“A most enjoyable day trippe and performance”
Traveller Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review by: @mr16thcentury
My goode, Swiss pen-friend Mr Platter recalled to me his wonderfule trippe to The Globe Theatre, citing the “excellent performance” of “diverse nations” he experienced there. Henceforth, I made it mine duty to visite such a place and see with mine own eyes and review the experience as a humble audience member.
Methinks I was not disappointed! The thrill of being in such an audience and interacting with the players was most amusing! Documents such as my goode fellow Platter’s account and a certain Mr Henslowe’s Diary, in which the good sire notes down many “records of payments to dramatists, loans to authors and actors, disbursements for costumes and playhouse construction, payments to the Master of the Revels, and daily performance receipts for the Rose Playhouse” (Cersano). Tis’ most interesting to read upon the financial and logistical elements of such a place, and from these details one can form patterns and judgements upon theatre.
Upon my word, I have never watched such a wondrous play by Mr. Shakespeare (on this occasion Romeo & Juliet). Twas’ a rather tragic tale of two young people falling in love, and acted in such a convincing style. The stage, being forward and near the audience, beheld even the most subtle yet poignant of emotions ! The round shape of the Globe allowed me to be engaged in the action, and the open-air nature of the building made it seem most spiritual, as if at times the players were communing directly with God in Heaven upon their soliloquies. The practice of cues provides an extra dramatic effect and pace to the play. Not as fast-paced as Mr Shakespeare’s competing entertainments – that of “bearbaiting” and “cock-fights” – but altogether more intellectual!
My continental friend was most enthralled by the somewhat mundane, intricate details of London, recalling even the finest of details in his writings. He recalls “the house with the thatched roof” nearby, which is interesting as an Englishman I would not have thought to mention this (presuming it was common knowledge among mine readers). Tis’ a wondrous thing, to have a pen-pal with a foreign perspective, in mine humble opinion. One can appreciate the small details and unusual theatrical practices with a fresh pair of eyes, and ‘twill be forever noted down for future generations.
Overall, methinks this theatre – and the good city London – to be an unmissable travel destination. Future generations may believe the architecture and bloody, exaggerated performance style to be somewhat unusual. I shalt have to return the favour to mine Swiss friend, and recommend that he visits the delightful city of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne upon his next trippe to our fine land!
Sarah Thompson, Olivia Varty, Polly Westhuizen, Alex Harris, Patrick Huish, Gabrielle Rouffert.
Works Cited
Cerasano, S.P. “Digital Essays” Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project, http://www.henslowe-alleyn.org.uk/essays/digitalessays.html. Accessed 9th October 2019
Platter, Thomas. Thomas Platter’s Travels in England, 1599. Transl. Glare Williams (London; Toronto: Jonathan Cape, 1937) pp.166-71
TripAdvisor.co.uk “Homepage”. Accessed 9th October 2019