A London Epic (part two)

Sunday morning proved to be satisfying as well. We woke up early and walked to the Globe Theater across the river.

Striking building on our journey

Interesting cafe we passed (for you, Tommy)

Millenium Bridge: It makes an appearance in the 6th Harry Potter

film as the one that gets ripped apart by death eaters

Our tour guide, a Shakespearian actor himself, was animated and passionate. We learned a lot about the Globe: about how there is no evidence that the structure looked at all like it did in Shakespeare's time. And though it was reconstructed according to certain specifications, it was built in the wrong spot. The original Globe was built further down the river, the ruins of which are now covered by houses. Nevertheless, the inside of the theater was amazing. It has a reed roof, Elizabethan-style bricks, box seats, and a "groundling" area, where members of the lower class once stood and cheered on the actors.

Afterwards, we had the good fortune to see a performance of King Henry IV (the one with Hal and Falstaff). It was really well done. Of course, having read the play in school, I was able to catch a lot of it. The actors and actresses (yes, they decided to let women perform) were all dressed in spectacularly intricate garb. Scene changes and props were kept simple, so as to reenact how they were done so long ago. I was impressed by the decisions the director made in the play (e.g. voice inflections, facial expressions, gestures, body positioning, interactions/exchanges between characters). SO GLAD I WENT.

The stage in all its splendor

Open air: it did, in fact, rain during the performance

(not good for sick people, but it didn't phase the actors)

Stage right

Some of the box seats with murals on the panels

Looking pensive in the box seats

The posing Girlfriend

Afterwards, we were allowed to hang out in King's Cross Station before we departed. Overall, it was an amazing trip: not as eventful as the last, but ultimately tastier. Also, as I predicted, I was a pile of ashes by the time we got home. Thankfully drugs here are so inexpensive. (THE LEGAL KIND, don't worry.) Unfortunately, and I wouldn't be surprised, I don't think NyQuil is legal here. Bah humbug.

Yours,