2006 Summer trip is off and running

Hello...

It's been a while, but it's taken me this long to get back to the UK. It's a very different experience to ride the Tube in the summer. They're not used to the hot weather and none of the cars has any air conditioning, you see. So consequently, you take a shower, you get on the tube, and then by the time you reach your destination, you need a shower again. Quite aromatic indeed.

Anyway, I got here yesterday and have already seen 2 show:
Judy Dench in "Hay Fever" by Noel Coward. A silly show about a rich disfunctional family of four whose individual members invite four very different guests to their estate for the weekend without telling the other members of the family. The disfunction of the family drives their guests closer together. Judy Dench as usual was wonderful.

Tonight, I saw Tom Conti in "Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell" about the musings of an aloholic Racing Form journalist. You might not think that might be entertaining, but it's actually full of laughs thanks to a brilliant script and a sharp performance by Mr. Conti. He keeps his wits about him and keeps the dialog fresh and spontaneous. He connects well with an audience in a way I've rarely seen on any stage.

Tomorrow, I'll be seeing Tom Stoppard's newest play, "Rock'n'Roll" which is sort of about how rock music symbolized political ideals in Prague from the Soviet crackdown in 1968 through 1990. It's supposed to be a masterwork for Stoppard. We'll see; I've got high hopes for this one.

Other things I've done is traipse up and down the Camden Town High Street which is where the flat I'm borrowing overlooks. The street has many many trendy stores vending goth and punk clothes, strange shoes, beer and wine, and betting establishments. You can literally see where the Holtz shoe shop was from my window. For the unitiated, Holtz was the store that the group Madness put on the map since they bought all their Doc Martin boots from there and had a fond relationship with the old owner of the store.

Well, that gets everyone up to date as of now. Made a quick trip to Cambridge and paid some brief respects to a recently fallen musical influence. Had incredible fish and chips from "Jacks of Cambridge," on the Cherry Hinton High Street. Very friendly staff and out of this world proper chips in a sadly dying atmosphere of the "corner chippie." I'm not sure why these places are getting harder and harder to find.

Until I can get to another internet cafe, this update will have to do for now. On Monday I begin my Theatre writing course with Willy Russell, and have been promised that internet use is out of the question, so even if amazing things happen, you won't know about it until after I get back on the 12th.

That's all for now.

Cheerio,
Diane