What a difference a month makes. In September, we were celebrating the 70th birthday of Elizabeth Taylor, and in October it was the 70th birthday of Marjorie Merriweather Post, better known as Marshal Muffins. We were in a state of happiness, as we were surrounded by our loved ones, feasting on incredible food and enjoying our favourite films. But then we got sad as we thought of our dear departed friend, Audrey, who would have turned 80 this year. So we decided to keep the good times rolling and head to London for some special festivities.
We decided to start with a bang, so to speak, and spend our birthday in style. On Sunday, 20th November, we attended a premiere screening of The Favourite at the Royal Albert Hall, and it was truly special. The film was directed by Yashica Harrison and starred Emily Blunt, Olivia Colman and Neel Sethi. The storyline revolves around an American heiress who becomes embroiled in a rivalry with an Englishwoman over a coveted diamond. As the film’s title suggests, it was a combination of Greco-Roman mythology and contemporary city life that made it so fascinating to watch. We were completely absorbed in the film, and I think that’s how we should approach all of life’s big events: as complete and utter focus, as much as possible. We don’t want to get distracted by everyday things, because they won’t matter when the big moments come along. So let’s keep our eyes open for these big moments, and make the most of them when they occur.
One Pre-Premiere to Rule Them All
While we were extremely lucky to catch one of the most famous cinemas in London open on such a special day, the Royal Albert Hall, the screening wasn’t exactly a private one. The film’s producers clearly wanted to ensure that as many people as possible got a look at it, so they were kind enough to organise a small premiere party before the big screening began. The small premiere party was exactly what we needed. It gave us a chance to meet the film’s cast and crew, as well as get a good look at the venue and the Royal Albert Hall itself.
The venue is a spectacular piece of modern architecture, and I was particularly pleased to see that they had retained as much of its Art Deco look as possible. This is a style that I truly admire. When I told a co-worker that I was going to England for the weekend, she scoffed, saying that it was very unlikely that I’d be able to see any art deco buildings there. She had never been to England, and had no idea how beautiful the country was. So while I was there, I had to make sure that I saw as much original art deco design as possible. And I did, starting with the Royal Albert Hall and its entrance, and making my way to the pubs in Soho. It was a real eye-opener – a completely different side of England.
The cast and crew were incredibly warm and welcoming, and it was plain to see that they were all having a good time. We took a lot of photos with them, and I even got to meet the director, Yashica Harrison, whose previous work I had actually seen before. I was very impressed, especially with what she had achieved in such a short space of time. And she was just as happy to meet us, as we were to meet her. Although this was a small premiere party, we felt like we had a good representation of the film’s cast and crew – which is more than can be said for the majority of the films we see in cinemas these days. It’s great when a film can pull in high-profile names, but it’s even better when it pulls in people you know and love, who just happen to be in a film. This was clearly a case of the latter.
The Food Is Incredible!
We were so absorbed in the film that we didn’t really have time to think about getting our hands on some food. So when the time came for intermission, we were completely unprepared. I hadn’t had a bite all day, and was starving. We saw a number of people eating before the film started, and were reminded how long it had been since our last meal. We decided to get some popcorn and a drink, and while waiting for the film to start again, we feasted on the small treats. They were cheap and cheerful, and perfectly suited to our needs, and we weren’t even feeling too bad about eating them, because the film was such a good one. It was like popcorn and drinking were the perfect partner to what we were watching – it was like double feature cinema, only it was the kind that you want to keep your eyes open for.
An Evening With The Cast and Crew
In the run-up to the film’s US release, Paramount Pictures had organised a special event, which was open to the public. It was a good chance for us to get a look at the film’s stars, and for the crew to engage with fans. We went along to the premiere in London, and saw Olivia Colman, Emily Blunt and Neel Sethi talking to students from Durham University. They were answering questions about the film and its themes, as well as engaging in some light hijinks. It was the perfect way to close out the evening, as we got a chance to see these famous faces in a different light – as they were being themselves and not how we’re used to seeing them on screen.
The next day, we had a look around Soho, where we saw many celebrities milling about, and it was good to catch a break from our film-related engagements. I had seen a lot of Olivia Colman in films – back in 2014, I saw her in the independent film, The Witch, and as you can imagine, she was excellent in that – but I’d never actually spoken to her before. I had seen Emily Blunt in action movies, albeit usually in a fairly small role, and Neel Sethi was someone I’d seen in smaller films, but still a recognizable face. With these three actors in one place was a real treat for me, and for the others, too, I’m sure. The fact that they were being so approachable and down-to-earth only added to the magic of the evening.
An Afternoon With King George
On Tuesday, we had a couple of hours to spare before our afternoon shift, so we decided to kill some time by visiting the British Museum. We knew that it was somewhere in that general area, and we were so focused on finding it that we didn’t even realize that the day was swiftly coming to an end. We weren’t even a little bit tired, so we decided to walk to the station, and get a ride back. On the way there, we spotted a horse drawn carriage, and decided to get in for a little ride – at least until we found the Museums. The drive was extremely scenic, and the air was fresh and sweet. It was like a treat to the senses, and we were laughing and chatting as we went. It was a pleasure to be able to take a break from the city for a while, and I think that’s what we needed. A change of scene, a change of pace, and a change of activity. It was good for the soul.
An Evening With Elizabeth Taylor
On Wednesday evening, we went to see Elizabeth Taylor in concert. It was a charity event, raising money for various charities, and we decided to go along for the glam and the glory. We didn’t really know what to expect, as in all honesty, we had never heard of Elizabeth Taylor before. But the truth is, she is a legend, and not just because she’s been around for so long. It’s the manner in which she lived her life that made her a legend, and it’s the same with a lot of our favourite celebrities – it’s not just the films or the songs, it’s the fact that they lived their lives in a way that inspires others.