The Confusion of Left or Right

 Londoners drive on the left side of the road--everyone knows that.  It hearkens back to jousting and armed fighting or such (leaving the right hand open to wield a weapon).  So what side of the stairs do you walk on?  What about the sidewalk?  As evidenced by signs in the Underground, London is very divided.



   
They've also got some interesting ad campaigns to encourage a more active lifestyle.  The Henry VIII one is my favorite.

So I've seen four plays since I last blogged; way too many to review like I have before.  They were:

• A Small Family Business.  Great acting, even better set design.  Interesting social and political commentary by a classic British playwright Alan Ayckbourn.
• Bakersfield Mist.  Starring Kathleen Turner and Ian McDiarmid (of Star Wars fame!)  Also well-performed, and the cast of two came out to meet fans/sign autographs afterwards, pictured below.

 

• Titus Andronicus.  At The Globe!  A super-close replica of the place where Shakespeare and company actually performed.  The theatre was uncovered and there was open space where "groundlings" could stand for cheaper tickets (the catch: three hours standing).  The production was very bloody, but I just couldn't handle the second half.  After the interval, the focus was entirely on Titus's madness and all seriousness was lost until the final scene.

 

• A Midsummer Night's Dream.  This show was in Brighton, a quaint little seaside town with lots of shopping and a pretty pebble beach.  This production was incredible.  The all-male cast spoke in the rhythmic style that I love and incorporated a live musical score.  Almost every actor played dual roles and the characterizations were solid.  Pictures of Brighton follow!

I've done some other cool stuff since my last post, like touring Hampton Palace and Gardens, going to the Philharmonia Orchestra (again!!!), and seeing the tourist version of Platform 9 3/4 from the Harry Potter franchise.

Hampton Palace and Gardens

This swan looks nice but he actually attacked me

King Henry VIII had a big kitchen with lots of wine

A Royal Potty!

 Here's a selfie at Hampton inside a leafy tunnel, also featuring guy with a fancy camera.

 I didn't know what busking was, so I took a pic.  Apparently it's street performing for money or something like that.  Who knew?

Also returned to Westminster Abbey for an Evensong service.  Absolutely gorgeous music.

Philharmonia again!  This time I could see the massive organ (although it wasn't used).