Categories: uncategorized
Date: 03 June 2005 22:44:00
Well, what do you know... the sun came out :D We had prime position on the Durbar Lawn of HRH Victoria's summer palace at Osborne, right at the very front by the beautifully crafted wooden stage. We got a few strange looks as we trundled past with enough luggage for a month's stay but our mockers were laughing on the other side of their face as they shivered in the cold breeze and we snuggled into our seats wrapped up snug as a bug in a rug in our sleeping bags and blankets. This time I remembered the picnic too, instead of just taking a picnic hamper containing one tomato, a packet of cheese straws and a tub of dip as I did last year when I went with M and have never been allowed to forget!
The play was superb. I highly recommend The Lord Chamberlain's Men as an excellent troupe of players - the Smudgelets were particularly impressed with the three men who played "ladies", a concept they'd never come across before except at the pantomime. And Smudgelet did have to go after the play and just check with one of the actors that it wasn't a real head that was held up in a bag, dripping blood. (Alas poor cabbage, I knew him Smudgelet!). They were excited by the swordfighting, mesmerised by the sleepwalking, unnerved by the witches, delighted when they recognised parts of the play I'd read (or haltingly recited) to them during the day, and impressed when they suddenly realised just how Burnam Wood was going to relocate to Dunsinane. I don't know which I enjoyed more, watching the play or watching the Smudgelets watch the play. We were disappointed on their behalf that the audience was far smaller than it should have been - maybe because of the bad weather this afternoon. I'm half tempted to book again for tomorrow night, just to make up the numbers (OK, so that's an excuse. I just want to see it again).
Jack, I am at your disposal as a teller of synopses :) We'd have taken you with us if we'd known you were currently Shakespeare-deprived. That must be the downside of living in London - you don't get the culture we do :D
Off to Yarmouth tomorrow to the Old Gaffers Festival (taking Dad and Uncle B as our own personal old gaffers :D )