The Globe and Me

Hello all!
I can't really begin to explain how life changing the last two weeks have been. As part of our Shakespeare module, we got to take class at the GLOBE and then do an excerpt of Antony and Cleopatra on the stage for an invited audience. For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, The Globe was Shakespeare's theater during his career. Twelve years ago, after two decades of work, a recreation was built close to where the original sat on the banks of the Thames River. It was constructed with all the same material and in the same fashion as the original. Each year, they do a few of Shakespeare's shows exactly, to the best of anyone's knowledge, as they would have been done 400 years ago. The place is breathtaking and it was a honor and privilege to be able to stand on that stage, let alone perform. I got to play Cleopatra for part of the show, another thrill and a role that I probably will never get a chance to play. Unless someone decides to make me the Queen of Egypt in an Irish peasant adaptation of the play, of course. Hey, who knows!

I have included some pictures (although I didn't take too many). The interior shots are of the green room and our dressing room. The sword fighting is from our stage combat class which we had in front of all the tour groups coming in....they thought we were professional fighters, well except until they actually started watching us. I still can't believe that we were there! It's the equivalent of a musician playing at Carnegie Hall, if you are still not impressed!

We are back to our normally scheduled programming this week and the semester is over at the end of next. I am thoroughly ready for a break.....

Oh, Mother!

Last weekend I went to go see Mother Courage and Her Children, starring Fiona Shaw. You will know her from the Harry Potter movies as Harry's bitchy aunt Petunia. It also starred the kid who play Harry's cousin, Dudley. His name in real life is strangely Harry and he is now probably 20 or 21 years old and 75 pounds lighter! It was just fantastic, a good reminder of why I am here in London and what kind of work I want to do with my life. It was also so nice to get back into the city.

Being in Loughton, it's a good 30 minutes outside of the city on the tube. With my class schedule, I don't leave my little village very often. Some days it feels like I could be in Iowa. Except of course everyone has a funny accent and the money is fake. Not complaining about that, don't get me wrong! I am really loving it here, it's just nice to be reminded where I am in the world once in awhile!

Speaking of going into the city, this week we start our 2 week module at The Globe!!! It culminates with an actual performance of scenes from Antony and Cleopatra, which I am absolutely thrilled about. It might be the only time in my life that I get to perform on that stage, which is truly a privilege and honor. I will be taking plenty of pictures, so look forward to seeing those in a few weeks!

Meanwhile, here are a few pictures from last weekend. My new best friend here, Alden from Chicago, came with me to the show and is the one "holding" Big Ben. She and I have both decided to start a new phrase that I think you will like Dad....Instead of saying "What Would Jesus Do" or WWJD, we have changed it to What Would Fiona Shaw Do or WWFSD. We're thinking some bumper stickers might be in order!