Catch-up (Part II) The Fair!

Hello! :) Alright so we're jumping back to FRIDAY!

Sinead had heard about this fair going on not to far from us so we decided to check it out. She saw this crazy ride, so we decided to head in for a little bit. It was basically just like any american fair, except...british.

They Even had Tea Cups!

She was tall enough for the Booster!!

There she goes!!

The Booster looked very scary but she had lots of fun! Then as we were walking back we saw this great little theatre. It had a cinema, a theatre, a gallery and little cafe. They were playing Away We Go! So we decided (after a quick frappe at Micky D's) that we'd go see that too!

{image}

It's called the Tricycle and it was really sweet. There was a small corridor that lead up from the street to the box office and along the ceiling there was this neat contraption (see second picture). It was loads of fun and it seems like the theatre has all of these really famous people donating too it. People including Alan Rickman, Daniel Radcliffe and even Americans like Tom Hanks. We can't be sure if it was true...but...we're pretty sure.

(hehe)

(Corridor)

After our little outing we headed home because we had to get up early for STRATFORD! :D

Playing Catch-Up (Part I)

As promised here is the glorious picture of us LDA kids with Naomi Frederick. I stole this from Sabina's facebook and please just ignore how terrible i look. ;)

So i've decided to break the next few posts up because it was a very long weekend with lots of fun things going on. I should be...three parts i believe, maybe two. But i'll be doing it tonight in between doing work.

Miss you guys lots <3

Cheers! T

Well...at least i know how to turn the fire alarm off.

Urg. good morning.

So all i wanted to do was make a bagel for myself.  So i set it on a low setting (which apparently means nothing) and left it. I was literally in the same room, 10 feet away and it had been like 1 minute. I see smoke pouring out of it (it's 9:45AM on a sunday...just a by the way) and i run over. My bagels are BLACK and the thing is still going. So i start running around like made waving a t-shirt at the fire alarm, open our sad little windows only 3 inches (like that will help). Thank god Aylia is already awake. Then the alarm starts going off. GREAT. I think it's only in our room, but it was really loud...hopefully i didn't wake EVERYONE up. Especially the LDA kids, because it's our first day off in...12 days. :) But eventually i ran downstairs and found the thing that like runs it, and slowly figured out how to turn it off.

So, at least i know how to turn it off. But i feel like a HUGE idiot, especially if i woke everyone up. urg.


ALL I wanted was a bagel.

Look out for another HUGE post later today. Friday/Saturday were very eventful! :)
--Tierney

"Answer me in one word."

Oh Tart Tuesday.

So far i've had a wicked busy week! I warn you now, this is going to be a very photo heavy post! :D

TUESDAY

Alright, so we had a few classes in the morning but after that we had these "cultural outings" that they planned for each of us. They assigned us a person in the group to go with, and then we'd go out and explore the place they assigned. Kate and I went to the "Transportation Museum" which, was actually interesting...but a little silly. But today was also TART TUESDAY. Because we were low on time Sinead and I went to Whole Foods and got those glorious raspberry chocolate tarts we had been lusting after. They were really great, especially the raspberries...but the chocolate filling was a bit much for me. Next week we are hoping to try out that french place on Kensington High Street. ;)

Alright, so kate and i met up and headed to the Transport Museum. I, because i am an idiot, left my flat keys and my walet back at the flat. Somehow i still remembered my camera, theatre ticket and change purse? Anyway poor kate had to pay for me...but this is what we walked into.

They had all these examples of Trains, Carriages and buses. In each they usually had fake people from the era. (See above) Here is Kate hanging out with this fine lady in the OmniBus!

Kate riding the T in the 70's

Different types of tickets

In the tube section they had different examples of Art that people have done based on the tube map. In this case the artist named all the stops after different stars. It's pretty awesome brilliant. (We arn't allowed to use the word awesome.) ;)

Kate driving the bus!

This is what they believe London will look like in 2055. 

Looks pretty nice, except there are like a MILLION airplanes and Air Vehichles. But i thought it looked pretty. I'd live there. They also said that in 2055 80% of people will either walk or ride their bikes everywhere...mhmm? I'm not sure if i believe that.

It was actually pretty fun. ALthough, it really was silly at times. They even put in fake horse poo where they had horses pulling the carriages. But all in all it was pretty educational and fun. it was also a lovely way to get to know Kate. we had fun. But we had three hours at a museum that took us an hour. So afterwards we walked around the market. Tuesday, if you didn't know, was SUPER rainy. Like on and off POURING. While we were exploring the market we ran into this guy doing some street performing!

He was pretty funny. Ironically it started POURING moments before he did his final "impossible" trick, but he was pretty great otherwise. He was from Argentina! :)

Then we headed off to the Globe early so we could get in line to stand by the stage! Seriously. POURING. I mean sometimes it was on and off. But it was pretty hilarious. Plus, i didn't have my walet so i didn't get to buy anything really at the shop. But i did snag 50p from Kate to get a button that says "I defy you, stars!" (50 points if you know the play, although if you don't i'm disappointed in you).

Aylia, Ann, Sagan, Caitlin (all waiting in line)

Sinead, despite the rain we were all very excited ;)

If you can tell, the stage is very slick...which makes it a little difficult for the actors sometimes ;)

Ceiling of the Globe

Geoff and Vanessa

They sold these cute raincoats with a line from Merchant of Venice on it. 

Alright, so after waiting out in the rain, we got to go in (i was third in line so we got RIGHT IN FRONT in the middle of the stage. It was honestly so fantastic. Umbrellas arn't aloud down in standing because it will block everyones view, so we just had to stand their in the rain for the entire show. But i can't even begin to tell you how worth it it was. From the very moment they stepped onstage to their fantastic dance off stage, it was worth standing in the pouring rain. IT was such a fun, energetic show. And they totally played with the whole rain thing. In the middle of the show one of the characters ran forward (it was Pheobe) and she slipped and landed right on her rump. It was HILARIOUS, but they all want along with it (after some laughing) and actually, all the next few lines were all about falling in love, which made it even funnier. It was such a true theatrical moment that you really only experience at the globe.

(Jack Laskey and Naomi Frederick) {image}

Rosalind played by Naomi Frederick was a masterpiece to watch. I don't know how to explain how clear she was, but it's almost as if she was just speaking normally. You could not only understand every word she said, but truely comprehend the meaning of every word. It made the verse so easy to listen to. She was beautiful. :) And Orlando (played by Jack Laskey), besides being super attractive, was also wonderful to watch. He an Naomi had lovely chemistry and he also was so easy with the verse. Really everyone really fantastic. Touchstone was HILARIOUS, and so was Jaques. The show is just so funny, and this production was simply enchanting!

Something cool, if you've watched History Boys with me...or heard me rant about it...then you might recognize this young man. But Jamie Parker was in the original cast of The History Boys (West End, Broadway and Movie) and he played Oliver (Orlando's brother).

Cool huh? {image}

Alright, continuing on. Really, it was such an amazing experience, even with the rain. Because, when else will you be standing watching such a brilliant show with pouring rain? I was worried about the actors with their leather and beautiful costumes. The costumes were all so fantastic too. As You Like It is such a beautiful show. At one point Orlando came on (right before the intermission) and threw sheets of his poetry into the audience. Of course we tried to get as many as we could. Someone put one on my back, and because it was SO RAINY it stayed there until i got home ;)

At the end they had this huge celebratory dance, and still a few of the actors slipped...it was so funny and energetic. The audience was totally with them every step of the way. It was so much fun. We couldn't stop clapping and they had to come out a few times. We took the train home, soaked to the bone but GUSHING about the play. Aylia, Sienna and i are hoping to go again in a few weeks!

WEDNESDAY

Alright, so we had theatre history. And then we were all downstairs waiting to get ready for our masterclass. And Kate, one of the lovely ladies that helps organize everything for us, was telling us about the masterclass. She says something about how lovely Naomi is, and if we liked the show last night. Suddenly the name clicks with like half of us and we all gasp. YOU MEAN NAOMI FREDERICK FROM LAST NIGHT? WE'RE MEETING ROSALIND?!?!?! Yes.

So we got our masterclass with the lovely Naomi. Let me say, it was so exciting. We basically sat in a semi-circle around her with Richard beside her asking questions about her career, about As You Like It. Her and Richard know eachother, and it was really such a sweet, lovely interview. I took lots of notes, and had such just drank in every moment. She gave us some wonderful advice and really was just all around the kindest person. She's so talented! We were all so star-struck. And after we took a group picture, which hopefully i can snag eventually.

Then of course we had lots and lots of rehearsals for the GALA that night. Basically it was an opening for the new Fordham center. We all (as a chorus) recided the Prologue to Henry the Fifth (O, for a Muse of fire that would ascend the brightest heaven of invention...), did a historical dance and then sang Linden Lea. It actually went very well. Then we watched a video where Fordham basically asked for donations...and then we got free Fordham hats. Altogether it was totally worth all the work we did :D

Here is a picture of me in my Corset for Historical Dance, they are actually lots of fun! (Please ignore how TERRIBLE i look...)

Then we all went home to crash. It's been difficult going everyday without a break, but it's almost here. ;)

THURSDAY

Today was really calm compared the past million days. IT's mostly individual or small group stuff. Voice, Auditions, Alexander Technique and Dialect. But all spread out.

highlights:
-Doing a monologue from An Ideal Husband (Wilde).
-Alex Tech was really awesome, it's so strange. She readjusted my balance to show me what would be more effective than what i do...and it feels so strange because it's balanced, but so unbalanced. I'm not sure if that makes sense, but it was cool. So i think i'm really going to benifit from it.
-Dialect was cool too, we're doing stuff from Ernest, which was fun for me. ;)

SO that was super super long. Sorry, but i hope you've enjoyed it. It was a really fun week despite how busy it was.

Right now i'm trying my laundry machine. It keeps making funny noises, so lets just hope it all works out in the end.

Cheers!
--T <3

PS. The title is from As You Like It. (Act 3. Scene 2. Line 215)

"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages."

"Ah, Relief."

Why Hello!

Sorry it's been a few days. It's been rather busy. This weekend we had lots of rehearsals and showings. On Saturday we did our singing showing, which was fun. And then worked on Mr. Polly forever. And on Sunday we had a Mr. Polly extravaganza. Where we refined everything and preformed it. Honestly, it went alright--i made a little flub, which is very agrivating because it was a part i was always a little nervous on--so i worked it for ever and ever and ever and still messed it up a little bit...but what can you do. At least the Novel Project is FINALLY OVER. We were all very very happy.

But this weekend i also got to see Punk Rock. Which i loved. I went with Sinead, and at first we walked around a bit looking for somewhere to eat. Eventually we ate at the Lyric which has this great little like restaurant/cafe thing. I really loved the theatre.

Here is Sinead eating yummy salad in the cafe-sitting place.

The play was at The Lyric-Hammersmith theatre. Last season they did Spring Awakening...*sigh* One of the kids cast in this show had actually been in that cast as well.

Tom Sturridge and Jessica Raine {image link}

I really loved the show. From the acting to the set to the technical choices. I thought it was extremely powerful. But really, it's very inspiring seeing actors your own age, working and doing it brilliantly. I especially loved the young man (Tom Sturridge) who played William. He was fantastic. I loved his movements and how he portrayed this difficult and interesting character. I also loved Henry Lloyd-Hughes who played Bennett (the outrageous bully) who is so convincing and honestly the biggest prick i've ever seen. But he's so brilliant at being just so unbelievably evil, and then seconds later acting as if he's done nothing wrong, so perfectly light and lively. It was wonderful.

The script was also so fantastic. It's a play by a man named Simon Stephens. I thought it was beautifully written. Some of his speeches are just so interesting, and the way the students interact with each other. In the program he writes a very interesting bit about taking the change to write for and about young people because so often he sees playwrites being afraid too. I loved it's quick pace but also the intimate and still moments. Inbetween scene changes there is loud disjointed rock music, which as Sinead pointed out to me before the show (they played it then too) would make the quiet moments even quieter. And it's true. You notice the silence, and it (i believe) makes a bigger impact.

Lovely.

I also LOVED the set. It took place within the library of the school, and if you can see from the picture the huge bookcases were just BRILLIANT. It seriously felt like the school was somehow carved from the school and placed onstage. I can't explain how drawn into each scene i was, that when it ended and music blasted out of the speakers i was jarred every single time.

Painting in the along the wall in the Restaurant/Cafe place.

Other than that we had our first real day of classes today. It was great because we had a SUPER intense movement class. I thought i was going to pass out after--it was so much work. Some historical dance, where we are getting ready for the Gala on wednesday. Lunch. Dramatic lit (where we just chatted about a play we're reading "The Shoemakers Holiday" by Thomas Dekker) and the STAGE COMBAT! Which was SO AWESOME. WE're learning with rapiers now and parrying. It's so awesome. I loved it.

Tomorrow is going to be super fun too, AND IT's TART TUESDAY. Sinead and i have been scoping out our next tart excursion and we think we've found another really nice cafe.

Promise lots of fun stuff tomorrow,

AND CONGRATS TO THE DISCHORDS ON OUR TWO NEW MEMBERS. <3 I miss you guys, but i'm so happy! YAY!

Cheers, T

Ps. The title of this entry is also a line from the show. ;)

"Why i don't despair."

Please, take 8 minutes and watch this. Please. It made me cry. I love Jon Stewart, he always says the right thing.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
September 11, 2001
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Healthcare Protests

On a happier note, Sonnets went well today. I was so nervous, but i got it over with pretty much unscathed. :) I wish i could say, YAY It'S THE WEEKEND...but i've still got lots of work the next two days, but not too much.

Sinead have started our Tart Tuesday tradition a little early because after this week we decided we deserved some Tarts. So we went back to the little french restruant and had tarts. I just got that same mixed berry and she got the lemon one. And we also got the most glorious hot chocolate. It was fantastic.

Other than that it was a pretty normal day. Sinead and i had lots of fun going grocery shopping, i went in to get popcorn and left with like mountains of things. But it was wonderful.

I promise some recordings tomorrow! :)
Cheers!
-T

12 hour days.

Today was the longest day, but it gets shorter after this. Although i've been complaining about how long my days are, i really am having such a brilliant learning experience. It's just a little stressful/overwhelming at times.

Tomorrow we are presenting our Sonnets, which i'm nervous for...but excited to see everyone elses ( because we've been working in small groups.) We just have a lot to rehearse to get ready fro the Gala (the LDA london centre opening celebration thing)...which is also kind of stressfull.

Some fun things though. I might have a recording for you of some of the singing we've been doing. I recorded bits of our rehearsal today so i could come home and listen to my parts (he advised us to do this). ALthough i'm soprano (sorry Dischords, but i am so happy not to be singing tenor for once ;) ) so my parts are pretty much just the melody. But they are kind of cute. It doesn't sound half bad concidering we've learned 5 songs in 2 days (and he made up all the harmonies on the spot). It's kind of amazing that this group (a bunch of which arn't musical) have learned all this music so quickly. I'm impressed at how not terrible we sound ;) But it's so much fun.

And hopefully i have a few great plays coming up. Through LDA we'll be seeing As You Like It on Tuesday. But personally I would really love to see Arcadia (Tom Stoppard) this weekend. Also this new play called Punk Rock (which is being hailed as a cross between Spring Awakening and History Boys). And it was actually recommended to us by Richard Digby Day! And also War Horse (which RDD and lovely Sarah has recommended to me was well). So lots to see. Hopefully Arcadia happens this weekend because it's closing :( But we shall see.

Wish me luck on my Sonnet tomorrow. Off to read over my lines.

Cheers!
-T