Dresses by Coco Chanel and Medieval European stained glass windows seem like they’d clash, but not in the Victoria and Albert Museum.
An entire music room was transported and brought to the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Carefully selected displays show aspects of daily life in regions all around the world. They include clothing, furniture and art, which many museums, like the British Museum, fail to capture.
The fashion display is comparable to the collection of First Ladies’ gowns at the Smithsonian, but even better. A suit worn by Princess Diana stands across from ball gowns from the 19th century. In the center, there’s a collection featuring clothing from fashion students who predict the styles of the future.
The threatre displays are incomparable to any I’ve seen before. It’s like Madame Taussauds without the wax figures. Between Dame Edna’s “Breakfast Dress” and Mick Jagger’s unitard, the glamor and the detailing are impeccable.
My friend and I left from the Victoria and Albert to head off to Victoria, where the Victoria Palace Theatre is located. We stopped off at a pub called the “Stage Door” for dinner. Although the food was mediocre, the company was entertaining. A generous British gentleman helped us clear off a table, while our waiter from Uzbekistan (cue “Borat”) tried to place our accents.
We then headed next door to see Billy Elliott, one of the most acclaimed musicals in the West End. Unfortunately, I could barely understand the accents from Northern England. The actors were speaking to English, but to me, it sounded like gibberish. The unmemorable first act left me wondering why the show got rave reviews.
The Stage Door pub is located next to the Victoria Palace Theatre.
Then came the second act. The dancing got better, the typical musical-style optimism and dream-like sequences left me much more content. While the actor who played Billy was a fabulous dancer, his singing left a lot to be desired. The choreography stole the stage for most of the show.When asked, my friend and I rated the show about a B+.
After the show, we headed out to O’Neill’s, a popular gathering place for students on Thursday nights. The live music blared from speakers on the top floor to a point where every organ in my body was pulsating. The crowds made the top floor so unbearable, we had to move downstairs. That didn’t end our fun. While the nostalgia of Blink 182 left everyone head banging, the ability to converse wasn’t lost.
For a simple Thursday, this one was fulfilling in almost every way.
