London, I Visited Thee Again

I have now been down to London a few times. Each time I go there it is different in such a way that I experience it differently as well.

The first time I went it was to walk through and see the main tourist attractions, the ones that I found on all the bus tours. You can see the posts below where I describe them (November 2010, An American in England Parts 1-7). What I noticed recently is that me, Jeremy, was void in those posts. Yes, I went to all those places, but I did not experience them as me, and the tourist I am.

This past trip to London I visited the city as me without and agenda, but a few people to see and meet. This trip, in comparison, was much more enjoyable and much more.... me :).

I saw two theater productions, two movies, a few markets, a few exhibitions of art, and enjoyed a number of London's tasty food offers.

Theater production: The Sunshine Boys. Starring Danny DeVito and Richard Griffiths this play is about two  comedians who used to do a show  together and twelve years after they split they are called back to do a production together. A grudge has been between them in one direction. They work together and attempt to sort out the tension while putting on their final show together. The show was great and the two actors fitted the roles perfectly. Both actors are in their 60s and so playing a character that each was familiar with, in a way, themselves. The script was filled with Jewish jokes and American ones. This became interest as the majority of the audience did not laugh at the Medicare, Medicaid or New Jersey Jokes. I did though, and so, felt alone at some points.


Theater production: Noises Off. A show about putting on a show. It's quality non stop laughing time. There are three acts. Act 1: the night before the show is opening. Act 2: the show after a month of being on the road. Act 3: the show nearing its finish. It focuses around the interactions of the cast, crew and director. I have never been in a theater where people, or embarrassingly, myself, laugh so much.

Art Exhibition: Damien Hirst. I was first told about him and told his works were meant to shock you. However, I found his works and pieces to make things, that are often portrayed as fears and creepy in society, into calm and relaxed experiences. He organized objects like cigarettes, drugs and butterflies. Often things seen in chaotic messes. Into pieces that allowed you to be among them without disgust, or anything, and their presentation made it normal and distant.


London, it was great to be me there. To rent bikes and take midnight walks. To walk miles upon miles by myself. To be among hundreds of people moving too so many places and being there with no idea as to where.