Welcome fellow traveler!!!

 Welcome fellow traveler!

Picture it...Me..writing this blog...a fellow traveler!  

 

We must have bumped paths because of our shared interest in the treasure, that is, theatre.  As we head to Stratford-Upon-Avon in the wee waking hours of the morning, I prepare myself for a day full of Shakespeare.  As Jonathan Jones once said to us, Shakespeare set "off to the war of theatre" which is what we are about to do today, be the Shakespearean crusaders.  

Above you see above the beautiful swans that were once said to be the theatre mongrel's pets.  Shakespeare loved playing with the swans and ducks between writing the tragedies that are King Lear and Richard III.  I, too, love watching the swans glide through the river like beautiful olives in a martini.  With the rise of the alleged "swanpox" and "bird-flu" outbreak, we all made sure we took all of our sanitary precautions when feeding the beasts.

Following the mini swan lake moment, we head into the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) to experience Richard III Unwrapped. All of us, fully clothed, worked with Arthur Hughes (Richard III) and Rosie Sheehy (Anne) for the next two hours with text from the play. Workshopping together their first scene together was an insight into not only their rehearsal process but their psyche. We were able to have them talk intimately about their
character's journey through life. Like how we can reflect on our journey as travelers, they too must reminisce on themselves. Aaron Parsons, the associate director of this production, credited the show as "the ultimate antihero play," reminding us that every hero has a history, but with history comes horror. 

                                                       As the donor above reminded us, we celebrate not just Shakespeare but the friendship that is flourished throughout.     

Tamara and I sashayed to the Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare is buried. Displayed was a special prayer for the people of Ukraine, and a pride-colored cross near the grim grave. Unsure where all of Richard III's victims are, but we have Shakespeare's memorial in this monumental moral church. We could not leave the area without a lap around the knock-off Thames.  Pictured below is Tamara rowing us to safety from the swans and Erin steering us so far off the stream that getting back was scary.  

Then, of course, your fellow traveler Nick in the back. 

After a brief lunch at Barnabys, which was nothing like Barneys New York, we headed to see the ravenous Richard III at RSC.  From views high above the clouds to the orchestra center, we witnessed wild murders and adventurous acting choices.  This fellow traveler took away from the production that just because you are screaming does not mean you are being effective.  This was the first time that Richard III had been done by someone who is differently abled.  The more inclusion we see on stage, the better, and the UK has had some of the most inclusive and diverse theatre that I have witnessed.  Many gave him a standing ovation but was it the performance or the fact we had been sitting for three hours straight.  You will have to see the production to determine.

Hours later, we all sat down at The Dirty Duck for dinner and drinks to finalize our day.  Pictured above is the entire London Summer 22' crew together.  

Like Kaylah said, "photos are never as good as my eyes." See below us leaving the sultry Stratford-Upon-Avon. 

Big hugs,

Your fellow traveler