London So Far...

Due to popular demand, (as in someone suggested I do this, and no one argued) I'm writing on my experiences in London for Maymester in general epistle form in this blog. And since my chances of remembering much of this when I get back are slim, and since I have a few minutes to kill, I thought I'd drop a line to the American Public to let them know how things are going, in bullet form:

• I didn't bring a camera. I know, I know, memories and posterity and blah, blah, blah. I lose things, cameras included. I despise asking people to take my picture, with my own camera. I refuse to see the point in taking pictures of landmarks. I'm not going to forget what Parliament looks like, people, and if I do, I can google it. I'm starting with this so everyone knows, the only pictures of me in London will be ones where one of the girls in the group pulled me into the frame to prove I was there. They might post them on Facebook. I'm not dating any of them. Don't bother asking, Mom.
• The real purpose of my trip is to get a taste of what's playing on the West End. So far we've seen Matilda, Wicked, and The 39 Steps. My thoughts on them individually, in hollow bullet form:
• Matilda is really good. It's an adaptation of the book, not Danny DeVito's 1996 movie, which I was greatful for. Not that I don't like the DeVito version; I do. But I loathe attempts to turn movie into musicals (a hatred that has only increased in elitist fashion since I realized the title to the abominable Elf: The Musical was, in fact, Creatively Bankrupt: The Musical. Furthermore, setting the musical in Great Britain, like the book, as opposed to the film, allows for the musical to be a lot more British. The standout in the cast was the 8 year old that played Matilda, and the grown man who played the Trunchbull. I'm generally against drag for comedy's sake (for reasons of feminism, not homophobia), but all moral quandries aside, it was a really remarkable performance. It was so good we waited outside the stage door for autographs, which I never do.
• I was actually really surprised how much I liked Wicked. I've already seen it, about 8 years ago on Broadway, and any time you see something that has actors REALLY associated with the characters (i.e. Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenowith), you run the risk that you're just going to see someone doing they're best impression of the first actor on stage, always falling short (see Creatively Bankrupt: The Musical). However, I think the West End actors are really unburdened by the expectation to sound and act like the originals. The Elphaba, played by a Dutch actress, seemed weirder and quirkier than the last Elphaba I saw. Her personality on stage actually made it worth seeing a second time, despite semi-obstructed seats.
• We saw The 39 Steps today at a matinee. So far, so good as far as plays are concerned. The comedy seems to really play up in London (there were a few British in-jokes that brought the house down, that left this reviewer out in the cold). It seemed like a deceptively difficult show, but one that played up its own cheesiness and delighted in over the top Hitchcock references. I would recommend seeing this one. I know I'm due to get a show I really don't like. Or a show I decide not to like to seem smarter than the rest of the group. I don't know when that's going to happen though. I'm seeing Titus Andronicus tomorrow at the Globe.
• I should thank my orienteering merit badge for finally coming into use. I have mastered the tube like Edmund Hilary mastered Everest. By which, I mean, with the help of the natives.
• I will almost certainly write more when I get the chance. Just wanted to prove that I am, in fact, in London, lest anyone think I'm hiding in Salt Lake somewhere.