Beginning at the end of the day: arrived back to the hotel almost at midnight after navigating the fun complicated world of the tube. Excuse the boring details but after the show I had to board the Victoria Line in order to get to "Green Park." At Green Park I hopped off ("mind the gap") and got on the Piccadilly line and took it straight up to Russell Square and walked here.
Okay, so it was a typical, ho-hum plot--boy without a mother but with a demanding father struggling to make ends meet, wants to be a dancer. Father is dealing with political problems in his job as a miner and forced to strike. Boy eventually gets accepted into dance school and is successful. Dull stuff that is a rehashing of several stories we have heard before.
Yet, what a fantastic show in all respects (okay, most). Billy Elliot is one of my favorite shows I have experienced. An eclectic and expressive musical score accompanies a host of fascinating scenes that alternate well between serious and light. Dance sequences are incredible and the scenery is picturesque without being lavish. Gritty when necessary, warm when appropriate, the music, the acting, and the story pull together to put the audience right in the middle of everything. Rather than becoming an objective disconnected series of songs, Billy Elliot is a whole package of emotional, energetic joy.
On the down side, I grew weary of the swearing (lots of f word usage) and struggle with the heavy English accent. Also the "gay" overtones were a little disturbing at times particularly in a young boy. Cute scenes but maybe a little bit of an agenda made me uncomfortable. Aside from those things, it was a great show made even better by a gifted singer/dancer in the form of a 12 year old boy.
I spent the afternoon at the Victoria and Albert Museum looking at everything imaginable including theatre history, silver, mosaics, paintings, tapestries, jewelry, and the list goes on. What a great place. Almost couldn't leave it but had to go get my tickets to the show.
The morning was spent at the British Museum where I saw Syrian art, Babylonian Art, Egyptian Art, and an amazing display of Afghanistan historical pieces. Learned much about history and mythology in this 2 mile long museum. Certainly one of the finest cultural museums in the world.
And that my friends was my day. Lots of walking, riding, and experiencing the city of London.
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