have done it. I have no regrets…which freaks me out. I feel that I should be sitting here mad and thinking of all the things that I haven’t done.
Pissed that yet again I have failed to see Abby Road or go on the London Eye…but I can’t help but smile because I don’t really care. I know I’m going to come back…but even more, I did things that were amazing this semester.
Tomorrow is the last day here and with the exception of being able to see a first class show anytime I want…what ill miss the most are the people that I have met this semester and I intend to revel in the love that surrounds me tomorrow.
I remember the moment I met one of my best friends Lindsey. It was freshman orientation in high school and we just looked at each other and knew that we were going to be great friends. That doesn’t happen a lot and I never figured that it would happen here but it did. I have people who know me so well. It feels like they have always been a part of my life and so it seems so strange that so I won’t see them as of Saturday.
I know I will see London again. So, while I will miss this city I can leave it.
However, leaving people who could be going anywhere in life…that’s scary…that’s painful. What are you supposed to do when you meet your family and suddenly they are taken away from you?
So here I am on day 101 ready to go home…ready to take all of my new friends with me home…not ready to carry all of this luggage around Heathrow at 6 in the morning.
Shows seen to date= 30
I have seen my last show here. I think that it’s pretty awesome that I saw 30 shows during my time here. I wouldn’t change seeing a single one (with the exception of All My Sons…I would love those 3 hours of my life back). I will rank them tomorrow <3
Wicked
Merry Wives of Windsor
RADA staged reading
Pieces of Vincent
Love Never Dies
Les Miserables
Clybourne Park
Jason Robert Brown
Catwalk Show
All My Sons
Les Miz 25th Anniversary tour
I drink the air before me = modern dance show
Enlightenment
Faust
Avenue Q
Cardboard Citizens
Parade
Hamlet
Design for living
My Romantic History
An Ideal Husband
Deathtrap
Billy Elliot
Blasted
Jersey Boys
Phantom of The Opera
Love Never Dies (a new revised version)
Oliver
Chicago
Pricilla Queen of the Desert
