On Thursday 5/29/08 we visited the Globe Theater Exposition and attended a performance of King Lear. Unfortunately we didn't get much time to view the Shakespeare and Globe Theater exhibit, but just having the opportunity to sit in the Globe and watch a full performance was a unique experience. To sit anywhere in the Globe would be a treat, but the 27 pounds to sit in a nice balcony seat is always nice. I took a look at the box office to see how much a ticket is for standing room: only five pounds! This got me thinking about the old Globe Theater and the division between the commoners and the nobility. Of course, the sheltered balcony seats were reserved only for the rich and noble, while the common people were allowed the convenience of paying 1 pence for standing room. Although there seems to be no such thing as a clear division between classes, the Globe's prices certainly reflect the benefits of having a little extra money. Anyone can just walk in, purchase a five pound floor ticket, and enjoy a performance at last minute. It is a bit harder for the expensive balcony seats, which usually need a reservation and require over five times as much money as a standard standing ticket.
With that observation being said, I'd like to mention a few things about the performance that deserve some noting. It is commonly known that Shakespeare's plays, be it comedy or tragedy, have elements of the opposite genre. For instance, King Lear is a tragedy, but features many comical aspects. This production certainly played up on the often passed-by humor in King Lear. I was surprised at the amount of laughter coming from the audience and loved how many of the characters played up their parts while staying true to Shakespeare's language. Edmund's speech in scene one of Act V debating which sister he should choose to marry has some slight humor in it, or perhaps none at all. This Edmund decided to play up on Shakespeare's lines, addressing the audience for advice, humorously asking "Which of them shall I take?" (slight pause) "Both?" (pause) "One?" (another pause) "Neither?" The audience had fun with his speech, which I feel it is how it should have been done, since Edmund is stupid enough to get himself in between two sisters. This is just one of many examples.
Just getting the experience to see a Shakespeare play at the Globe Theater was so exciting. We each got a taste of what it would be like to see something that people of Shakespeare's time would have been watching. (The occasional plane flying by did ruin the ambiance a bit, though!)
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2 comments:
Melissa, I enjoyed how you found the cost of the tickets for our show and compared them to those of Shakespeare’s day. It was an excellent way to further show how lucky we were to have a chance to experience The Globe Theater with such wonderful seats that kept us dry from the unexpected showers.
I agree with your comment that there seemed to be more emphasis on the humor in the play compared to how we may read it to ourselves. Part of me wonders why it was done, was it to lighten the mood for the audience so the left in an upbeat mood? Or was it to show them that even though it was a tragedy it was still enjoyable so they would keep coming back again and again? In any case I feel in someway it was done to help the theater produce the funds they needed to keep their doors open so that others can have the experience that we had at The Globe.
First of all, my interpretation of our experience at "The Globe" was far different then both of you ladies. I'm going to go into much more detail in my own blog but there are a few points I would like to get accross based on what the 2 of you have said.
First Melissa, I don't agree that as you said "anywhere in the globe is nice" and you were "happy to pay 27 pounds for a seat up in the top balcony." My personel thoughts were that these were the worst seats in the house. I missed very significant portions of the play for 2 reasons, 1 being that our seat was too high, I was unable to see anything on the mainstage balcony,second the pillar that was directly in front of us obstructed my view of two very significant moments of the play. In my opinion having a chance to watch the play from ground level would have enhanced the experience 10 fold. I do however agree with you on the fact that the globe was an experience that everyone should have the privladge of seeing at least once.
Christina, you say you didn't understand why the performers added the humor that may not have been picked up on while reading the text. The answer to that is neither of the things that you stated. A performance does not stick in humor to make the crowd feel more upbeat because the play is a tragedy- most people going in know the play is a tragedy if not all. Also they will come back again and again based on how well the play is performed by the people who are cast for it. The reason why the humor was so bold and "in your face" is an interpretation based solely on the director of this particular performance of the play he is directing. Of course he wants to make the play enjoyable for the audience but in terms of the way he presents the humor and how his performors act out that humor is strictly his judgement on how he thinks the play should be performed. If you ever see any other performances of King Lear for the rest of your life I'm fairly positive that you will not see one depicted or performed in the same style as the one we saw. Furthermore, this performance of King Lear has nothing to do with The Globe "keeping there doors open." Think about it, how long has this place been around?(the Globe in general not the new building) I scarcely think that one directors interpetation of the humor he wanted to put in one run of King Lear is going to determine whether there doors stay open for business or not.
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