Last weekend

So after the Dublin trip it was really hard to get back into the school mood. On the Wednesday night Angie and I went down to the pub as there was an auction to raise money for some organisation. Of course we only did a little predrinking...hee. We got down closer to the end of the auction so we didnt see all of it, but I got to chat with a bunch of people and have a good time. Some of the auction items were the usual, jewelery and other random objects, but therewere also some really interesting ones too. There was go-karting with Dr. Scott (history prof) for three people. Cameron won that one. There were a bunch of home made dinners at houses of people who work at the castle, there was also a pizza and movie night with one of the head adminostrators (these were all in groups). There was also piano lessons and guitar lessons and one that said this girl would draw a cartoon of your life. Very cute.

On the Thursday after I only had one class in the morning and so got some free time to do work before Katie and I left for London. She was satying the night with a friend somwhere north of London as well as seeing a lecture that night on Barrack Obama. I on the other hand was seeing the musical Oliver! and comingback that same night. We got a cab in the early afternoon and made good timing to the train station. Not much happened really on our way to London. We chatted a lot. When we actually got to London we only got a little lost and were kinda worried we would not find Katie's lecture. She made it right on time and now it was my turn to find my theatre. Unfortunately for me I didnt know what my theatre was called and although I had a ma that indicated where all the theatres on the west end were, I didnt know which one was Oliver. So I decided to make my way to Leicester square where they sell tickets and ask them how to get there. I went to TKTS and a nice man there gave me a map and pointed out how to get there. Unfortunately it happened to be in a very difficult area to understand. I mean the street names change dramatically every few blocks and the streets look nothing like the maps. I am usuall y very good with maps, but I had to ask two or three times in order to figure out how to get in the right direction. Lucky me I got there with 15 minutes to spare, so I could buy a program and stuff and relax into my seat.

I had really good seats up in the balcony, right in the middle. I chatted with the people beside me for a short time before the show started. Unfortunately the people behind me (ppl in their early 30s probs) had been drinking a little and were a little noisey occassionally, but they werent the whole time so I didnt mind. The show was amazing! The kid who lpayed Oliver was good, but the kid who was Dodger was brilliant! He danced and sang and acted all at the same time and he is only 13. I mean he was soo good and funny and just perfect for the part, definate potential star. Of course who else was in this musical right now? Rowan Atkinson of course. He was fabulous. Very funny and perfect for the part (fagen). At one point the characte is looking through a small chest of jewelery and puting it on and he takes out some opera glasses and says something about perhaps going to the opera. He put the glasses to his eyes, looked to the orchestra seats and said "...just looking at all the rich glamorous people out there," then slowly he lifted his head up to us, "and all the poor people up there." HEE!!! Well I dont know if that is always said in the productions, but he was perfect and quite brillient. There was a little boy who could not have been more than 5 years old and he played one of the little street brats/pickpockets. He was soo cute! And so good, at one point he was supposed to be following Rowan around and mimicking him behind his back and when Rowan turned around he shouk his little but at him, it was sooo cute! The whole cast was brilliant, the girl who played Nancy had the most astounding voice that just broke your heart. Then of course there was Burn Gorman. If you dont know he plays Owen Harper on Torchwood, a British tv series and in this he played Bill Sykes. He was absolutely terrifying. So good, but so scary! He was perfect and I really enjoyed his performance! At the end with the roll call when he came out everyone bood because his character is a bad one and he just played along with it then laughed and said something to Rowan. So cute, and I actually saw him smile! Like a genuine laugh and smile (he doesnt do that much on the show).

Once it was all over and time to go home I decided to look around and see if there was a back door that you gathered around to get autographs, because I did the same thing at Hairspray. There was and there was already a nice group wating to see Rowan. I of course was also waiting for Burn. While waiting in line I started chatting with this man in his 30s and his mother who he had taken out for her 76th birthday. She made a comment about them never queing up like this when she was on the stage. I questioned her a little bit, but she said she didnt do much, and didnt elabortate. The guy said his ex-girlfriend used to be on stage and take him back stage and he could meet everyone. Eventually I saw someone who might be Burn come out but he had his cap on down and seemed very determined to not be recognized or noticed. I just managed to touch him to get his attention, but he didnt notice and kept walking. I dont blame him as he probably wanted to get home, but I got to touch him! After 45 minutes we were told the reason Rowan hadnt come out yet was because he had guests but that he would be out soon. He finally did, but it was obvious that he wanted to go and chat with his friends. I hadnt brought my camera but the nice ppl I had met said they would take my picture and email it to me! So not only did I get an autograph, but a picture too! I would say I have done pretty well for myself while here.

I have a nice story about trying to get home as that was a bit of a trial, but I have to go to lunch, so I will contiinue this another day (hopefully tomorow). Soon soon!