If it hadn't been for two of his actors compiling their working scripts from past productions, we might not have the plays of William Shakespeare. It was Henry Condell and John Heminges who preserved his plays and, oddly enough, it was a Chicago actor named Sam Wanamaker who spear-headed the movement to build this theatre dedicated to his memory and the continuation of his work.
Anyone visiting London should explore the option of taking a trip back in time to the southern side of the Thames where there stands a theatre called Shakespeare's Globe. Built not far from the footprint of the original Globe, this transporting re-creation was constructed with the utmost attention to detail and a profound love and dedication to its subject. Sporting the only thatched roof in all of London (those went out of fashion after 1666 for some reason), this theatre is as authentic as it gets, right down to the wooden pegs holding everything together in lieu of metal nails. Shakespeare is very arguably the greatest author in the English language and to stand in this space, seeing sites so similar to what he saw and hearing his words spoken so trippingly on the tongue by such actors… 'tis a consummation devoutly to be wished. It certainly was for me.
When I arrived in London, it was one of Shakespeare's greatest villains who was trodding the boards… the infamous Richard III. As Shakespeare worked without the aid of electricity in his time, I opted to see a matinee subject to the whims of natures' lighting. Sitting on that communal, wooden bench and watching that performance is the closest this fanboy has ever felt to one of his greatest heroes.
This almost all-female cast turned the tradition on its nose without any need to belabor that point. Where it counted most, these roles were magnificently filled. Michelle Terry rips Richard a new one, playing him more on raw guile than any cunning more refined. Her Richard is brash, vulgar, and reckless with some strong parallels being drawn to the United States's Rotten Orange of leaders rather than to any in Britain's own backyard. Her power is overwhelming and her energy builds with a burning crescendo which spirals out of control as the fated king loses his grasp of this mortal coil. Shakespeare's Richard is one of my personal favorite villains in all literary history and Terry's portrayal of him will stick with me as an interpretation of note. Helen Schlesinger's performance as Buckingham also stands out, bringing light and dimension to a role which can sometimes whither under its subservience to Richard. However, Schlesinger's strength and presence remind us that powerful individuals often only maintain that power at the whim of other equally powerful individuals who crave the spotlight less. This was a theme much coaxed out in this production, and one with the strongest parallels to the would-be tyrant across the sea, especially as former allies are quickly discarded once their usefulness has escaped them. Such galvanizing interpretations and majestic performances from two profundity-steeped players. I truly hope I have the opportunity to see them both on the stage again.
There were many more performances and production qualities worthy of mention, but as I write, this production is coming to an end. So, sadly, if you haven't already seen this Richard III, it likely means you already missed it. But there is reason to rejoice in that the plays of Shakespeare go on here and yet another memorable production continues tomorrow, tomorrow, and tomorrow… to the last syllable of recorded time. Or so I hope, because there is something essential that this production possessed: clarity. Shakespeare's language is dense and while it is brilliant in that density, it can often be difficult to decipher, particularly for the untrained ear. That is why it is the duty of the actor to solve The Bard's many puzzles and present their audience with the answers (or, at least, the answers they arrive at, for there are infinitely many). Put more simply, these actors made Shakespeare's words clear and understandable, so even if you are not an Oxford scholar or seasoned actor yourself, these performers know how to bring you into His world and show you why his words have lasted for so long. When it’s done right, there’s really nothing better.
Aside from their stage productions, Shakespeare's Globe also offers a wide variety of tours. I took their Shakespeare's Globe Story & Tour which was an enlightening option for someone with a thirst for a greater understanding of this author and the world he wrote in. In connection with the tour there is a museum with displays that should work well to grab the interest of children, but to be fair, I don’t believe that my exceptionally bright almost-ten-year-old daughter would have been able to fight off the demon of boredom, so the Globe may be an experience best saved for mature teens and those older.
In closing, this is a rave, 5 star, run-don't-walk review of Shakespeare's Globe. I maintained a very full and thrilling itinerary for the 8+ days I spent in London and the four hours I spent enveloped in the glow of the Globe were some of my happiest from the trip. So if you're in London, why wouldn't you want to experience one of the greatest things that a proud nation has so much reason to be proud of?
For more information and to book your experience at Shakespeare's Globe, go to: