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| Royal Shakespeare Company |
I'm kind of a theater snob. I hate to admit it but it's
true. I have seen several
shows on Broadway and now several on the West
End, and I honestly don’t know which is better.
The West End is cheaper so that’s a plus, but I just don’t know.
A couple weekends ago I had the opportunity
to visit Stratford-upon-Avon to see a production done by the Royal Shakespeare
Company of "The Tempest."
Obviously being
Shakespeare's birth place I thought it wouldbe good. I only paid 5 pounds for
the tickets since I was 16-25. Woot woot! I thought, “Hey for five pounds
I'll sit through anything.”
I like
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| The Tempest |
Shakespearebut I'm not a crazy fan or anything.
The show was absolutely phenomenal.
I went by myself so I didn't have anyone to pass
judgments withand critique, but If I’m honest, it was the best Shakespeare
I've ever seen. The actors were spot on and everything was just genius. That
was before I saw a production of “The Taming of the Shrew” at Shakespeare's
Globe Theater in London.
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| Shakespeare's Globe Theater |
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| My Pin :) |
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| British Museum |
I started the day off at the British Museum, which was nice, but I seriously
wasn't impressed. It was off to the Globe Theater for me after perusing Egyptian, Nubian, Greek and Roman sculptures and artifacts. I had purchased five pound tickets again to stand in the
yard, as they call it, for two and a half hours.
Now I was excited because it was at the Globe
Theater, but if I’m honest, I was just kind of eh about it as I was seeing the
musical “Blood Brothers” that evening as well which I was more excited
for.
It was my little theater “me day”
in London. Once I got to the Globe, I headed straight to the gift shop to
find a pin. The pin I found was absolutely gorgeous! Love it! I’m a little
obsessed with my pin collection.
After
my spectacular find I made my way into the yard. Lucky for me I got a spot
right in the center which was right next to the ramp where the actors would
exit and enter.
I was also around a
bunch of short people. Love me some short people when I have to stand! I
also talked to a nice couple from New Zealand who let me read their 4 pound
program. People are just so nice sometimes. :) The play started off with a
little band playing old timey
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| Inside the Theater |
instruments as all Shakespeare shows normally do.
Love that bit. Then this drunk guy sporting an England football hat and face
paint starts making his way through the crowd being totally obnoxious. He was
shouting and pushing people.
He then
started shouting, “Get off me!” while being followed by a security guard and
steward.
We were all thinking to
ourselves " oh great". He ended up coming on stage followed by a
security guard. He started to take a pee on stage and once the security guard
grabbed him he peed on one of the poor people who had paid to watch the show on
the front row, he then barfed on stage and passed out.
Meanwhile we're all thinking it was real.
People were gasping and wondering what the
heck was going on!
It wasn't until the
other actors dressed in their Shakespearean garb came out and started
interacting with him, that we realized it was all part of the show. It really
was genius though. I stood there with my mouth agape at how great these actors
and actresses were.
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| Petruchio (Simon Day) |
The time absolutely flew by.
Even for standing for 2 ½ hours.
I didn’t think I would manage it, but I was so into the story and the
actors that I didn’t even notice I was standing.
The lead character Petruchio who was also the
same drunk guy that caused all the commotion at the beginning of show was
played by
Simon Paisley Day.
I seriously
think I had a crush on this guy.
You can
take a look for yourself too, he’s not that attractive, he’s old, but dress him
up in leather boots and Shakespearean garb and you got yourself a man right
there.
Definitely better looking on stage than his headshot on IMDB says. Haha…He was absolutely
amazing.
I think my new favorite Shakespeare
character is Petruchio.
Olivier
Award Winner,
Samantha Spiro, played
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| Katherine & Petruchio |
Katherine, who was just as amazing as her male
counterpart. The costumes were out of
this world as well. I kept trying to
take pictures but the New Zealand couple behind me that I had met earlier said
something to me earlier in the show and kept giving me dirty looks whenever I
would take it out. Oh well! My motto is, “WHEN AM I GOING TO BE BACK
HERE!?!?” The show was absolutely
hilarious. At one point in time
Petruchio comes out on stage for his wedding wearing nothing but boots and a
Shakespearean leather man thong. The
whole crowd was rolling. It was so
funny. What else can I say about it
other than the fact it was spectacular and all for only 5 pounds! I will be back…I hope.
After the Globe Theater, I was off to the Phoenix Theater to
see the Musical, “Blood Brothers.”
I
knew absolutely nothing about the show, other than it was about a pair of separated
twins.
I had never heard the music,
never read about it.
I was pleasantly
surprised.
Although it’s one of the
shows that gives away the ending at the beginning.
Both brothers start the show off dead, so I
knew it wasn’t going to be a happy ending.
I’m a happy ending kind of girl.
Needless to say at the end I’m sitting in the theater bawling my eyes
out.
The only downfall of the show was
the narrator.
It was supposed to be a
very serious moment in the show and he would come in and break out into song in
his little Men In Black skinny tie and suit.
He just reminded me of David Hasselhoff, so I would start to snicker myself.
He had an amazing voice, but I
couldn’t get past his David Hasselhoff look alikeness.
At intermission I was a little freaked out
because I went outside with all the smokers to get some fresh air and to try
and get internet on my phone.
This scary
black dude just comes up and starts
randomly talking to me.
I
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| David H Look alikw
|
tried to look very busy on my phone but he
wouldn’t get the hint.
Finally I just
walked inside.
YIKES!
Creepers every day!
The Phoenix theater wasn’t really located in
the nice part of the West End either.
It
was like in the corner by a bunch of weird sex shops.
Despite the sex shops and weird scary black
men, my day and night at the theater was a huge success.
I think that’s one of the major reasons I’m
going to miss London is for the fact that there’s quality theater right at my
fingertips.
I get a weird high from
going to the theater.
I’m hoping I’ll be
able to see one more show before I leave!
Wish me luck!
After the Globe Theater, I was off to the Phoenix Theater to
see the Musical, “Blood Brothers.” I
knew absolutely nothing about the show, other than it was about a pair of separated
twins. I had never heard the music,
never read about it. I was pleasantly
surprised. Although it’s one of the
shows that gives away the ending at the beginning. Both brothers start the show off dead, so I
knew it wasn’t going to be a happy ending.
I’m a happy ending kind of girl.
Needless to say at the end I’m sitting in the theater bawling my eyes
out. The only downfall of the show was
the narrator. It was supposed to be a
very serious moment in the show and he would come in and break out into song in
his little Men In Black skinny tie and suit.
He just reminded me of David Hasselhoff, so I would start to snicker myself. He had an amazing voice, but I
couldn’t get past his David Hasselhoff look alikeness. At intermission I was a little freaked out
because I went outside with all the smokers to get some fresh air and to try
and get internet on my phone. This scary
black dude just comes up and starts
randomly talking to me. I 
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