Two Incredibly Blessed 60 Year Olds with Almost 39 Years Of Marriage Behind Them

Jim and Teresa posing in the "Typical Tourist, Hold the Camera Yourself Posture" in front of the home where Erin lived twelve years ago on St. James Place, London.

WAR HORSE IS ASTONISHING!

New London Theatre on Drury Lane

The National Theatre's production of WAR HORSE, based upon a novel and is currently being performed at the New London Theatre on Drury Lane is visually mesmerizing! Teresa and I fell in love with the horses, the story, the aesthetics of the puppetry construction and the muscular beauty of the puppeteers. We were totally taken with the production except for the voice work of the principal male actor.

The play tells the story of how a horse who is purchased by a family at an auction. The young son and mother become emotionally connected to the horse, only to have the father sell the horse to the military during war to provide for his family.

I definitely suggest that you google this production and view the pictures online. The absolute beauty of the life size horse puppets are absolutely gorgeous. Three to four actors manipulate the horse puppets in full view of the audience, but because they are so specific and so beautiful to watch, they easily begin to blend into the story, without drawing unnecessary attention.

The story is naturally poignant but all of the actors portray the emotions honestly and genuinely, without in any way becoming "little house on the prairie" like.

The directorial vision of the production is masterful! At times, particularly when the actors mounted the horses, I felt as if I was viewing a movie. The war scenes look huge, although no more than 20 actors are onstage at any given time. The epic proportions of the story and the struggles to survive are emotionally profound. And all along, you are seeing through the horses while the puppeteers are creating their detailed movements.

Teresa and I both struggled enormously with the principal male actor's voice. He is a graduate of the Central School of Speech and Drama, and for my purposes, should not have been so controlled with the back of his throat. It seems that they made a deliberte effort at placing his voice there, but many words were missed for this American audience member. And the actor playing the role originated the role while he was a student at the Central school.

The production first opened in late 2007, won Olivier Awards in 2008, but as of yet, has not reached New York. I find that interesting because the production is so "theatre-esque".

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL

Victoria Palace Garden Theatre

Although I was in New York in June and could have seen BILLY ELIOT THE MUSICAL there I deliberately chose to see the production in its place of origin, London. We saw BILLY ELLIOT on my 60th birthday, which again was very deliberate. We had a wonderful time sitting opposite a couple with two daughters from Washington D.C.

Teresa and I are huge fans of the movie version of BILLY ELLIOT. From the program, Elton John also discussed how the film version impacted him so deeply. However, one shouldn't compare the two, or your disappointment might be supremely keen. That may have been what happened to us.

The young actor portraying Billy Elliot danced exquisitely, particularly in his "mad" dance after his father finds him in the ballet studio. Because his solo ends Act I, Act II became somewhat of a struggle to remain interesting.

The musical is a great deal more "camp" than emotional realism. I thought the production and the directing played much too much into the sympathies of an admired audience.

The choreography did not seem original, and they appeared to utilize beginning ballet and tap, although the performers were genuinely competent in what they were given. Half the cast were between the ages of 12 to 14, and it is completely understandable that they continue to train. You could certainly tell that they were having fun with the production, and even more fun with the over extended curtain call. I won't say what they all do at the final curtain call.

What I liked the most about this production was the fact that Billy's dilemma of wanting to dance and the coal mining strike paralleled so beautifully together on stage. The director had a wonderful "mix" of the young dancers moving in and around the coal miners who were intermingled opposite the British policemen. The visual contrast was truly a stamp of what is great about live theatre.

Overall, I felt patronized by the performers and the director. I wanted more of the emotional explosiveness I experienced in the movie. We simply did not experience those deeper feelings during the viewing of London's stage version of BILLY ELLIOT although I am really glad to have seen the production.

London and My Heart Strings

Incredible architecture everywhere we looked!

Tower of London and Tower Bridge

Lion in Traflagar Square

Celebrating Jim's 60th Birthday prior to seeing BILLY ELLIOT

Jim in London Eye Observation Wheel

Teresa in London Eye

Covent Garden Square

Gates to Buckingham Palace

Such richness of architecture and design!

London Bridge

Westminister Abbey

The Houses of Parliament

Regent's Park

I have to admit it -- Emotionally I was touched a number of times in London seeing the sites including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Fleet Street, 10 Downing Street and so many, many more. It was indeed awe inspiring to be in this beautiful city!

One of the unique "treats" of London is Westminster Abbey. We spent an entire afternoon in the abbey sorting through all of the incredible monuments to the Lord and others. The afternoon was capped by hearing the Abbey choir and organist rehearsing together: WOW! Again, heart strings plucked numerous times! I am so grateful to have the privilege to be in a place I have studied for so many years. I am exquisitely blessed indeed.

For the Love Of Ireland

Down Patrick Head

Jim and Teresa on the Grassy Cliff overlooking the Stags of Broadhaven

Stags of Broadhaven

Each morning we awoke to this incredible view of Down Patrick Head.

Seashore adjacent to Down Patrick Head

View of the Catherdral in Ballina, overlooking the River Moy during the Salmon Festival.

One example of the many stained glass windows we were privileged to view and interpret while we prayed inside the churches.

County Mayo countryside we viewed as we prayed in over 20 churches in 10 days.

The Adoration Service was held in Eyre Square by one of the Irish priests, accompanied by numerous musicians.

Galway's Festival of Faith in and around the pedestrian only streets of Galway

The view outside our bed and breakfast in Ballycastle, County Mayo, Ireland, overlooked the Atlantic Ocean and Down Patrick Head. The beauty clearly rang out that God Is Alive and Loving On His People.

Memorable experiences in Ireland included lunch with Father Mark Diamond, a retired parish priest and his loving sister Joan. They were so inspiring and their love for the Lord is so alive and vital in their lives, despite declining health. Father Mark spoke Gaelic and Greek in his conversations and his prayers. Both of them are in their 80's but are funny, insightful and charming.

Other inspiring times in and around County Mayo, included three separate visits with Father Muredoch Tuffy, a young, intelligent and gentle Director of the Newman Center in Ballina. His great love of the Irish people, particularly the unfortunate, was so welcome and engaging. His energy and enthusiasm for his teaching was personally inspiring for me. Father Tuffy also is a parish priest besides his duties at the Catherdral. He truly loves what he does.

We were masterfully entertained in Father Francis Judge's parish home during our stay in County Mayo. Father Judge cooked an excellent dinner for all 12 in attendance. Fathers Tuffy and Judge had visited us in Waco in May, and it was a delight to re-connect with them as brothers in Christ.

Another memorable time in Ireland was having the privilege to pray for parishioners in Galway at two different churches. Despite our being strangers, many people opened their hearts to us as we prayed in a conversational manner for their many economic, spiritual, emotional and physical needs. We experienced a sweetness of God's favor while we were praying.

We also were privileged to meet numerous people in County Mayo who pray fervently for the churches in Ireland. Compassionate hearts included ministers from the Church of Ireland, parish priests, hermits (the Catholic Church's term for an intercessor), business owners, and retired professionals who have chosen to move to County Mayo and commit themselves to their individuals churches and pray for God's heart where they are "planted". It was a privilege to walk alongside them for a brief time.

Seeing Down Patrick Head and the Stags of Broadhaven was also inspiring. As Down Patrick Head drew me back again each morning from where we were staying, I was reminded how God chooses to do that to each of us. "His eyes are intently centered on us." WOW!

Because we have demonstrated to the many people in Ireland that we care for them and are not attempting to "convert" them to our brand of Christianity, the transparency and openness to us gets stronger and stronger each time we speak to each other. I am reminded of the simple truth that we are all on a journey and our paths will cross but they will also diverge, but respecting and showing compassion for all is so very imperative as we live our lives together.

By Auto, Plane, Taxi, Train, Ferry and Bus

A serene Dublin, Ireland park across the street from our hotel seen after our train and ferry adventure. We relished in the serenity after having an ATM machine eat my bank card, which severely shook my emotions.

A historic bridge in Wales seen outside of the train.

Remains of a castle outside of Holyhead in Wales viewed on the train.

A view outside our train window from London to Holyhead

Over ten original Dutch Master paintings are displayed in the Amsterdam airport, and patrons are allowed to photograph, although they were encased in protective screens.

The Dutch language utilized in advertising in the Amsterdam airport named Schiphol.

The Irish Ferry ULYSSES, an 11 story "cruise ship" took us from Holyhead, England to Dublin, Ireland back and forth on July 10 and July 24

I feel so incredibly blessed in our travels and experiences as we begin the third phase of the summer sabbatical. We journeyed from Waco to DFW Airport and flew to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on July 9. From Amsterdam, we flew to London Heathrow and caught a taxi to our hotel. The taxi cost us $88 American dollars....argh! Everything is so expensive in London! We had dinner at Garfunkel's Restaurant, as a tribute to our blog title BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER by Simon and Garfunkel. The next day, July 11, we caught the train from London's Euston Station and traveled through Wales and the lake country to Holyhead, England. The train moved very fast. A home in the country took on a new perspective traveling through the English countryside. From Holyhead, we caught a luxury ferry (really a cruise ship) which had 11 levels, a casino, movie theatre, gift shop and lounging areas for the three hour ferry ride across the English Channel to Dublin, Ireland. We spent the night in Dublin, Ireland and then on July 12 we met our Antioch Community Church Irish Team members at the airport. From there, we drove from Dublin, on the eastern coast of Ireland, to Galway City, Ireland, on the western coast of Ireland. We stayed in Galway for three days participating in the Festival of Faith with our Catholic brothers and sisters. We were also blessed to pray for Irish parishioners in two churches. After three days on the western coast of Ireland, we drove to Ballycastle, where we stayed for ten days. We were housed in a beautiful bed and breakfast owned by dear friends. Their home overlooks Down Patrick Head, an absolutely stunning view of the sea side and the famous place where Saint Patrick was known to have walked. We dined, conversed, prayed and laughed with many wonderful Irish friends who are walking on a journey with the Lord. These friends included members of the Church of Ireland, the Catholic church including four priests, families and prayer warriors who love Ireland and who believe that God wants to do a significant work of spiritual revival throughout Ireland, but in particular County Mayo. After ten days we made a midnight journey back to Dublin, where Teresa and I caught the ferry and train for five additional days in London. One very clear and resounding message in all of these travels is that we have been "blessed at knowing how insignificant we are as human beings, but how wonderfully kind and loving our heavenly Father is each moment we breathe. HIS Significance Counters Our Insignifance! " I believe that traveling abroad certainly captures a larger world view of spiritual, emotional, physical and mental life but it also reminds us all that we are a mere pebble on this very large and grand planet called earth. Despite that perspective, I do believe that God feels significantly about each person individually. I believe that this idea re-captures the importance of seeing each of my students as individuals, uniquely made whether intelligent, talented, or not. They deserve my affirmation to learn of their own personal significance while in my class. I am challenged to do a much better job during 2009-2010 academic year.

Lynn Nottage's RUINED: 2009 Pultizer Prize Winner

Lynn Nottage (second from left) participated in a talk back after the Sunday afternoon matinee performance with cast and musicians from RUINED.

One of the women of the Congo whose story the play is based

RUINED is the story of soldier's abuse of women of the Congo -- A gut wrenching production!

What an amazing performance at Manhattan Theatre Club!

I had to hold back my "sobbing"-- certainly this is theatre with a pulpit!

I was totally taken with the production of RUINED. The text is amazing and immensely powerful. It is a definite "must read" whether you ever have the cast or not.

The actors were cast perfectly in their roles. Each cast member commanded the dialect in a very easy to understand manner.

The costume, lighting and scenery designs were also magnificient and the directing was superb. I will definitely remember many of the individual performances from this production, although no one was a "big name."

The emotions were so powerful and wrenching. President O'Bama needs to come back to New York and see this production very soon.

I could not have asked for a more superb ending to seven New York shows in five days.

I'll be talking about this production for many weeks to come.