Monday, May 24, 2004
Oleanna
On the spur of the moment one Friday night we decided to go to the play Oleanna by David Mamet. Two Hollywood stars where performing the play, Aaron Eckhart (Sliding Doors) and Julia Stiles (Ten things I hate about you and State and Main). They took a little while to warm up, or was it that the audience took a little while to warm up to the style of the play, but things rapidly heated up and led to a shocking climax. The focus of the play is sexual politics on campus. Julia Styles played Carol, who at first appears like an earnest but confused young student but ends up as a manipulative, calculating, raging feminist. Aaron Eckhart played a university professor eager to gain tenure and free young minds. The play questions which is more important to him and reveals that he is just as conventional as the campus elite and therefore hypocritical. Interesting stuff. The dialogue style is at first challenging with the actors interrupting each other mid sentence, making the exchanges fast and stilted, but worked well in the end.
Museum of Gardening History
Whilst on a ‘Lambeth to the South Bank’ walk we came across the only Museum of Gardening History in the world. It is housed in an old church and had a lovely café. Outside is a fine example of a 17th century Knot garden. This is when the bones of the garden are little shrubs that intertwine like a Celtic design and flowers and other plants are planted inside the gaps. Very pretty but high maintenance I would imagine.
World Press exhibition
The above walk also took us along the South Bank arts complex. This area is where the Royal Festival Hall, National Theatre, National Film Theatre and Queen Elizabeth Hall are situated. The Globe Theatre is also close by. We have tickets to stand in the ‘yard’ for a performance of ‘Much ado about nothing’. I’m looking forward to seeing the famous tapestries. Theatres are almost as prevalent as pubs here. Well, that may be exaggerating, but the music hall tradition of the old days has evolved into a thriving concentration of theatres for musicals and plays, concert halls, opera houses and dance venues.
In the foyer of the Royal Festival Hall was the World Press exhibition. This is a display of the finalists and winners of the annual photojournalism awards and tours the world. We’ve seen the 2002 and 2003 versions back in Wellington but it is always an eye opener. The display is divided into different sections e.g. Sport, Environment and War. The war images are always shocking and make you feel very uncomfortable. But it is very important that people see these photographs as it gives a small insight into the plights of war torn countries and the poor public majority who suffer the consequences of the decisions of the ruthless and greed motivated minority. One picture that touched me was of the back of an old Chinese man who suffered from Aids as a result of selling pints of his own blood so that he could afford to pay for his children to go to school for one term. My eyes swell up with tears just thinking about it. The notion that a parent would do anything to better the life of their children is something I always associate with Chinese immigrant culture but is, of course, universal. We feel so fortunate that by fate we were born in a rich and beautiful country full of opportunities. It makes me look at the beggars on the streets here in London a little cynically.
BBC – Home of the World Service
Whilst on the same walk we passed the home of the BBC world service. The BBC is housed in many buildings in London and across the UK but we thought this building was kind of cool. Unfortunately we couldn’t go in but we checked out the shop which had all the great comedy and drama series on DVD and video for you to buy. Browsing the shelves you realise how much great work and entertainment comes out of the BBC. What a great institution, although we can only enjoy the radio side of it as we are still are enjoying a TV free lifestyle (o:
Borough Markets
Whilst on a little drinking and curry spree with Laurence he suggested we check out the Borough Markets near London Bridge. We went on a Saturday mid morning and enjoyed browsing around the many food stalls. We bought some Ostrich burgers for lunch. They were delicious but didn’t taste much different from a good quality meat pattie burger. Had to be tried though.
Hampton Court
This past weekend we went to Hampton Court palace. It was quite expensive to get in but pretty worthwhile. Unlike some other historic places we’ve been to so far in the world, you can really imagine what it was like to live there in its hey day. I guess this is because the Brits place a lot of importance and money on heritage and restore/maintain places of significance so well. We wandered around the King’s and Queen’s apartments and the beautiful gardens. The Tudor Kitchen’s (the most extensive surviving 16th century kitchens in Europe) were cool as there were people dressed up in the servant garb of the day, cooking and chatting away. As you walked around the palace you could almost hear the many servants rushing around tending to the residents’ every need.
Cricket at Lords
Yesterday we went to the hallowed cricket ground of Lords. We had to go early to sort out our tickets at a side gate and what do ya know the Kiwi team bus pulls up and the players piled out. I turned into a teenage school girl and got all excited, much to Joseph’s disapproval! Yes folks, those cricket dudes are quite delish up close. I wished them all well and took some paparazzi shots. I hope I didn’t jinx them as they didn’t perform very well. We lost the test match but will hopefully fair better in the next matches. It was great to be at the home of cricket. Unfortunately there were some dodgy old Brits sitting behind us who insisted on making rude comments about the Kiwi side at regular intervals. They were harmless really but it did get on my nerves so I shouted ‘Go Kiwis’ a lot and clapped and cheered madly when ever we scored runs. I walked past the member’s area which looked more like my style. The main clubhouse is a lovely historic building and the men have to wear suits and ties in the member’s stands. The tone was slightly lowered when two streakers invaded the pitch in quick succession. I believe the fine is £1,000. Another proud cricketing tradition, the Mexican Wave, did the rounds as well. The NZ version of the Balmy army, The Beige Brigade, was out in force. Although it would’ve been great if they all sat together and chanted ‘Give em a taste of Kiwi’ and other Kiwiana songs. We weren’t even allowed to display NZ flags. I’m not sure why. Bummer dude. Anyway, I enjoyed it as it is one of the rare times when you can publically display pride in your country….even if your side isn’t playing so well.
On the spur of the moment one Friday night we decided to go to the play Oleanna by David Mamet. Two Hollywood stars where performing the play, Aaron Eckhart (Sliding Doors) and Julia Stiles (Ten things I hate about you and State and Main). They took a little while to warm up, or was it that the audience took a little while to warm up to the style of the play, but things rapidly heated up and led to a shocking climax. The focus of the play is sexual politics on campus. Julia Styles played Carol, who at first appears like an earnest but confused young student but ends up as a manipulative, calculating, raging feminist. Aaron Eckhart played a university professor eager to gain tenure and free young minds. The play questions which is more important to him and reveals that he is just as conventional as the campus elite and therefore hypocritical. Interesting stuff. The dialogue style is at first challenging with the actors interrupting each other mid sentence, making the exchanges fast and stilted, but worked well in the end.
Museum of Gardening History
Whilst on a ‘Lambeth to the South Bank’ walk we came across the only Museum of Gardening History in the world. It is housed in an old church and had a lovely café. Outside is a fine example of a 17th century Knot garden. This is when the bones of the garden are little shrubs that intertwine like a Celtic design and flowers and other plants are planted inside the gaps. Very pretty but high maintenance I would imagine.
World Press exhibition
The above walk also took us along the South Bank arts complex. This area is where the Royal Festival Hall, National Theatre, National Film Theatre and Queen Elizabeth Hall are situated. The Globe Theatre is also close by. We have tickets to stand in the ‘yard’ for a performance of ‘Much ado about nothing’. I’m looking forward to seeing the famous tapestries. Theatres are almost as prevalent as pubs here. Well, that may be exaggerating, but the music hall tradition of the old days has evolved into a thriving concentration of theatres for musicals and plays, concert halls, opera houses and dance venues.
In the foyer of the Royal Festival Hall was the World Press exhibition. This is a display of the finalists and winners of the annual photojournalism awards and tours the world. We’ve seen the 2002 and 2003 versions back in Wellington but it is always an eye opener. The display is divided into different sections e.g. Sport, Environment and War. The war images are always shocking and make you feel very uncomfortable. But it is very important that people see these photographs as it gives a small insight into the plights of war torn countries and the poor public majority who suffer the consequences of the decisions of the ruthless and greed motivated minority. One picture that touched me was of the back of an old Chinese man who suffered from Aids as a result of selling pints of his own blood so that he could afford to pay for his children to go to school for one term. My eyes swell up with tears just thinking about it. The notion that a parent would do anything to better the life of their children is something I always associate with Chinese immigrant culture but is, of course, universal. We feel so fortunate that by fate we were born in a rich and beautiful country full of opportunities. It makes me look at the beggars on the streets here in London a little cynically.
BBC – Home of the World Service
Whilst on the same walk we passed the home of the BBC world service. The BBC is housed in many buildings in London and across the UK but we thought this building was kind of cool. Unfortunately we couldn’t go in but we checked out the shop which had all the great comedy and drama series on DVD and video for you to buy. Browsing the shelves you realise how much great work and entertainment comes out of the BBC. What a great institution, although we can only enjoy the radio side of it as we are still are enjoying a TV free lifestyle (o:
Borough Markets
Whilst on a little drinking and curry spree with Laurence he suggested we check out the Borough Markets near London Bridge. We went on a Saturday mid morning and enjoyed browsing around the many food stalls. We bought some Ostrich burgers for lunch. They were delicious but didn’t taste much different from a good quality meat pattie burger. Had to be tried though.
Hampton Court
This past weekend we went to Hampton Court palace. It was quite expensive to get in but pretty worthwhile. Unlike some other historic places we’ve been to so far in the world, you can really imagine what it was like to live there in its hey day. I guess this is because the Brits place a lot of importance and money on heritage and restore/maintain places of significance so well. We wandered around the King’s and Queen’s apartments and the beautiful gardens. The Tudor Kitchen’s (the most extensive surviving 16th century kitchens in Europe) were cool as there were people dressed up in the servant garb of the day, cooking and chatting away. As you walked around the palace you could almost hear the many servants rushing around tending to the residents’ every need.
Cricket at Lords
Yesterday we went to the hallowed cricket ground of Lords. We had to go early to sort out our tickets at a side gate and what do ya know the Kiwi team bus pulls up and the players piled out. I turned into a teenage school girl and got all excited, much to Joseph’s disapproval! Yes folks, those cricket dudes are quite delish up close. I wished them all well and took some paparazzi shots. I hope I didn’t jinx them as they didn’t perform very well. We lost the test match but will hopefully fair better in the next matches. It was great to be at the home of cricket. Unfortunately there were some dodgy old Brits sitting behind us who insisted on making rude comments about the Kiwi side at regular intervals. They were harmless really but it did get on my nerves so I shouted ‘Go Kiwis’ a lot and clapped and cheered madly when ever we scored runs. I walked past the member’s area which looked more like my style. The main clubhouse is a lovely historic building and the men have to wear suits and ties in the member’s stands. The tone was slightly lowered when two streakers invaded the pitch in quick succession. I believe the fine is £1,000. Another proud cricketing tradition, the Mexican Wave, did the rounds as well. The NZ version of the Balmy army, The Beige Brigade, was out in force. Although it would’ve been great if they all sat together and chanted ‘Give em a taste of Kiwi’ and other Kiwiana songs. We weren’t even allowed to display NZ flags. I’m not sure why. Bummer dude. Anyway, I enjoyed it as it is one of the rare times when you can publically display pride in your country….even if your side isn’t playing so well.
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