First things first: Happy Birthday Mickey!
Steamboat Willie premiered at Universal’s Colony Theater in New York City on November 18, 1928
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamboat_Willie#Release_and_reception
Got a full night’s sleep. Didn’t leave the hotel until lunchtime, when I had not-so-great tenders from a chicken shop near the Tube station I wanted to use.
Then a quick ride to Trafalgar Square.
All so that I could get to His Majesty’s Theatre for a matinee performance of Phantom of the Opera!
It’s so good! My seats were middle-front. The chandelier was lifted right over my head!
After the climax of Act I the chandelier sat within throwing distance, uncovered.
And then took to the rafters again. This time with the lights on so pictures were okay.
The production was good. The Phantom wasn’t as commanding of a presence as I’d have liked, but Christine, Raoul, and Carlotta were amazing!
Then it was decision time. I thought about going to Les Mis, checked for 7:30 tickets, but it was sold out. So I walked around a bit, ending up in Covent Garden.
All decked out for Christmas!
While walking, surrounded by Christmas decorations, I decided to try something different. I had noticed a production of A Christmas Carol near my hotel.
It’s in a theater that’s been around for 200 years The Old Vic, Scrooge is played by Christopher Eccleston, and it’s theater in the round. I went to the box office and got one of the last remaining tickets.
I had to cross the stage to get to my seats. The warning they gave: it’s a 50 minute first act and you can’t go to the bathroom because you’ll cross in front of the actors. Ha!
The performance was great! It tried to be a little too funny at the end, but otherwise was a great way to spend an evening. The family to my left was from San Diego and were “forcing” their kid to have some culture. The family on my right had ties to The University of Texas at Austin. And the dad and his daughter at the far right of my row got me one of the free mince pies they were handing out before the show started.
I won’t even try to top that tomorrow. I have a bunch of work meetings to prep for.
Travel 