Stratford is perfectly picturesque. Nearly anywhere you look could be a postcard, or the subject of a painting. It makes sense to me that many writers, poets, and other creative types visit Stratford to connect with their influences and gain inspiration for their compositions. It is a place that possesses both the beauty and stillness to evoke creative reverence and imagination. I took a stroll through the …
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Womanspreading?
Okay, so a pleasant surprise! Glengarry Glen Ross is traditionally a play about masculinity, self-worth, and male gender roles, so it was quite intriguing to me that they decided to have an all-female cast. It could’ve really gone poorly, just distorted the message of the play or not really added anything thematically. But overall, I think it worked on several levels. Every line that included a reference …
Burrowing Through the Crowds at Borough Market
London is saturated with markets: Camden, Covent Garden, Leadenhall, Portobello, Brick Lane. Then of course there are the gastronomically oriented ones, like Seven Dials and Borough. Altogether, I’ve visited Seven Dials twice, Borough Market three times, and Spitalfields once, and I think it’s safe to say that Borough Market is my favorite. The first time I visited was a sort of spontaneous morning trip with Professor …
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Shakespeare? More Like Shook-speare
I think all the plays I see after experiencing a show at the Globe are ruined in some small way, just because they won’t be at the Globe! My goodness, what an experience! I was more immersed in both Mother Courage and A Midsummer Night’s Dream than I have ever been in a theatrical performance. The openness of it, both literally with it being outdoors and figuratively with …
Science, yo!
Man, I like portraiture more than I thought! I think it is one of my top three favorite visual art forms (probably still below architecture, though). I visited our National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. a few years ago, and I remember being delighted by it at the time, but I didn’t quite realize the depth of my admiration. I think portraits are so interesting to me …
In Awe of Architecture
I don’t have the proper words to describe the beauty of this structure. I was breathless throughout most of the tour, just from sheer awe and wonder. Even before we walked into the building, I was amazed by the intricacies of the abbey’s outer walls, the details of the tympanum, and holy flying buttresses! I have a particular affinity for architecture …
Heels and Bath Don’t Mix
Bath was not what I expected! Before we arrived, I had only a vague idea that it was famously a Roman city, so I was caught off guard when I saw the wall and very Italian-looking architecture. It’s also such an eclectic mix of ancient and contemporary, with limestone pillars and plinths directly next to bus stops and Five Guys. It’s jarring at first, and …
A little less Brechty, a little more Terry
Just . . . wow. This is my new favorite so far, maybe ever of the plays I’ve seen (and I’ve seen at least 20). So much of its appeal comes from the design of the theatre itself. Because it’s open air and we had groundlings tickets, I didn’t get the sense that I was watching a rehearsed, written, carefully planned performance; it’s almost like you’re viewing a series of private …
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People Arguing Isn’t Theatre!
Okay, wait, maybe it is . . . When I learned that we would have the privilege of seeing Ralph Fiennes in a stage play, I was intrigued and thoroughly excited. I’ve seen his work in a few films–The Menu, Schindler’s List, The English Patient, and of course the Harry Potter series—and I always thought he seemed exceptionally talented. After watching him in the …
Motherhood: Worth the Hype?
I love museums, especially art museums. One of my favorite ways to pass the time is by roaming the halls of a gallery, gazing in awe at sculptures, portraits, photographs, prints, papers, and other wonders of the visual arts. It’s no surprise then that I was chuffed to visit the Virginia and Albert museum, dedicated to performance and design. There were significantly more …
Theatre in London U of A 