Five out of six days have been rainy, but that hasn’t dampened my spirits. London has too much to offer, inside or out, to make me feel gloomy.
I walked from the hotel to Covent Garden with the intent of exploring the London Transport Museum. Adjacent to the museum was a small flea market that I couldn’t resist poking around. Most of the stuff was just that—stuff. But, pawing through piles of old jewelry I managed to find two broches that are lovely.
At one of the stalls the vendor was impressed with my taste, and we got into a discussion about what represents quality and what is trash. He dug around behind the counter and pulled out a few more treasures to show me. At the next stall, the proprietor was a huge fan of New York City and peppered me with questions about what had survived covid. When I went to purchase the broch, he offered it to me for half price without me asking for a discount.
From there it was a few steps to the London Transport Museum, a place I’d never been to. It’s great fun for both adults and kids. Children have lots of miniature trains and buses (as well as the real thing) that they can climb on. I learned a lot about how the transport system grew, the underground was built and plans for the future.
I met up with Sue and we headed towards Tower Bridge. We had tickets to see “Guys and Dolls” at the Bridge Theater. It got rave reviews in the press and from people we know. By that point, the rain was coming down hard. We nursed drinks and then dinner in The Ivy. Then it was just steps to the theater.
This production of “Guys and Dolls” was one of the best I’ve seen. Great cast and very unusual and original staging. It’s a circle in the square theater (audience on all sides of the stage). There is a massive “standing room” section in the middle of the stage. Portions of the stage raise and lower throughout the play; stagehands (dressed as NYC cops) gently move the audience out of the way of the moving platforms. The overall look of the moving stage and audience is one of a bustling city – exactly right for Guys and Dolls. This production is supposed to be coming to New York City and I wonder how they’ll be able to replicate the experience.