I know the Globe theatre’s seen as just a bit of a tourist attraction by lots of theatre folk (and I remember my Shakespeare tutor at college giving a talk there that basically said the whole thing was a waste of time), but I went on Saturday afternoon (as part of a hen do) for a matinee performance of As You Like It – and it was great.
It’s a fun play (comedy, with all the Shakespearean staples: dispossessed dukes, a forest, a fool, cross-dressing, bawdiness and falling in love) and one I hadn’t seen live before. We were groundlings (standing) and it all added to the fun, Saturday-afternoon vibe. The cast was brilliant – props in particular to Audrey, Jacques and Touchstone (the fool), who had the audience eating out of his hand.
And I have to say – the Swan bar, where we had a few reserved tables before/after the play and during the interval, was a lovely place to be on a sunny summer afternoon too. But I think I’m glad I made my excuses before the night got too messy…
The idea of a hen do involving a trip to the Globe is both mind-boggling and highly commendable. I may have to ensure that should I ever have a stag do, it includes something equally cultural!
I love the globe, really magical. Why did your tutor think it was a waste of time, I wonder?
Singing Librarian: don’t worry, it got suitably embarrassing/debauched later on… this was just an afternoon warm-up. The perfect start to a hen-do actually I reckon!
Sean: well, I think theatre buffs look down their noses at it because it doesn’t show (much) new writing and is just trotting out the old favourites. I can’t remember my tutor’s problem with it, all I remember is that she was invited to give a talk there and didn’t think they’d be impressed with her opinion… I’m trying to find a paper or something by her on the web, no luck so far.
Well, as long as there was debauchery later on, I suppose that’s OK!
As for that sort of attitude to the Globe… Argh! Shakespeare is the greatest playwright Britain has ever produced – there is always more to be found in his plays with each new production. Any theatre buff who hasn’t seen the basics – Shakespeare, Ibsen, preferably a Greek tragedy or two – is no buff at all! To understand today’s cutting edge, you need to know where it came from. … Oops, sorry. Rant over.