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Travel and Religion
I married a theater major

I married a theater major

Last updated on: May 28, 2025 at 3:24 am by Dan Peterson

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I married a theater major 2025-05-28T03:24:36-06:00 Dan Peterson

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The so-called “Eros” (= Cupid) statue at Piccadilly Circus is apparently — so I learned only on this trip — not really of “Eros” at all. It was intended to represent “Christian charity,” and its formal title is “the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain.” (Wikimedia Commons public domain image). Anthony Ashley-Cooper (1801-1885), the seventh Earl of Shaftesbury, was a Tory politician, philanthropist, ardent social reformer, and devout Christian. It’s sad to see the true identity of the statue largely erased. (Eros, indeed! Our age’s true god?))

It was odd to wake up this morning and to recognize nobody at breakfast. “Empty chairs and empty tables.” Our group were already dispersed by about 7 AM, but my wife and I chose to sleep in. However, we ourselves moved from the group hotel, which is located almost directly adjacent to the Gloucester Road Station of the Underground, to a hotel over near Marble Arch. We can stay in this one on points, which means that, in a sense, it’s essentially free for us.

We had virtually perfect weather during our tour, but it’s been drizzly today and, anyhow, our feet are tired. We’ve been walking and standing and walking a lit. So we decided to take in a matinee this afternoon in addition to the play tonight for which we already had tickets.

Our afternoon play was Moulin Rouge! The Musical, at the Piccadilly Theatre, a well-known venue that will celebrate its centennial in 2028. Moulin Rouge would have been an appropriate play for our first jet-lagged night in London a couple of weeks ago because, like Stranger Things, it was very noisy. (Some of the scenes that are actually set within the Moulin Rouge seemed to me good approximation of my notion of Hell.) Moulin Rouge ranks nowhere near my favorite play or musical of all time, but I enjoyed it.

From the Piccadilly Theatre, we walked across Piccadilly Circus, had a light dinner, and walked further on to the Garrick Theatre, the construction of which (completed in 1889) was apparently financed by W. S. Gilbert (of Gilbert and Sullivan fame). There, we saw Mrs. Warren’s Profession, which was written by George Bernard Shaw.

If you pay attention and if you’re familiar with the plots of the two plays, you may think that you’re picking up a shared theme between them. But don’t read too much into it. We chose Mrs. Warren’s Profession because it was written by George Bernard Shaw and because it stars really good actors; we chose Moulin Rouge because there was a matinee performance today with a few tickets still for sale.

The title role in Mrs. Warren’s Profession was played by Dame Imelda Staunton. Her daughter was ably portrayed by, well, her daughter, Bessie Carter. Dame Imelda has been married since 1983 — a fact that I find quite admirable — to Jim Carter, with whom many of you may be familiar, and Bessie Carter is their daughter. And, if you recognize Jim Carter, you may also, by the same token, recognize the actor who had the role of the Reverend Samuel Gardner in tonight’s production of Mrs. Warren’s Profession, Kevin Doyle.

Incidentally, I may have been hallucinating but, if the person sitting two seats to my left at Mrs. Warren’s Profession tonight wasn’t Sir Elton John, he was doing a very remarkable imitation (though lacking the customary glitz and glamour). And — I checked when I returned to our hotel — the friend with whom he came to the theater, and who sat between us (i.e., directly beside me), would make a credible stand-in for Bernie Taupin. But I couldn’t be sure, and I certainly wasn’t about to interrogate them or to pester them. I think famous people deserve a little privacy, even in public places.

A silent tribute to an American soldier who fell at Carentan, Normandy, France, erected on 17 June 1944. (Wikimedia Commons public domain image)

Yesterday was Memorial Day but, since I’m overseas and have been very busy and quite occupied, tha didn’t register with me and I forgot to note it here. In an attempt to remedy the oversight, at least partially, I share with you the message that was sent out for the holiday by Donald J. Trump, the President of the United States of America:

“HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY TO ALL, INCLUDING THE SCUM THAT SPENT THE LAST FOUR YEARS TRYING TO DESTROY OUR COUNTRY THROUGH WARPED RADICAL LEFT MINDS, WHO ALLOWED 21,000,000 MILLION PEOPLE TO ILLEGALLY ENTER OUR COUNTRY, MANY OF THEM BEING CRIMINALS AND THE MENTALLY INSANE,THROUGH AN OPEN BORDER THAT ONLY AN INCOMPETENT PRESIDENT WOULD APPROVE, AND THROUGH JUDGES WHO ARE ON A MISSION TO KEEP MURDERERS, DRUG DEALERS, RAPISTS, GANG MEMBERS, AND RELEASED PRISONERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, IN OUR COUNTRY SO THEY CAN ROB, MURDER, AND RAPE AGAIN — ALL PROTECTED BY THESE USA HATING JUDGES WHO SUFFER FROM AN IDEOLOGY THAT IS SICK, AND VERY DANGEROUS FOR OUR COUNTRY. HOPEFULLY THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT, AND OTHER GOOD AND COMPASSIONATE JUDGES THROUGHOUT THE LAND, WILL SAVE US FROM THE DECISIONS OF THE MONSTERS WHO WANT OUR COUNTRY TO GO TO HELL. BUT FEAR NOT, WE HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS OVER THE LAST 4 MONTHS, AND AMERICA WILL SOON BE SAFE AND GREAT AGAIN! AGAIN, HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY, AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!” (All capitalization is reproduced without alteration from the original.)

The Himalayan peaks Shivling and Meru at sunrise
(Wikimedia Commons public domain image)

But enough of such elevated sentiments. It’s my unfortunate duty to keep you informed regarding at least some of the horrors with which theists and theism insist upon afflicting innocent humanity. Here is one of them, retrieved from the never-failing Christopher Hitchens Memorial “How Religion Poisons Everything” File™: “The role faith plays in mental health: report: Sutherland Institute report says religious involvement helps in multiple areas of mental health and life in general”

And here are some other chilling abominations, drawn from the Hitchens File, that cry out to be known:

“The Church Helps New Utah Center Bring Healing from Child Abuse: Longstanding collaboration with the Children’s Justice Center reflects the faith’s commitment to protect children”

“Elder Kearon and Cardinal David Reconnect, Minister to Parolees in the Philippines”

“Elder Kearon Leads Scholarship Donation Turnover to Caritas Manila”

“Mobile Prosthetics Clinic Brings Hope to Amputees in Samoa”

“New Furniture Gives Dignity to Those in Need in Southern California: Church’s donation of surplus furniture helps Hope the Mission get those experiencing homelessness into housing”

Posted from London, England

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