When Sharon and I went to East London last weekend, we passed this building on the bus. I tried to take a couple of pictures out the bus window, but they didn't turn out very well, so I went back yesterday to get some clearer shots. It's a pub called The Tiger near Hackney Wick, and I'm not sure it's still in business -- but that mural is pretty impressive.
So yes, I did get out yesterday to take some pictures. I started at Homerton station and then walked westward, following the route our bus had taken the previous week, and photographed several places along that path. I'll share more of those photos in future posts. I guess I walked a couple of miles before finally boarding the overground train at Canonsbury to get back into Westminster.
Because this was another goal for my weekend -- to see the scene in "Evita" in which Eva Perón, played by Rachel Zegler, sings from the balcony of the Palladium theater. Every performance, nights and matinees, she emerges from the theater and sings "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" completely free to the assembled crowd. It's part of the show -- inside, the audience sees her via live digital streaming, and we in the crowd become, in effect, the Argentinians cheering for their beloved leader. It's a pretty cool idea though it was allegedly rather controversial at first, basically giving away the show's big moment to the public rather than the paying audience. But then, that's very much in the Perón spirit, isn't it? We're the descamisados, the poor shirtless ones!
The word is to arrive early to get a good position, so I got there about an hour ahead of time...
...and I still managed to put a lamppost between me and the balcony, but I got some pretty good shots of Eva doing her thing. She is amplified, and the crowd also hears the orchestration from the theater, so we get the full effect of the song.
I stood next to a couple who were back for the second time, and I could see how this would be tempting to do repeatedly. I bet some drama-addicted theatre queen out there is going every day.
After that I came home and sat with Dave in the garden. We talked about potential travel plans for the fall. He's a bit worn out with traveling, having been to the states four times so far this calendar year, but I am resolute in insisting that we do something for October and Thanksgiving breaks. We don't have to go far, but I don't want to just sit around the house feeling the absence of Olga.
I also read a chunk of my ABBA book and got the houseplants all watered and cared for, including giving our elephant ear a bath to get rid of its mites. (One plant or another always has a bug problem.)
This was the carrot I pulled out of the refrigerator for lunch. Now, I don't mean to be completely juvenile, but COME ON!
The mural is glorious. I hope it remains. I do love what they‘re doing with Evita, although I imagine it would be frustrating for some of the theater patrons to not see that for themselves. Ah well. You sure do have a beautiful carrot.
ReplyDeleteWell, they see it, but digitally on a screen. I know -- not the same! Hopefully they're aware of that before they show up at the theater.
DeleteI do hope so. However, it is a brilliant idea.
DeleteEvita singing to an actual crowd - what a cool idea! I bet Evita was fond of carrots.
ReplyDeleteI believe she had some experience with them.
DeleteThat is quite a crowd outside the theatre. I would be feeling claustrophobic there!
ReplyDeleteNice carrot by the way.
It was a big crowd -- bigger than I expected!
DeleteI like the idea of singing to the public at the theatre, hadn't heard about Eva's balcony scenario so was interesting. Your carrot raised a small internal titter, thanks. Betty
ReplyDeleteGlad it gave you a laugh -- it certainly did me.
DeleteI can see where you are coming from about wanting to make travel plans with Dave.
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect carrot !
Wendy (Wales)
Yes, sometimes we just need something to look forward to, you know?
DeleteSome years ago I too pulled a carrot. A wonky one. With balls. Hilarious. And I am not given to school boy humour.
ReplyDeleteWas tempted to preserve it for eternity. In the end I decided it needed to fulfill its destiny [to be eaten] so I chopped it. Delicious.
U
Ha! That's why God made digital cameras, so we can make lasting records of our wonky veg.
DeleteThat mural took me a couple seconds to see the image. I imagine the effect would be magnified if I were standing on the sidewalk looking at it.
ReplyDeleteI consider myself fairly well versed in pop culture but I have never seen Evita. I have seen a clip of Madonna singing from a balcony, probably from a commercial advertising it back in the day, but I have never seen the play. I'm probably going to be seeing if I can stream the Madonna version later today.
It's not the clearest rendering of a tiger, partly because there appear to be clouds (or something) around it and partly because the paint is peeling. I hope you saw "Evita" and liked it! Madonna got criticized for that movie but I thought she did a great job.
DeleteI love that entire pub building, the architecture and the art.
ReplyDeleteAnd because I AM juvenile, are batteries included with the carrot???
Alas, no!
DeleteA favorite song! I've been known to belt that out in the kitchen while chopping -- carrots!
ReplyDeleteHa! It is catchy, that's for sure. I was singing it for hours afterwards.
DeleteThat is so cool about Eva singing to the crowd. And that carrot...!
ReplyDeleteIt's a great idea to put a new twist on the musical.
DeleteI often go through your pictures and enlarge them before I read your actual text and I had NO idea what was going on with Evita there. Was it some Disney thing? You have to admit she does look a lot like a Disney princess. That's a pretty cool idea, having her sing to an actual crowd.
ReplyDeleteI have seen many different odd and amusing shapes of carrots that I've grown myself but that wins the world competition for perfection.
She DOES look a bit Disney-ish. Sort of like a character from "Frozen" (or what I imagine a character from "Frozen" to look like, since I've never seen it). The carrot really is ridiculously accurate.
DeleteI think that's pretty cool that the theater does that. I wonder how early those people were who are closest.
ReplyDeleteNature can be rather phallic can she not? Or is that just humans.
I wonder too! I figured out belatedly that it's best to stand to the right of the stage because she sings more in that direction, since the camera is there. (And there's no lamppost!)
DeleteIt's a wonderful idea to sing to the crowds outside. I wonder how many people subsequently decide to pay to see the entire performance.
ReplyDeleteI bet a lot of people do. I might buy a ticket myself.
DeleteI had a terrible time trying to see that tiger ... then, I did!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen Evita but have definitely heard the song!
I thought you may have discovered the Orange Bastard's dick! LOL Except, I hear his is shaped like a 🍄!
His is definitely not that big.
DeleteHaving Eva sing outside to the street crowd is brilliant. The street is full of fans. Maybe this type of performance will catch on.
ReplyDeleteThe carrot made me smile. Surly a prizewinner.
It raises the profile of the show and gives it lots of public (and online) attention, that's for sure.
DeleteThe tiger mural is wonderful, what a shame if the pub has closed down. A balcony scene for the crowds is a wonderful idea for the show. I think I would want to see it on the outside one day, and then go and watch the actual show the next day to get the full effect.
ReplyDeleteThe carrot is just naughty ... as so many homegrown carrots are!!
Yeah, I think the same thing. I may try to get a ticket! (But I hear they're pricey.)
DeleteEvery word here I love. I'm so glad you told me about the Evita bit. Who knows -- maybe it will still be playing, if not with Zegler, when I someday return. I wonder if they'll do that in the winter, too. Bundles of fleece in the crowd of "Argentinians." Love the naughty carrot and the mural, too. And yes, a weekend somewhere. Anywhere. A ride as short as Windsor or nearby. Home will be hard.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I wonder what they'll do as the weather changes? That's a good question!
DeleteFor October, Glasgow? Dublin? There are great options close at hand. Yup the carrot has the right shape. London does theater like noplace else. Stephen, a friend of our who lives in Muswell Hill, works lighting in the theaters.
ReplyDeleteWe mentioned Glasgow as a possibility! I think Dave wants to avoid airports, understandably.
DeleteLOL, that carrot is quite the find. You got some great photos of 'Evita'. I'm so glad you saw it. I want to go and we are going to try to squeeze it in. Our taxi passed by the theatre late last night and we saw a crowd out there but it way past the time of her performance so I think they were just the stage-door crowd.
ReplyDeleteI remember that tiger. I'm glad you went back and got a good photo. The pub does look like it might be closed.
Yes, I hope you get a chance to go! Sorry I didn't call you but it was kind of last-minute. :) It's well worth it and such a different approach to the show.
DeleteYears ago we had a visitor, a teenager, from very rural East Africa staying with us, their first time on an airplane, in a city and so on. One of the wishes we fulfilled was going to see a movie and it happened to be Evita with Madonna playing the part. Our visitor was deeply concerned, why was Madonna pretending to be Argentinian and why was she singing when she had something important to say?
ReplyDeleteMy carrots are a bit shorter but basically that shape.
Musicals must be truly bewildering to people from other cultures. This is where having an unknown actress (without Madonna associations) might have come in handy!
DeleteOh and for October: Vienna and/or Salzburg?
ReplyDeleteI went to Vienna just a few years ago for professional development, and we've both been to Salzburg. I think we'd like somewhere new. Dave's never been to Italy, and I've only seen part of it, so that's a possibility. (But we'd have to fly, which is a strike against that idea in Dave's mind.)
DeleteThat carrot made me cackle - it entertained my inner 12 year old boy. I love that Evita concept! And I can sympathize with Dave about the travel - but if it's not too hard to get there & then he can just hang around (since you don't usually require him to accompany on all of your walks), I think that would be fine.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard not to laugh -- cackle, even -- when faced with such a ridiculous vegetable! You should have heard me laugh when I pulled it out of the bag.
DeleteSend it to me for next years novelty veg
ReplyDeleteI will try to remember! :)
DeleteYes on the carrot! *wink You are fortunate to live in a place with easy access to Europe. Spain? Portugal? I'd never heard of that balcony scene--what genius!
ReplyDeleteWe've considered Spain. That's definitely an option. Portugal too, I suppose, though I've thought about that less.
DeleteThat's a novel scene for Evita. I can see why people would attend.
ReplyDeleteRight?! It's definitely something different!
DeleteWhat a clever idea for Evita! (though I might be disappointed if I were inside)
ReplyDeleteI'm sitting here in a dress with rainbow dinosaurs on it so I can be pretty juvenile at times. I think the carrot is hilarious. Did you show Dave your carrot?? 😉
Ha! I showed it to him IMMEDIATELY! :)
DeleteCodex: Thank goodness for the inner child. Working on a transporter so we can all just get to the destination without all the hassle.
ReplyDeleteOh, if only we had a transporter!
DeleteCodex: once again the finger hit publish before the brain was done. Left a reply two posts ago.
ReplyDeleteI will go back and check!
DeleteThat's a very manly carrot.
ReplyDeleteIndeed it is!
DeleteWhat John said!! :) That's a guaranteed winner at novelty veg!!
ReplyDeleteHa! I never would have thought of that but perhaps it could be a contender.
DeleteI think to have Eva sing from the balcony is a great idea, and I doubt it would to deter anyone who really wanted to see the full performance inside.
ReplyDeleteThe carrot isn't what could be described as a mushroom head.
No, you'd need a mushroom for that. LOL
DeleteLaughing at your carrot...
ReplyDelete:D
Delete