Blind Date Part Three: Lizzie and Lorenzo

The third installment out of four of the stand‘s Blind Dates.  If you’ve haven’t read the two before this, click here to catch up on what you’ve missed. Lizzie Stone […]


The third installment out of four of the stand‘s Blind Dates.  If you’ve haven’t read the two before this, click here to catch up on what you’ve missed.

Lizzie Stone is a second year linguist and can be found rooting around in the Barron Theatre cupboard, rehearsing for a play or drinking earl grey tea in her cottage with the understand editor of the stand. Lizzie dined with Lorenzo de Boni, a fourth year philosophy student and thespian who hails from New York and is involved heavily with Mermaids and all things theatre in St Andrews.

Lizzie on Lorenzo:

Before the date what were you hoping for?
Well, I was just really hoping for a fun(ny) evening for my first blind date experience, maybe a story to tell afterwards. Oh and that it wouldn’t be too awkward. One of my fears in life is being trapped in a conversation with only one other person and it suddenly falls eerily silent (yeah, I don’t know why I said yes to a blind date either!)

Before the date who were you hoping for?
I thought it was unlikely I’d meet the love of my life, so although I allowed myself to briefly dream of spending the evening, and subsequently receiving a Valentine from, the St Andrews version of Wentworth Miller. Really I just wanted it to be someone friendly who would be good company.

First impressions?
As soon as I walked down the stairs in the Byre I saw Lorenzo, and with the rose on the table. I laughed as Lorenzo is no stranger to me. But I really didn’t expect him as my blind date! He had dressed up for the occasion as I had passed him outside Taste earlier in the day! So although it wasn’t a first impression, it was a good one as I knew Lorenzo for being good company, I looked forward to the evening ahead of me!

What did you talk about? Mermaids?

The stand had provided a hilarious selection of conversation starters, but we didn’t really mull over them for long (which I think is a good sign!). Topics included, Clare Sheehan (one of the conversation starters), Lorenzo’s controversial opinions on Shakespeare and plays in St Andrews.

Any awkward moments? Spill something?
No, it felt incredibly comfortable! Conversation flowed very well and, despite only opting for one delicious course, the evening went on for a good few hours in the lovely ambience of the Byre – our mutual home. Fortunately my fear (see question 1) did not become a reality, and I didn’t regret my decision of going on a blind date. Lorenzo was lovely!

Did your date have good table manners? What was the food like?
Impeccable table manners and food was de-lish. We ordered coffee at the end and Lorenzo offered me the piece of Scottish tablet that came with his, but I declined, having eaten too much already.

Did you go on somewhere..?
No, he walked me back to my house (how gentlemanly!).

Rate your evening out of ten.
A wonderful 9: scrumptious food and a lovely date, who happened to be my friend anyway. Could I ask for much more? The stand – you’re the best.

Lorenzo on Lizzie:

Before the date what were you hoping for?
I was simply hoping to have a good time and get to know my date better.

Before the date who were you hoping for?
As for who I was hoping for, I did spend HOURS thinking about all the possible people who could have showed up at the Byre. I think I was more wary of who I didn’t want to be my date. I was hoping for someone with sparkling conversation who made me feel comfortable to be around.

First impressions?
My first impressions of Lizzie are difficult to answer, as I know her rather well. So first impressions were more laughter that she was my date than anything else. I was, however, very relieved to see Lizzie walk into the Byre, and, as always, she looked absolutely beautiful.

What did you talk about?
Given that Lizzie and I are both on the Mermaids committee, a majority of the evening was spent talking about Mermaids and theatre in general.  We talked about passed theatrical experiences and what our favorite plays have been. But we also spent a good portion of the night talking about fellow committee members and mutual friends, namely Mermaids president Charlotte Baker and Stand-Columnist Clare Sheehan. But I did also find out that Lizzie lived in Canada and in Brussels when she was younger and so we spent a great deal of time talking about our childhoods and teenage years growing up in different places such as Toronto, Brussels, Italy and New York.

Any awkward moments?
Absolutely no awkward moments whatsoever, except for when we were trying to figure out how to pay or if we were just supposed to get up and leave. However, aside from that, no awkward moments at all. Lizzie is a brilliant and wonderful conversationalist and it made chatting with her incredibly easy, which was helped by the fact that I knew her before the date.  But the two and a half hours we spent at the Byre flew by in a heartbeat.

Good table manners? Did she order chicken?
She had excellent table manners. And yes, yes she did order the chicken.

Would you introduce Lizzie to your friends?
I would definitely introduce Lizzie to my friends, however I think most of my friends have already met Lizzie anyway given that my friends are her friends. But, if that wasn’t the case, I would introduce Lizzie to them anyway. She’s beyond lovely and a wonderful person, arguably the nicest person I’ve ever met. Basically, she rocks.

Did you go on somewhere else…? 

Afterwards, we didn’t end up going anywhere, so after walking her home, we bid each other goodnight. I would say it was a fitting and perfect end to the evening.

Rate your evening out of ten?
A very solid 9 out of 10.  Could not have asked for a better date!

 

The stand would like to say an enormous thank you to to the Byre Theatre restaurant for two simply scrumptious meals as always in a exciting venue. The Byre is open for lunch, afternoon tea and a la carte dining, pre or post theatre. The bar is always a popular venue for a drink and to listen to the house jazz band. To book a table, call 01334 468720 or email [email protected], for something different and delicious.

 

If you are interested in going on a blind date, please send us a message here.

 

 

Written and arranged by Alexandra Holroyd, understand Editor

Photos: © Renata Grasso