Days in the Life

May 8, 2003

intermission at the globe... the steady lights, a concession to pragmatism, surround the stage...the play... After a full afternoon of serendipitous wandering through the Tower, London Bridge and Bankside districts, I discovered to my delight that Richard II was opening this very night in the season's first production at the Globe. I bought a ticket on the spot. Aside from the extraordinarily rich and multi-hued performance by the lead and solid work by the rest of the cast, a dimension of something indescribably goose-bumpy was added by watching it there, in its original venue, in chill open air with hundreds of groundlings standing in the cheap (non-) seats. The atmosphere was casual and almost interactive, which I somehow imagine existed back in the day... no sound system, few props, and only the simplest electric light added as a concession to modernity... perhaps men even played the female roles (though I confess I couldn't be quite sure!)... and yes, real Brit accents added that last bit of authenticity... even after only one full day of exploration, I already know that this will likely be this trip's most charged and memorable moment.

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©2003 Gerry Manacsa