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pipistrellafelixIt just started raining really hard, big fat drops. I love that kind of rain.
It's been rather tropical here...hot sun, humid weather, downpour--repeat. Wonder if it's cooler in Oxford...
Yesterday we went down to Leicester Square to get half-price tickets, and as the line was incredibly long, I left my parents to it and went on to Old Bailey by myself (aha, braving the London Tube without a soul to accompany me...hee). Old Bailey was really interesting...
Firstly, yes, all the lawyers wear funny little yellow curled wigs and black gowns. We (the public) were in three rows of seats above the room, situated so we couldn't see the witness-a deliberate move, probably. I heard some of the prosecution, and then some of the defense (although I'm not sure which was cross, because I don't know which called the witness). It was a murder trial--a man on trial for killing his wife--and the witness was his daughter. Heavy stuff.
But overall I found that everyone was very...polite, I guess. There was a slower and quieter and almost kinder air to it than the US courts I've seen. The prosecution did have a bit of an edge, but he was polite as anything anyhow. Also the court was admitting a lot of hearsay (lawyer kept asking the witness questions like, 'and what do you think was his motive in writing this paragraph?' which would be strenuously objected to in the US), and lots of leading questions, which also would be objected to (both used them, which means it wasn't just on the cross).
Then we walked to a theater...stopping on the way at the BBC store, and oh my did I make out like a bandit. Whooboy. We ended up buying the CDs of the Lord of the Rings dramatization (to replace our tapes, which are dying and missing and old), and the CDs of the dramatization of His Dark Materials. Whooo! so incredibly cool, I cannot wait to listen to them, eee!
My parents are cool. A little weird, but cool. (They're always really really careful about money, and my mom especially can get uptight about it, but she's put aside money for this trip and now she's spending it on theater and CDs and clothes and everything with abandon. I'm not complaining.)
We saw 'Anything Goes' at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and it was--of course--fantastic. We were in the very very first row, so we saw the rips in the bodysuits and the sweat on their foreheads (got nearly hit by it a couple times) and my neck was craned up the whole time...really amazing show, though. So good. Especially Reno, she was incredible, and Sir Evelyn was hysterically funny (quintessential typical English gentleman, ha ha). Also the accents were impeccable, Moon's especially. Chicago gangster in one. Brilliant.
Had dinner at a really good italian place, went across the street to another theater and saw 'Old Masters' by Simon Grey, directed by Harold Pinter. Hmm. Very well done play, but I'm not sure I liked it. Most of the characters were gits and it was a bit slow to watch at the end of the day when I was tired. But theatrically, I'm glad I saw it, which I guess is what counts.
I might be going to the Globe again to be a groundling today...maybe. If the rain lets up, which it won't. I'll just bring a coat or something. Wheee!
Nearly to Oxford...twelve days till home.
It's been rather tropical here...hot sun, humid weather, downpour--repeat. Wonder if it's cooler in Oxford...
Yesterday we went down to Leicester Square to get half-price tickets, and as the line was incredibly long, I left my parents to it and went on to Old Bailey by myself (aha, braving the London Tube without a soul to accompany me...hee). Old Bailey was really interesting...
Firstly, yes, all the lawyers wear funny little yellow curled wigs and black gowns. We (the public) were in three rows of seats above the room, situated so we couldn't see the witness-a deliberate move, probably. I heard some of the prosecution, and then some of the defense (although I'm not sure which was cross, because I don't know which called the witness). It was a murder trial--a man on trial for killing his wife--and the witness was his daughter. Heavy stuff.
But overall I found that everyone was very...polite, I guess. There was a slower and quieter and almost kinder air to it than the US courts I've seen. The prosecution did have a bit of an edge, but he was polite as anything anyhow. Also the court was admitting a lot of hearsay (lawyer kept asking the witness questions like, 'and what do you think was his motive in writing this paragraph?' which would be strenuously objected to in the US), and lots of leading questions, which also would be objected to (both used them, which means it wasn't just on the cross).
Then we walked to a theater...stopping on the way at the BBC store, and oh my did I make out like a bandit. Whooboy. We ended up buying the CDs of the Lord of the Rings dramatization (to replace our tapes, which are dying and missing and old), and the CDs of the dramatization of His Dark Materials. Whooo! so incredibly cool, I cannot wait to listen to them, eee!
My parents are cool. A little weird, but cool. (They're always really really careful about money, and my mom especially can get uptight about it, but she's put aside money for this trip and now she's spending it on theater and CDs and clothes and everything with abandon. I'm not complaining.)
We saw 'Anything Goes' at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and it was--of course--fantastic. We were in the very very first row, so we saw the rips in the bodysuits and the sweat on their foreheads (got nearly hit by it a couple times) and my neck was craned up the whole time...really amazing show, though. So good. Especially Reno, she was incredible, and Sir Evelyn was hysterically funny (quintessential typical English gentleman, ha ha). Also the accents were impeccable, Moon's especially. Chicago gangster in one. Brilliant.
Had dinner at a really good italian place, went across the street to another theater and saw 'Old Masters' by Simon Grey, directed by Harold Pinter. Hmm. Very well done play, but I'm not sure I liked it. Most of the characters were gits and it was a bit slow to watch at the end of the day when I was tired. But theatrically, I'm glad I saw it, which I guess is what counts.
I might be going to the Globe again to be a groundling today...maybe. If the rain lets up, which it won't. I'll just bring a coat or something. Wheee!
Nearly to Oxford...twelve days till home.
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no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 05:35 pm (UTC)Interesting to see the difference in the U.S. vs. British courts, ain't it? Crazy stuff.
Twelve days! Everything's about to start happening... shows opening, people coming and going, school starting... Aiee!
no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 08:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 05:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 08:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 06:17 pm (UTC)Wait, there's a His Dark Materials dramatization?!? Why did I not know this????
On a nerdier note, I think the reason that they allow (or apparently allow) leading questions, hearsay, etc. in British courts but not US is because ours is a deliberate reaction against theirs, so we didn't like hearsay/leading questions and they just never got around to outlawing them themselves since they like their own system.
And I am NOT getting tired of teaching Anneka and Anna how to walk like men. I LIKE it. I'm just running out of things I remember your parents doing, so I'm repeating myself. Which is frustrating, because I just KNOW I'm forgetting something.
Rush home.
no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 08:30 pm (UTC)Yeah--also I got the impression that alot of the hearsay etc was setting up the character of the witness, which seemed more important here than in US courts. Interesting anyway.
What have you done? I can help but not read your mind. Anyhow Alex Tec doesn't = walking like men. :) It's probably going fine. I'm looking forward to examining the result. :D
no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 07:50 pm (UTC)I had a dream last night (or this afternoon, in your case) that involved you. I was at a theatre (go figure) with some friends, and then you walked in all dressed up and it was incredibly exciting to see you face to face at last, after all these years!
Less than a week to go...
no subject
Date: 2004-08-12 08:24 pm (UTC)