The 39 Steps

Tonight, Dr. Sharkey--our USC contact person--took all USC study abroad students out for dinner and to see the West End play The 39 Steps. It was my first experience on the tube, and I can now say I'm the proud holder of an Oyster card! The Oyster card is one you put money on to use the transportation in London, and also gives you discounted rates on travel.

A shot of what I'm sure is to become my favorite of the Tube lines, since it dumps your right out on Picadilly Circus, home to the West End:


We first started out a Japanese restaurant called Wagamama. Suprisingly for a relatively big chain, it was hidden down several side streets; I certainly wouldn't have found it if I didn't know what I was looking for.

Dinner was chicken katsu curry and dessert was chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream. And I even semi-successfully used chopsticks!





Then of course, it was time for The 39 Steps!





The show was quite amusing; perhaps even more incredible was the dexterity of the cast of four, who together played over 100 roles on stage. Costumes were whipped on and off, props thrown from person to person, in a very energetic performance. While not a side-splitting show, it was a lot of fun, especially for those who've seen the Hitchcock film upon which it is based, and know how closely the source material is being used.

Below are shots of the theatre, taken surreptitiously with the flash off, as I didn't know what the photo policy was.





As you possibly can tell, we were on the ground level of the theatre (orchestra in America, stalls in England), seven rows back. Given, it is a small theatre to begin with, but I fully expected to be stuck in the rafters somewhere, so this was an amazing surprise.

Afterwards, we were turned loose on London to make our own way back as we pleased, so some of us went exploring around Picadilly and Leicester Square.

As you can see, some things don't change no matter what continent you are on.....




...and some things do. This is a typical theatre marquee in central London:



We found ourselves at Trafalgar square, where once again, a fountain was frozen over, though this time it appeared to be a solid block of ice.



Behind the fountain is the National Portrait Gallery:



Hope you enjoy the photos! Tonight is the boat trip on the Thames, which I am leaving for shortly!


Cheers!

Orientation Meal

I haven't even left yet and I have exciting news to share! USC has a contact person in the UK who is paid to take us on outings and generally be helpful. Said contact person--Dr. Sharkey--has arranged for an all-expenses paid dinner at a restaurant my first week in London. We will be going to Wagamama, an Oriental restaurant off of Picadilly Circus. (Note for those who have never been to the UK: Asian refers to peoples from the Mid-East, Oriental to peoples from the Far-East, such as Koreans and Japanese.) If you are interested in menu items and/or location of said restaurant, it is the one marked Soho, London on the restaurant locator.

But the evening does not stop there! We will also be taken that same night to see The 39 Steps at the Criterion Theatre. This is a comedy that is on my list of shows to see in London, so I am very excited to see it. I will try to take pictures to post, so check back next week!