All the shows I've seen and what I think about them.

1. Les Miserables- I was thinking that this might not be the best first play for me to see, since it's, you know, Les Miserables. The best musical ever. It's just a fact. Don't try to disagree. It might have ruined ever other play I saw. Gladly for me, that hasn't been the case. So of course, I really enjoyed this one. What else more can I say? It's Les Miserables! It's one of those experiences that truly rings with humanity in general. Everyone can relate to the stories and songs, which makes it all the more beautiful. I especially loved Jean Val-Jean, Javier, and Marius. Marius was adorable, and had a beautiful voice, just how it ought to be. And of course, the women can't help but love Eponine. "On My Own" is the song for every girl. And I got teary eyed at the end, like I always do. 8.5/10


2. The Tempest- I am very happy that this was the first Shakespeare play I saw in London. Mostly because the target audience was children, so it was easy for me to understand. A nice introduction into watching Shakespeare. I loved how small of a theatre it was. Very intimate. It was awesome to have these legit actors only feet from you. You got to see every single facial expression they had. And the puppets were so creative! I don't know how these people come up with this stuff! This one will probably be one of the favorites for awhile. It was just a solid performance and so engaging. 9/10


3. All's Well That Ends Well- This play was fascinating to analyze and to study, but a little harder I think to perform and execute. This is one of Shakespeare's "problem plays," meaning that there are issues brought up in the play that aren't supposed to be easy to come to grips with. This company that put it on tried to put a new twist to it so it would end a little more happy than the text would imply, which worked wonderfully for the first half. But the interpretation just didn't hold to the end. It seemed over simplified and glossed over. Basically, Helena, who has a serious crush on Bertram forces him to marry her through a sequence of events. In the script, it seems that Bertram hates her and doesn't want anything to do with her. But the play I saw had Bertram be a little more sympathetic towards Helena instead of being a complete tool.
It was really cool and unexpected, but it didn't work when he cheats on her near the end. So all in all, very thoughtful, and a nice try, but not completely followed through. 6.5/10


4. Little Eagles- I had the privilege to see this as the world premiere. It is a very new play, so I didn't really know what to expect at all. It's a play based on a true story and true characters taking place between 1930-1975 roughly. It's basically about Russia during WWII and the Cold War and how they were competing with America to get the first man into space. The play also deals with the oppression the Russian people had to endure under the rule of Stalin. It was one of the best scripts ever! The play just pulls you in immediately, into the darkness and struggle of the characters lives. The only thing is that at the end, one of the actors tries to be American and he fails hilariously. 9.5/10



5. Mousetrap- Oh. I just love Agatha Christi's Mousetrap. I just love murder mysteries in general. They are so much fun! I first saw this play at SUU in high school during the Shakespearean Festival. And I have to admit, I did like the SUU one better. With that said, seeing Mousetrap in London was such a memorable experience! It was just a good night out with some intrigue and mystery, which sometimes is all I need. 6.5/10


6. Rocket to the Moon- This is the play our group was forced to see because the one we wanted to see was sold out. But I'm definitely not complaining, because this one was pretty stellar! It's a play set in the 30's. What more do you want? It was quite simple. The same piece of set stayed the entire time. It all took place in a dentist's office during a hot NYC summer. The main guy has troubles with his marriage and he has a bit of a fling with his ditzy secretary. That alone sounds like a trashy show, but they really expound on the characters and their complexes. And they have many enlightening conversations about love and marriage. I guess it was nice to just see a play in London that wants to really define the real definition of marriage and commitment. And the American accents were excellent! The secretary shown in the picture was the best actor up there, in my opinion. She just rocked that stage. The guy did really well too, at being a spineless idiot. 9.5/10


7. War Horse- This was by far the most visually stunning plays I've seen yet. This play is based on a young adult novel, from the perspective of a horse during WWI. It's so incredible because they have about three or four actors controlling the puppet horses and making the horse sounds. They didn't have the horses talk so they had to make very distinct movements with the body, head, tail, and ears to portray their emotions. And they actually had people ride on them! It was just sooooo cool! Very creative. Some parts dragged near the end, and one character that was supposed to be strong didn't bring the best performance in my opinion. But the beginning is adorable when a 16 year old boy is attempting to train the horse. Very Seibiscuit. Overall, I was stunned. It was the most epic play I've ever seen. 7.5/10

8. Lion King- This was a pleasant walk down the sentimental, childhood, memory lane. This isn't exactly a play in the traditional sense. Like acting is at the bottom list of things to worry about. Their priorities were in the lighting, costumes, puppets, and music. Think of it as a dance concert with some singing involved. I remember sitting through the Circle of Life opening number and I was just grinning ear to ear. I felt like a little kid, just taking everything in. It made me crave the movie like no other! 7/10


9. Hamlet- Watching Hamlet, my favorite Shakespeare play, at THE globe theatre was an experience I won't ever take for granted. And the weather was quite pleasant as well, not that I would have cared either way :) It's Hamlet! It's the Globe! Unfortunately, the production wasn't very good. I didn't realize this or care till the next day long after the experience was finished. Honestly, I would have been happy with a high school performance in the Globe. The text alone in that special place is powerful enough. Although this guy didn't quite nail Hamlet. Very few do. I appreciate Kennith Branagh so much. And if you think he looks like Frodo now, seeing him in person, he is one of the shortest men ever. I would have much preferred to see Elijah Wood on that stage. I think he could have given this guy a run for his money. Shorter than Ophelia, which quickly apparent and a bit awkward. Even though I could have directed this play better (and that's saying something) I don't regret going and was very much in my element. 5.5/10


10. Much Ado About Nothing - It's hard to say that anything was better than The Tempest with all the puppets, but I think this production in the Globe at least comes close. It was especially nice to see this performance after the pretty near failure of Hamlet. This company obviously had fun, and refused to leave the audience behind. Even though I had the couple of Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson in my mind, I was not left disappointed by this couple. Eva Best, shown above, actually resembles Emma Thompson quite a bit. Charles Edwards shown above without a doubt stole the entire show, as Benedict should! He not only played with the actors and props on stage, but played just as much if not more with us, the audience. My favorite part was as he is listening to his friends talk about how Beatrice is in love with him, he is dangling from the theatre ceiling, decorated as an orange tree :) It was a delightful, thoughtful, fun time that left you feeling so happy! 9.5/10


11 Legally Blonde - Even though I've never seen the movie (shame, I know) I was pretty excited to see this musical because it had gotten so much hype these past few years and received a few Tony awards including best new musical. So, naturally I was curious. I was going into the theatre expected something good. What I did see was something that was absolutely amazing. I'm not even kidding. It's easily the best play I've seen since I've come to England. It had the fresh, colorful, energetic, hilarious, and touching spirit as Hairspray for all of those who have either seen the play of the movie. I knew I was going to like it half way through the very first song to be honest. I would recommend this to anyone who had any drop of humor in their veins, girls, boys, old, young, everyone! It's a fantastic night out and was sad it was over. 10/10


12. One Man, Two Guvnors - This play was basically and excuse for some intense slap stick for three hours straight. A lot of parts certainly were funny, but I can't say I loved it because the humor got old at parts for me. This guy who just had a harsh kick delivered in the above picture is supposedly a rising star in the British Theatre world for his comedy. He was pretty funny, but I kept thinking back to Chris Farley, and all I wanted to do was watch SNL. Even though he was supposed to be the funniest guy in the play, I found myself more interested in the other characters who I think we were just as funny if not more funny. All around, it was a fun time, set in 1963 in Brighton, with a band coming out every few scenes that reminded me of That Thing You Do. So yeah, fun time, but not my favorite. Although one part just made my day. There is this ridiculously old man that practically looks like a zombie who keeps getting hit by doors and pushed down the stairs, and gets his pace maker pulled out, and he still lives! I can see my dad loving those parts as much as I did! Love ya dad! 6.5/10


13. Silence - This play was probably the most original play I've seen yet. Our whole group basically agreed that we thought it was interesting at least; but most of us haven't decided on if we actually liked it or not. So rating this play for me will be pretty hard. Let's just say it was extremely abstract, and very symbolic. Different images would appear on screens on the stage and you would have to figure out what it all means. Several parts I felt irritated because I thought the company was deliberately attempting to baffle the audience. But there were more parts that were done so cool, and many moments when I was literally on the edge of my seat in suspense. It's basically about this woman who is married but receives this letter from a man she used to love who went off to war, and they never met up. She decides to go off and find this man because she still is in love with him even though she is married. But it's not a sweet love story. You see how war has turned the guy crazy, and you half wish the woman never finds him. Overall, very original, very compelling. 8/10


14. The Merchant of Venice - Our group saw this play during our stay in Stratford-upon-Avon which was a lovely experience. I was particularly excited for this play because Patrick Stewart played the part of Shylock! Yes. He does have hair. And he didn't disappoint. He was absolutely astounding. Sadly, the rest of the play wasn't nearly as astounding as he was. Stewart and this other actor named Scott Handy, (in a Knight's Tale as the bad knight's announcer) I felt were the only ones giving a solid performance. The company attempted to place this play in a Vegas-ish casino type place. One of the servants in the play was an Elvis impersonator, fairly interesting. I felt as if the actors were way too pleased with themselves making fun of Americans and showing off that they could to a southern accent that they didn't pay much attention to plot, character development, you know, the important stuff. Some parts were really creative, the way they fit the text in with the time, but I just cringed at the other actors who were in the same scene as Stewart. 6.5/10


15. Macbeth - Sorry to those who are particularly repulsed by blood. But this was a bloody play, in every sense of the word. I think this is the Shakespeare play to top all the Shakespeare plays I've seen since I've been in Europe. Wow. It was a lot to take in. I had high expectations, having already seen Macbeth at the Utah Shakespearean Festival that changed my life! This was very dark. Very graphic. Very creepy. Very AWESOME! For the most part, the acting was superb, especially Lady Macbeth. Oh she sent chills down your spine. I've seen Macbeth three times now, and I am happy to say that I've been very pleased with all three Lady Macbeths that I've seen. The element this company added that made the play so creepy and dark was instead of having three witches, they had three ghost children. Ah!!!! So scary! I could go for ages about how awesome of a choice that was for the company to make. They had quite the entrance, coming down from the ceiling on cords. You couldn't decide if they were hanging dolls, or just, hanged. Whatever the director was going for, he did it! And he did it well. 9.5/10



16. Pygmalion - Just to clear this up, yes, that man in the corner would be Rupert Everett. Yes, I saw him live. Yes I had good seats. And yes, I vastly enjoyed him just feet from me. I probably wouldn't have enjoyed this play very much if he wasn't in it to be completely honest. Although it was very well acted by everyone. Eliza's speech was astounding! I couldn't believe what she was able to do with all the dialects. This production was pleasant, charming, and funny. So, not the best thing I've ever seen (not a fan of the script as a whole) but it was entertaining, which sometimes is all you need. AND it's Rupert Everett!!! What more do you need? 7/10


17. Haunting Julia - This play was as creepy and scary as the title implies, despite what the picture may look like above. No, they are not fighting over a teddy bear. This is the story of a young woman composer-prodigy that apparently committed suicide in her college dorm. Her room, some years later has been made into a museum exhibit. Her father has had suspicions of how she died and invites her old friend and a psychic to her room in order to communicate with her. After some close encounters with her throughout their stay, she finally makes her appearance at the end. They did such a good job with the lighting and the set to make it so scary from start to finish! I was happy to have seen a scary play while in London, and I'm glad it was this one. Superbly acted! 9/10


18. London Road - this production I've been trying to get into basically the entire time I've been here, but it's always been sold out! But a few of us bought standing tickets. It was totally worth it though! It's based on the true story of a series of murders that took place a few years ago in London. This play depicts the struggles the community went through while dead bodies were constantly be found in their neighborhood. Very powerful. Very moving. Very thought provoking. All the things I love to have in a play. 10/10