The other night, we all time-traveled back to Shakespearean days of old. We walked into Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and were absolutely stunned! Just kidding, we literally were here the other day for Mother Courage and Her Children. Anyways, this time we were at this theatre, we saw A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and it was as cool and mystical as it was the first time we set foot into it. Honestly, it may have been better dressed up for its audience due to the flowers and stage decorations. The stage and stands for the spectators were round, allowing for everyone to see, no matter what seat or standing room you had. This type of environment and setting was perfect for the playful and fun energy the play brought to the audience’s ears.
Interactions with the audience are what made this play for me, and the lively spirit of all. Sometimes, I’ll admit, I get sleepy when watching a play or musical in the theatre, even if it is my favorite play or musical in the world. However, this play kept me alive and on my toes the whole time through the audience-actor interactions. They kept the audience engaged in the play through their conversations, callbacks, and immersion in the audience, simply by the shape of the stage. This was special compared to the other plays we have seen so far, which is what made it stand out so much.
Watching this play and being so awake and alive for it also got me thinking about what it must have been like to live in Shakespearean days. If the wood in this theatre could talk, it would speak of all the plays and people that it has seen. This almost 30-year-old theatre resembles what the 1599 original theatre was, where Shakespeare himself acted. Having this replica filled with history makes me feel as if I went back in time. What an experience, and I am not talking about the time traveler in Silver Dollar City.
Theatre in London U of A 