Going to Shakespeare’s Globe was a DREAM! (buckle up this is a long one)
In high school I would have never thought that a little building could bring out so much emotion in me, especially one relating to Shakespeare ( I was not a fan). As a more recent hardcore Shakespeare fan, being in the Globe still doesn’t quite feel real.
It was honestly much different than I was expecting, the outside was kind of underwhelming, I feel like there wasn’t a moment where I looked and saw like the full building, just a little side of it, but I guess that is expected when the building is a circle. I did however love the design of the outside, although it wasn’t the exact building as back in Shakespeare’s time I do think that this is as close as can get. It did not feel real seeing it in person and I think I’m still in shock.
Being inside was absolutely amazing. It’s funny because I always had such a specific image of what it was going to look like and it was much fancier than I was expecting! I kind of strayed from the group once we got in because I really wanted to just be able to soak everything in. I felt a presence in there that is kind of hard to explain and just felt overwhelmingly thankful that I was apart of something so iconic and historical.
The detailing on the stage was incredible. My favorite part was at the top in the “heavens” there were murals and the names of a bunch of the gods which was such a nice detail; it reminded me how important they were to the people in Shakespeare’s time and how much they sourced from them. All of the marble and other detail on the stage was so breathtaking, it almost drew me out of the show because I couldn’t stop staring at the stage detailing! Absolutely beautiful.
As far as the show goes I had an interesting experience. It was very different than any show I’ve ever seen before! I have never been in such a lit space before and in ways loved it and other times I felt very reminded that I was watching a show because of being able to see everyone and standing was just different for me. I was glad I stood because that is part of the Globe experience (#groundling) but I think I would have been more drawn in if I wasn’t thinking about my feet hurting etc. But enough complaining, the show itself was WONDERFUL. I was much more unfamiliar with this show compared to some of his other works so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I liked how much they used the audience in the piece because I believe that that’s what they would have done in Shakespeare’s time. I liked the stage design but part of me wishes that it was almost less so that it could resemble his time more but I get we are in modern times. I also really enjoyed the atmosphere. The audience was very engaged and appreciated the words, about time!!!! (Such a nice change from college students that are forced to be there) As someone who loves Shakespeare it felt very nice to be around people that wanted to be there just as much and wanted to get immersed into the story
I definitely had the moment where it was finally easier for me to understand them better but it took very active listening to get there. I noticed some of them were easier to understand and I’m sure that just has to do with training and knowing how to dictate those words.
The acting was overall very impressive. Of course Beatrice and Benedick were my favorite, I mean how could they not be?? She was probably one of the best comedic actresses I have seen in a very long time. She had a way of really bringing out the idgaf of her character but in a way that still made the audience like her. Benedick was hysterical. A very smart comedic actor for sure. He added so much to the character and did it so effortlessly too.
I would say that Much Ado lived up to my expectations, in terms of the story I still think the same thing that I thought about it going in, very mid in my opinion. I feel like there are some holes that I was hoping might have gotten filled in a live production and didn’t but that is also just the way this play is written. The story isn’t my favorite so I wasn’t like OH MY GOODNESS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE. I was more excited just to see a show in the Globe, THAT changed my life. I had an awesome experience though I really can’t believe that I can say I’ve been in the Globe. WOOHOO
Bucket list item- check!
Theatre in London U of A 