The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 138

Cos Angeles States Sunday, September 10, 1989 Part VII 23 LAST fciSUTE ISCKifcS From LAX. SAN DIEGO. SF0 to NYC $175 AMS7WM10NUM tM ATHENS7VKNNA IM WWfkWJUt 141 ZUfUCHSTOCWtOUl IN C0PENMMNMMMO IM TOKYO IM HMSMbMCH III tmttOK ki Fuf uc tiT urn teem tw Her Majesty and Drury Lane, yesteryear's graces glow in the architecture and ambience of plaster scrolls, red plush, escutcheons on royal boxes and woodwork of rich patina. The intervals between acts mean amiable interludes at etched-glass bars. In all, a theater experience in London is a thoroughly civilized outing, rooted in a deep English tradition and affection for the stage and its people.

No leading theater is far from West End hotels. In the Piccadilly Circus environs alone are seven major houses. Six others are only a short walk away. The Royal Shakespeare, in the "City" neighborhood, and the National Theater across the Thames, are usually just a few minutes away by bus, Tube or taxi. Most London theaters will accept phone reservations as long as 24 hours ahead, with tickets about $25 tops.

The client must then appear an hour before the performance to pick up the tickets. At Leicester Square is a special ticket booth at which one may buy reduced-price, same-day tickets for many of the shows from noon for matinees, 2 p.m. for evenings. Word of these bargains has spread, thus the queue is long. Booking in advance is recommended for RSC and NT plays, as most of their offerings are heavily subscribed.

A few same-day tickets are made available before 10 a.m. at both RSC and NT box offices. With scant doubt, the Royal Shakespeare and the National are the world's most respected theater companies. The RSC was founded in Stratford-on-Avon more than 100 years ago, and its showcase at -las- gwEiinpu: i G332? 1 cgjogj iff fTori Shakespeare's birthplace is still a mainstay of the town. Millions of people have thrilled to its productions, and noted actors such as Olivier, Gielgud, Finney and Burton refined their art on its stages at Stratford and London's Old Vic.

The RSCs London home is a fine new theater in The Barbican, a massive apartment and cultural center in the East End. Some of its international successes in recent years (in addition to a continuing repertory of Shakespeare) have been "Educating Rita," "Nicholas Nickleby" and "Les Miserables." The National Theater parallels the RSCs popularity with more emphasis on venerable works other than The Bard, plus modern classics and experimental plays. The NT operates three theaters at its South Bank complex: the large, open-space Olivier, the traditional-proscenium Lyttelton and the smaller, adaptable Cottesloe. Its stagings run from "Guys and Dolls" and Chekhov, Shaw and O'Casey to Coward, Ayckbourn and contemporary American dramatists such as Neil Simon and Sam Shepard. Some of the most popular shows on the London boards are U.S.

musicals such as "42nd Street," "Kiss Me Kate" and "South Pacific." Among the city's best theater bargains are its ubiquitous pub and fringe offerings. Typical of these is the Kings Head in the Islington area. The shabby Edwardian saloon is a favorite hangout for colorful folks and is host to one of London's oldest and most active fringe theaters. Frequently, you see star actors from the RSC and NT in lunchtime or evening efforts by new playwrights. Prices are reasonable for Fares roundtrip from Los Angeles Honolulu $299 $507 $559 $559 $569 $589 $659 $699 $909 Amsterdam London Glasgow Paris Frankfurt Tahiti Bangkok Sydney Retlrictiontapply.

Pleawcdforolher vnimnM dwtinatior. Her Majestys Theatre is noted both for architecture and drama. Cenndl tesl tickets, pub grub and drinks. For the most dedicated aficiona- tumes, manuscripts, posters, playbills, props and other items span- WESTWOOD THE VALLEY 818-905-5777 SANPIECQ 619-270-6401 dos, London now boasts a Theater ning the prolific centuries of the Museum in Covent Garden. It is a British stage.

remarkably rich harvest of theater memorabilia from Shakespeare to Sheehan is a free-lance writer Harold Pinter, displaying cos- living in Honolulu. 213-208-3551 LQNQ BEACH 714-527-7950 213-598-3338 Pink beaches, white roofs, and 144 great greens. It could only be Bermiada. London's Theatre Museum traces history of the performing arts. nut IMtUI Ml IT ifcSOQ ajlfilrlii mmmm BN Ml MM in HOMKQMIANtKOtlSMMnlK UtrI MM 5m mm5nma'''iim 10WO MOlUUft KlSMl rNS I yi MM SS' 3 JSimIS" HMALAYA.

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