Me, Hilary, Daniel, and Hil at dinner
We are proud of our Streetcar Named Desire tickets!
Me and Becca Lynch at the National Gallery
The Globe Theatre
All of the USC BADA ladies at the Tower Bridge
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Bad American accents, Fairy tale Shakespeare
A Streetcar Named Desire with Rachel Weisz was FANTASTIC!! She was so beautiful and talented and inspiring! The show was in this tiny theatre called the Donmar Warehouse, and 15 people got up at 5:30 am in order to get tickets!! It was a really fun bonding experience, but kind of messed up my sleep schedule for the rest of the weekend. Also, the actress playing Stella (Ruth Wilson) was fantastic. Stanley had a pretty bad American southern accent, but it wasn't too bad. At one point he got really angry and started slipping into a British accent, but overall the actors handled the accents pretty well.
On Monday, BADA went to the National Theatre to see All's Well that Ends Well, wich was very good as well. I'd never seen the play or read it, but I really enjoyed this interpretation. They made it very fairy tale like, with castles, shadows, woods, crazy lighting, and Tim Burton-like effects. It was a really fun show, and the actors delivered their lines so beautifully!
Classes this week were great! We are rehearsing The Relapse by John Vanbrugh in High Comedy, and Romeo & Juliet in Acting Shakespeare (I am Juliet--hooray)! We read and discussed 'Tis Pity She's a Whore by John Ford in Theatre History, which was surprisingly a good play. It's all about a brother who is in love with his sister, and trying to handle these feelings, but just ends up lusting after her. In Modern Physical, we did this exercise in which we had to confess our love to someone in the class in 7 different layers of tension, meaning moving through different emotional states. It was really intense!!!! We also sang a lot of songs, and played games where we had to speak (or do our best imitation) in other languages, like German, Spanish, Japanese, and French. We have this one game, "the frog game," which is so much fun, and I won the round! You basically start of clapping and snapping and the first person says "one frog," second person says, "two eyes," then "four legs," then "kir-plunk." Then "two frogs," "four eyes," "eight legs," "kir-plunk," "kir-plunk." I was so excited to win the round! Voice class has been really amazing too. We have done a lot of work on relaxation and breathing, and learning the mechanics of the throat and voice. In Movement, we did this game where you think of a person in the group, and then everyone in the group asks you a question (such as, "If this person were an animal, what would they be?" or "If this person were a section of the newspaper, which would they be?," or like what kind of shoe, ice cream flavor, musical instrument, etc.). Then you have to guess who it is. Surprisingly, it made a lot of sense when you finally figured out who it was.
So classes are going well, but the work is piling up! Also, things in our apartment are much better. They repaired our washing machine finally, and so I could do laundry! I also cooked a lot this week: we made delicious chicken and leeks, and I made a chicken caesar salad.
I am going to Bath on Sunday with Isa, Meghan, Ashley, and Katie, and I am super excited! We are also planning on going to Greece and Italy for the mid-term break. So many things to do, so little time!
On Monday, BADA went to the National Theatre to see All's Well that Ends Well, wich was very good as well. I'd never seen the play or read it, but I really enjoyed this interpretation. They made it very fairy tale like, with castles, shadows, woods, crazy lighting, and Tim Burton-like effects. It was a really fun show, and the actors delivered their lines so beautifully!
Classes this week were great! We are rehearsing The Relapse by John Vanbrugh in High Comedy, and Romeo & Juliet in Acting Shakespeare (I am Juliet--hooray)! We read and discussed 'Tis Pity She's a Whore by John Ford in Theatre History, which was surprisingly a good play. It's all about a brother who is in love with his sister, and trying to handle these feelings, but just ends up lusting after her. In Modern Physical, we did this exercise in which we had to confess our love to someone in the class in 7 different layers of tension, meaning moving through different emotional states. It was really intense!!!! We also sang a lot of songs, and played games where we had to speak (or do our best imitation) in other languages, like German, Spanish, Japanese, and French. We have this one game, "the frog game," which is so much fun, and I won the round! You basically start of clapping and snapping and the first person says "one frog," second person says, "two eyes," then "four legs," then "kir-plunk." Then "two frogs," "four eyes," "eight legs," "kir-plunk," "kir-plunk." I was so excited to win the round! Voice class has been really amazing too. We have done a lot of work on relaxation and breathing, and learning the mechanics of the throat and voice. In Movement, we did this game where you think of a person in the group, and then everyone in the group asks you a question (such as, "If this person were an animal, what would they be?" or "If this person were a section of the newspaper, which would they be?," or like what kind of shoe, ice cream flavor, musical instrument, etc.). Then you have to guess who it is. Surprisingly, it made a lot of sense when you finally figured out who it was.
So classes are going well, but the work is piling up! Also, things in our apartment are much better. They repaired our washing machine finally, and so I could do laundry! I also cooked a lot this week: we made delicious chicken and leeks, and I made a chicken caesar salad.
I am going to Bath on Sunday with Isa, Meghan, Ashley, and Katie, and I am super excited! We are also planning on going to Greece and Italy for the mid-term break. So many things to do, so little time!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Arrival at BADA
Ok, so I have been here for for two weeks now! It is so hard to believe! I left Dulles Airport on Thursday, September 3 and arrived at London Heathrow Airport on Friday, September 4th. I was supposed to meet up with my roommate Amanda, but we couldn't find each other! It was really crazy and stressful, because we had this elaborately drawn up plan to page each other, skype call each other, and meet in certain locations, but it didn't work out at all! I still found my way from the Terminal to the Heathrow Central and took the Heathrow Connect to Paddington Station. From there I took a black taxi cab to the BADA gates on Gloucester Gate (which I think I tipped entirely too much for).
Carolyn was eagerly awaiting us to greet us, then they whisked us away to the Wilde room (all of BADA's rooms are named after famous playwrights: Wilde, Wycherley, Beckett, Congreve) where they took our picture (hideous, might I add after two nights of no sleep), made copies of our important documents, and gave us an orientation packet. Then we boarded a bus that took us to our housing, and mingled with people all along the way.
We reached our housing apartments, called the Landward, and unpacked what we could. Then we went out for food (since we were all starving). I had a falafel sandwich which was quite good, and then we walked around a little bit, buying phones (or mobiles, rather) and such. Then we went to the pub on Friday night and met everyone.
Saturday we hung out and had a huge group dinner. Sunday we had a bus (or coach, rather) tour of London with Nigel our very British tour guide and our driver "Hahrrry." We saw Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Tower Bridge, Little Ben, the Key Gardens, Hyde Park, Piccadily, the place which was used for filming Gringotts in Harry Potter, the London Eye, the changing of the guards, and many, many, many more places! Then we had a lunch and BADA orientation, and met Stewie the landlord of the Landward (whew! try saying that ten times fast). We learned a lot that day, and were really exhausted.
Monday was the first day of classes, which luckily for my group (Group B!) didn't start until 11:15 because our first class was cancelled (I, being responsible--and hungry, went to the grocery store). We had Acting Shakespeare, Voice, and Movement that day, and then right after class, we went to The National Theatre to see Lolita with Brian Cox! The show was amazing. Cox set a wonderful example of specificity with sound and movement that was enviable.
Then on Tuesday, Group B was lucky not to have class until 12:15. However, I went for a run with a friend, and (stupidly) did not warm up enough and strained a muscle tendon on my Achilles tendon! I didn't know it at the time...I found out what was hurting so much on Friday when I went to the hospital! Anyway, Tuesday we had Stage Fighting and Acting Shakespeare, then we were off to The Globe Theatre to see Troilus and Cressida, which was good despite the fact that we were standing, and I was in a lot of pain due to my Achilles tendon!
Wednesday we had Acting High Comedy, Movement, Theatre History (Dr. Faustus this week), and Modern Physical. I LOVE the Modern Physical teacher, Mick, so much. He is just so hilarious and plays the most entertaining games with us.
Thursday we had Acting High Comedy, Voice, Modern Physical, and Dramatic Criticism (where we discuss the plays that we have seen thus far). Friday we had Acting Shakespeare and then our make-up High Comedy class.
Before our make-up class, I had an exciting trip to the St. Charles Hospital in London. My Achilles tendon was still bothering me, so with the persuasion of the BADA faculty, I had it looked at just in case. On the way to the hospital in Carolyn's car (sitting in what felt like the driver's side), she gave me a tour of Kensington Park, Notting Hill, Portobello Square, and many more beautiful London neighborhoods. At the hospital, we went to the Minor Injuries Unit, and then waited a bit before seeing the receptionist. She had to ask me a lot of questions, one of which was my religion, which I thought was really odd. Then the doctor saw me and I was fine, just needed Ibuprofen and rest.
The week was exhausting, but really fun. I unwound during the weekend by going to the pub on Friday with friends. Saturday we went to the National Gallery (with Becca Lynch, visiting!!). We barely scratched the surface with all of the artwork there; definitely a place we need to go back to. Then we bought tickets to go see The 39 Steps for the following Thursday. Sunday I did a lot of homework and reading and then went to the Thames (pronounced "Tems") River Festival. We got Brazilian churros (filled with caramel) and watched the fireworks. The fireworks were by far the best fireworks display that I have ever seen (including DC fireworks on the 4th). And then we went home on the Tube and slept!
Monday began early since we did in fact have 9:00 am High Comedy. This week our group really started meshing well, and getting to know each other much better.
Highlights of this week were: Monday night seeing Mother Courage and her Children at the National Theatre with Fiona Shaw and Harry Melling (Harry Potter's Aunt Petunia and Dudley Dursely, respectively); Tuesday morning tutorial with Susannah...she had some powerful insights about the industry in LA...Wednesday night watching Notting Hill with friends, and Thursday night going to see The 39 Steps at the adorable Criterion Theatre with my friend Daniel. The show was very funny, lighthearted...good, clean fun as I would say!
Also, on Friday, we had a master class with Brian Cox. I got to ask him a question! I was really proud of myself for speaking up! He talked a lot about what the role of Humbert Humbert in Lolita was like for him, as well as some of his film and television roles. I really respect him as an actor, and I think it is so electric to have a room full of artists comparing tricks in the same room. Forget broomsticks and wands, we are magical on our own!!!!
Off to bed for me for now, since I will be getting up at 5:00 am tomorrow in pursuit of A Streetcar Named Desire tickets with Rachel Weisz...wish me luck!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Pilates in London
After going through the Power Pilates Certification weekend this summer in Bethesda, MD, my instructor told me that there is a partnering studio in London! She is good friends with the owner, Holly Murray. The studio, called Pi Studios, is located in Battersea Square, London.
Here is a link to the website. I will definitely have to check it out while I am there! Practice my pilates technique AND my British accent!! It's a win-win situation! :-)
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