Caroline, or Change plus the Science Museum

[smallhobbit]

"I've signed up to do a 10K in London, Mum, and I thought we could meet up on the Saturday night and go to a show before I do the run on the Sunday."  "But I'm .."  "You can re-arrange that!"  Which is how I came to be in London last weekend.  TD came down on the Saturday afternoon, but I decided if I was going up for one day, I might as well do two.

Having booked the accommodation I realised there wasn't anything I particularly wanted to see, but there was a new year ticket offer and looking around I found I could get a £10 ticket for Caroline, or Change at the Playhouse Theatre.  The performance had transferred from the Chichester Festival Theatre, always a good sign, and had Sharon D Clarke in the lead role, so I reasoned for a tenner I could hardly go wrong.

It was excellent.  It was musical theatre, and had originally been written as an opera.  It flowed really well.  Although everything was sung, it never felt as though at any point the songs were holding up the action.  It had a singer representing the washing machine, and another representing the dryer, plus three singers for when the radio was playing.  Which sounds strange, but worked.

Caroline is a black maid in Louisiana in 1963.  The story looks at her relationship with the family (who are Jewish) and her own family and her friend.  It's not at the cutting point of life, but shows what's happening in the background.  I really enjoyed it, and Sharon D Clarke was excellent.



We were staying close to the Tower of London.

On the Saturday I went to the Science Museum.  I wanted to see The Last Tsar: Blood and Revolution which was a free exhibition.  It was quite interesting, and I was particularly glad to see some film from the Eastern Front, but I felt there was too much emphasis placed on having sympathy with the Tsar and his family, when his own behaviour and attitudes brought about the catastrophe.

After which I noticed there was a free guided tour of Flight so I thought I'd go along.  The guide was a volunteer and clearly enthusiastic.  I was fascinated with what I saw and learnt.  The subject matter wouldn't be high on my list of things to learn about, but hearing someone who is both knowledgeable and enthusiastic was really good.  I'm glad I did it.

Comments

[corvidology]

Sounds like another great weekend in London!

[smallhobbit]

It was. A bit different from some weekends, but good.

[clarasteam]

I need to organize myself to see that show before it closes! *glares at diary*

[smallhobbit]

I'd definitely recommend it if you have the opportunity!

[howsmyenglish]

I always like reading about your London expeditions. it's a little like I'm there myself. (London is one of the places I dream of going to)

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. I'm delighted you like reading about my London trips. There's so much to see - I'm still finding new things.

[aome]

Sounds like a wonderful weekend! Did you feel good about your 10K run, too?

Interestingly enough, I stumbled upon someone's personal collection of "Ten most challenging female musical roles" and Caroline was in there. I hadn't ever heard of it before! Since I'm not familiar with the storyline - is the Jewish family decent to Caroline, or no? I mean, they're a minority, too, but it IS the 1960s south. Just curious.

I love science museums - always so much fun and so interesting (well, to me)!

[smallhobbit]

It was a good weekend - I didn't do the run, that was The Daughter. I was there to pay for the accommodation, meals and hold bags (she did pay for the play we saw together).

The Jewish family were white - part from the south, the second wife came from New York, which added to the dynamic. Caroline was the archetypal Sunday church-going black maid. Worth seeing if you ever get the opportunity.

I prefer some of the other museums, and only go to the Science Museum when there's something I particularly want to see - I don't find the museum very welcoming.

[moth2fic]

I misunderstood, too, and thought it was you doing the run... I was feeling awestruck but will now revert to merely jealous of your weekend. I adore the Science Museum and am not sure why you don't find it welcoming. But then I adore most of the big museums, there and elsewhere - museum junky, me.

[smallhobbit]

No - source of funds and bag holding only for me! The weekend was very good though.

I object to having to queue to be told if I'd like to make a donation to go to one of the cash desks. When all I want to do is go to the exhibition and know it's free entry. No doubt it brings in a lot of money but to me it gives the wrong impression. Plus there's no promotion of the free tour (which was excellent) but a lot of emphasis on the paid exhibits. I know they need to make money, but it grates.

[moth2fic]

Yes - I did notice that, last time I was there, but ignored it and decided it was probably directed at foreign tourists... I know I pay my tax which I assume helps to subsidise the place. We didn't find a problem finding the free tours - they weren't widely advertised but were shown on the leaflets about the exhibitions and at the entrances. I was sad in the V&A that some of the exhibits I really wanted to see were paid ones, and I had too many things to see that day to start shelling out...

[smallhobbit]

I'm sure it is aimed at foreign tourists - however it still means a queue, which last time I went was in the rain (very unimpressed!)

Yes, the main V&A exhibitions are all paid now, although some of the smaller ones are still free and can be very good. One of the advantages of our Art Fund Card is that these exhibitions are half price plus a further £1 off for us oldies.

[moth2fic]

I can't remember how we managed it but we by-passed the queue. We used a different entrance... We had come from the V&A which we had accessed via the Underground. Anyway, we went into the Science Museum and saw the queues but we weren't near that entrance. No idea how we escaped!!

[margaret_r]

That exhibition at the Science Museum does sound good, it's a fascinating time in 20th Century history.

Well done for daughter doing the run, that's a fair distance! Glad you enjoyed the play, singing household appliances is intriguing.

[smallhobbit]

It was very interesting, and of course the science benefits by the impetus brought from warfare.

The play was very good. Initially I was a bit suspicious about singing appliances, but it worked very well.