ART AND THEATER IN LONDON

As it's cold in London now, indoor activities seem to make the most sense. On Nov. 14th we headed to the Tate Britain for the Millais Exhibition. And what a superb exhibition it was. Anyone with a love for 19th century British art and particularly the pre-Raphaelites should not miss this opportunity. The collection spans the full career of John Everett Millais including paintings, sketches, props, even his easel, all laid out in an informative manner. It was a visual sight to behold. This exhibit will be there until Jan. 13,2008 . We followed our viewing with a tasty lunch at the Tate's cafe then on to Somerset House for a look at the Gilbert Collection.

The Gilbert Collection is one of the great collections gifted to the country. It is housed in 17 galleries in Somerset House on the Strand. The Gilbert Collection was formed over four decades by the late Sir Arthur Gilbert who first started to collect English silver, attracted by its historical and decorative qualities. His passion for great craftsmanship then led him to collect Italian mosaics, gold boxes, portrait miniatures and Roman enamel mosaics, for which he coined the term micromosaic to evoke the painstaking skill of this demanding technique. After viewing this lovely collection we headed to the Aldwych Theater very near by.

The Aldwych is currently featuring the musical Dirty Dancing. True to the movie of the same name there are all the elements that made it a success. Great music, dancing and a hunk of a leading man. This is a show that will be continuing to be performed for some time, as I am informed they are currently booking into 2009. The play makes use of some interesting sets as well. They merge traditional props with video to create an effective visual experience. And the final number "Time of My Life" will truly stay with you for some time.

After the Theater we headed to Covent Garden for a little bit of Paris at Chez Gerard's for a steak and pomme frites dinner. Want to learn more about London. See our London pages at The Savvy Traveler.