SusieQQ

I just returned from a 3-week London stay. I was enrolled in UC Berkeley's Theatre program. Those who are serious theatre-goers will love this program. The fee of $3,950 included course fee, theatre tickets and single room with shared bath in a dormitory. I opted to stay in a flat instead and so received a $800 deduction. I rented a flat thru VRBO for 1,858 GBP. Each day we had a class which included guests from the plays we saw. The plays we attended were: Death of a Salesman, The Home Place,The House of Bernarda Alba, The Tempest (at the Globe), Henry IV part I, Hedda Gabler, Theatre of Blood, President of an Empty Room, What the Butler Saw, The U.N. Inspector, Mary Stuart and Billy Elliot.
This is a fantastic program.
www.unex.berkeley.edu/travel

janis

what a fabulous way to spend 3 weeks. did the $3900 include your airfare?

I have seen a lot of "theatre course" packages that were a lot more expensive -- like 10 days for $3000+ or 7 days for $2500. But they were more like theatre packages w/ tix but not much actual "course"

OK - where are all your reviews

You did note on an earlier thread that Mary Stuart was terrific.

Bree

Yes, I'd love to hear your reviews, too. On a 5-day visit to London in June (oh, to have 3 whole weeks to travel -- maybe when I retire!), I saw The Home Place and Theatre of Blood, and would be especially interested to hear what you thought of them.

SusieQQ

janis, airfare was not included.

OK, here goes...

Death of a Salesman with Brian Dennehy (he was our guest speaker). Very good production. Brian has been doing this role for a long time and he has it down perfectly.

The Home Place with Tom Courtenay. He was our guest speaker. New Brian Friel play not up to his usual standard. Tom was dull.

The House of Bernard Alba. Beautiful set and interesting character development in this all woman play.

The Tempest. At the Globe which is an experience in itself. Unusual and mystifying event.

Henry IV part I. Outstanding set and acting except for Gambon who I understand is very unhappy with his part.

Hedda Gabler. Strong acting by Eve Best as Hedda.

President of an Empty Room. What will happen to Cuba when Castro dies? This play in a Cuban cigar factory tried to predict, but acting was generally not that convincing.

What the Butler Saw. Classic British farce. I don't appreciate this kind of dated humor.

The U.N. Inspector. Good fun, updated version of The Government Inspector.

Mary Stuart. Do what ever you can to see this!

Billy Elliot. Much hype about this being the best British Musical of all times. IMHO too much emphasize on the miner's strike rather than the emotions involving Billy and his family,etc. Three complete children's casts so you don't know which Billy you will see. Much better musicals out there. They are thinking of bringing it to Broadway.

SusieQQ

I forgot Theatre of Blood. Lots of fun. Interesting techniques used for killing off the critics. This was orginally a bad Vincent Price movie. Diana Riggs was in the movie and her daughter plays that role in this production. Many young people in the audience.

starspinners

What a wonderful course that not only gets you to the theaters, but allows you to meet some of the actors.
The variety of plays and musicals is one of the many reasons I love going to London.
I already have tickets to Billy Elliot, in October, and was interested in reading your assessment.
I would love to see Mary Stuart, the subject matter is of great interest to me, but unfortunately the play is scheduled to close before I arrive in London this year.

midatlmom

Thanks so much for your reviews of the plays/musical you saw. I have to disagree with you about Billy Elliot though. While the opening number might have been a little grim and here or there I might have trimmed a bit of the miner material, I thought it was a wonderful piece of theater. It was funny, moving and although you don't leave the theater humming the songs, they definitely work in context. I generally see about 5 musicals a year on and off Broadway and this was a really good one (much much better than the Andrew Lloyd Webber shows that have been a mainstay of British musical theater for years).

Just one person's opinion, but I really think you'll enjoy the show Starspinners.