A Day at the Globe

9-26-2008

Yesterday, we received an email from our faculty leader informing us of a tour we have today at 9am. This caught everyone by surprise, including our leader, but it was a pleasant surprise as it was a tour of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, an open-air, round, wooden structured theatre. Our lovely tour guide taught us much. Such as, the balcony seats along the sides of the stage were probably the worst seats as far as a view goes. However, those sitting there were the celebs of the day as they were just as visible as the actors themselves. The actors knew that these people were VIPs as well and delivered just as many lines to them as to the commoners.

The most interesting part to me was the intimate nature of this theatre. Unlike stages I’ve been on, where the lights are blinding and you perform to a sea of blackness, these actors are forced to stare each audience member in the face. Plus, performances in Shakespeare’s day would have been in the afternoon to provide ample lighting. The only stage I’ve been on that comes close is the intimate nature of Michelsen Hall, in the Noel Fine Arts Center at UWSP. But believe me, it comes nowhere close to the Globe....

After the tour Mike, Aurelia, Cody, Jenny, Josie and myself stuck around to see if we could snag tickets to that afternoon’s performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. On a stroke of luck, 10 standing tickets became available 5 minutes after our request. For £5, these tickets were fantastic, center stage right up front. The only catch, you stand for the entire 3 hours performance.

Truthfully, these actors were so compelling, you don’t even notice you’re standing. Each of them demanded the attention of the audience. The King had a commanding voice that I swear rattled the thousands of wooden pegs that hold the globe together. The women carried a soft femininity, but yet could stir laughter in the crowd at any moment.  The sets were minimal, simply there to help carry the story along, but the acting sold it. Probably the best performance I've ever seen on a live stage. 

Ohhh and on the way home we saw some sweet ice cream trucks.