Categories: uncategorized
Date: 31 December 2009 10:05:51
It was wonderful. Doubly wonderful, actually, as there was a second sense of magic which the Smudgelet actually sensed too.
A sort of surreal aura of pleasure at being able to finish work at 2.30 (thank you, dear shift leader, for helping me out by letting me depart slightly early) and by 5.30 be stood in the crowded courtyard of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (OK, in a reproduction of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, but the most amazing place to be in under any circumstances. Just google it and see!) in anticipation of an evening of magical entertainment. We got right at the front so the Smudgelet's nose was actually resting on the edge of the stage :) Did it matter that we were going to be standing for the whole evening? Not a bit of it, even if I was still walking wounded after my adventures of the previous day. Did it matter that it was steadily raining down on us and the Globe theatre is open to the elements? Not in the slightest. In some ways it almost added to it, apart from the persistant drip which performed a sort of water torture by landing on the same tender spot on my left shoulder again and again and again. Once glimpse of the stage and my heart said to me "no matter where we move in the future or what happens, nobody can ever take this experience away from me. It has become part of me. I am in the Globe Theatre, for the second time, and it is pure magic".
The show was an extravaganza of entertainments in Shakespearean-time style, with lots of exaggerated characters, tightrope walking, humour (including some which quite appealed to the Smudgelet's schoolboy humour but shocked him that I found it funny too!), bright colours and lots of references to Shakespearean characters which went right over the boy's head but which were really quite funny. Very visual, very frenetic, great fun. And the perfect end to our Christmassy treats.
As we walked back to the station, we were hard pressed to decide which was our favourite bit as we recalled the entire show bit by bit.
And the Smudgelet turned to me and said "Isn't it amazing? One minute we were at home, and the next minute we were in the middle of London, in the Globe Theatre".
Now I have a day off and suddenly it's down to earth with a bump. My sister and brother-in-law are coming to stay for the weekend and I am suddenly viewing the flat through their eyes. It's a post-Christmas tip! i could do with some magic - it's going to take a lot of hard work to get this place habitable by tomorrow!