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Well, it’s been just over a fortnight since my last post and I’m just beginning to realize what it means to be a true Londoner. So what’s new, you say? Well they opened a new Tesco down the street from us (that’d be Marylebone High St). For those of you that don’t know, Tesco is like a mini Walmart/Target/K-Mart that specializes in groceries at bargain-basement prices. In other words Romy & Michelle would look at the sandwich I bought today and say, “you paid a whole pound for that?” Anyway, you get the gist. It will become the only place open after 5PM on a Sunday—so that’s a good thing. Now onto more important matters.

I saw the loveliest play last week! For all of you French playwright buffs—those that put the ‘u’ in Tartuffe (mom: you can run, but you can’t hide), I saw Marivaux’s La Fausse Suivante for my London theater class. The plays are always on Tuesday nights and this was the first one I was assigned to see. My theatrical critique for The False Servant (my theatrical critiques are always due on the Wednesday following the Tuesday night showing—rough!) was hammed up and flamboyant just as my theater teacher encouraged us to make them. I have selected some passages to grace you with:

The dialogue is an excellent translation of La Fausse Suivante by Mr. Martin Crimp and the small contemporary touches make an already lucid interpretation even more accessible. The dialogue is subtle yet saucy, just like the Brits like it (as they proved so tonight with constant roars of applause).

I also had a word or two concerning the female lead who plays a man for the vast majority of the play:

She looked like a woman, spoke like a woman and moved and gesticulated in way that completely countered the logic of the play; her constant couch shenanigans with the countess screamed of awkwardness. I’ve seen more convincing drag queens on the New York City subway, so I know that the effect is possible.

Judging by the response, I may begin sharing more of my theater critiques as I write them; I’ve already submitted my formal review to the London Times, Arts & Leisure—I might be going to Broad . . . Way! My next play, which is tomorrow night, will be Much Ado About Nothing. It will be acted only by women and I will watch it outside at the Globe Theater (one of their last performances) in the standing-only groundling section. In preparation for this historical role (being a groundling), I have not bathed in four-score and have vandalized several of my permanent teeth. You would all be so proud!

My design classes are all going well and I can’t wait to go to Berlin (this weekend 9/23—9/25) with all of the designers for Oktoberfest. It has been brought to my attention that I will be in Germany during Yom Kippur, which is pretty much the worst thing that I’ve ever done as a Jew. HOWEVER, I am going to do everything I can to make up for this shanda(sp?)! I’m definitely fasting on Saturday and I will try to procure some “pocket prayers” before I takeoff from Stanstead (for reference, Heathrow is to Stanstead as O’hare is to Midway). This way I can impress all of the skinheads I meet with my Jewish aptitude!

And speaking of Jewish aptitude, I was able to find a synagogue for Rosh Hashanah several blocks from our humble abode. It’s called the West London Synagogue and it’s just lovely. I spent half of my time in the kid’s service (ummm . . . I’m . . . so . . . embarrassed?) and the other half in the main service. Everything went well, security was tight and I even got a chance to see a Harry Potter yarmulke.

In my architecture class I visited The British Museum and I will visit The Tower of London tomorrow where, rumor has it, the crown jewels are stored. Let’s just say I might have pictures of my crown jewels on the web site next week! Anyway, I have to run now. Thank you everyone for posting so generously. Keep up the good work; that?s what I pay you for! Ta-ta!

Love,

Samma Lamma