The Bard, the Globe and the Blackfriars

More than five years ago, in 2005, our oldest grandson, Prince D, then a teen-ager, came to visit us in Switzerland during his summer vacation.   Because he is a great reader and we thought it would be a marvelous opportunity to introduce him to London, a motherlode of English literature, we arranged to fly to London to meet him there for a long weekend, with a plan to travel on to Switzerland together.

While in London, we planned to do some of the usual sightseeing and event-attending.  But I was particularly thrilled about the possibility of our all seeing a Shakespeare play in the Globe Theatre, a 1997 reconstruction of the original Globe from Shakespeare's day, the original having been destroyed by fire in 1613.  The only Shakespearean play that was scheduled during the time period happened to be Pericles, Prince of Tyre - not what I would have chosen if I'd had my druthers, and certainly not for a teen-ager.  But still, we thought that an opportunity to see a Shakespeare play in this setting would be an unforgettable experience.

Unfortunately, events conspired so that Prince D's arrival was held up for two and a half days, meaning that we barely had time to meet and greet him before we had to board the plane for our return flight to Switzerland.  So he did not get to see London other than what he was able to see from the planes as he flew in and out of London's Heathrow Airport.  Sigh.

Our flights, however, were not so thoroughly disrupted and so, there we were, in London for the weekend.  Because we already had the tickets for the play at the Globe, we attended it.  We were amazed by the creativity and versatility of the actors and the staging, which tried to remain as true as possible to the Shakespearean tradition.  We had a wonderful experience.  But of course, while we were there, it rained.  Nay, it poured! 

Because the Globe has no roof, just as in Shakespeare's day, those standing in the center (we were seated in the upper section where we did have a small roof overhang), as well as the actors, had to huddle for shelter until the downpour was over.  Remembering this experience, I was delighted to read today that Shakespeare's Globe plans to reconstruct the Blackfriars Theatre.  The Blackfriars was the "upscale" Globe of Shakespearean times, where the "upper crust could watch the Bard's plays away from the great unwashed."  The original Blackfriars closed in 1642.  As described by a Shakespearean contemporary, John Marston, in 1600:

"I like the audience that frequenteth there.  With much applause a man shall not be choked with the stench of garlic nor be pasted to the balmy jacket of a beer-brewer."

While we didn't notice any overwhelming or otherwise "stench of garlic" at the Globe and HWMBO, who does love his ale and draft, would not have complained of being "pasted to the balmy jacket of a beer-brewer," we did regret the lack of a roof during the downpour.  Not to worry, the modern Blackfriars will feature a roof.

We look forward to another visit, but will have to wait until November 2013.  Perhaps Prince D can join us for a visit then!