In 2007 I was lucky enough to go to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London and watch a performance of Othello. It was the most amazing experience (and I've watched a lot of Shakespeare in a lot of different venues and genre in my time!!) and even my non-Shakespeare-enjoying husband actually enjoyed the play immensely, aided in no small measure by the atmosphere and intensity of the setting.
The little town in NZ that I'm proud to call "home" has just embarked on a short series of Shakespeare plays on screen - film versions of productions at the Globe in London. I was torn... I loved the Globe, and I love Shakespeare, but I was a little worried that on screen it would lose some of its integrity and atmosphere.
My very good friend thought that this was an opportunity not to be missed - she had visited the Globe in London but had not been able to get tickets for a performance - and so we trotted off yesterday to our local museum/lecture theatre for a 3 hour performance of Much Ado about Nothing.
I needn't have worried - the screening was superb, and did full justice to a joyous rendition of this play. The cast were brilliant, the costumes elegant and appropriate (I loved the subtle use of colour to show allegiances and character) and even the uncomfortable seats in the lecture theatre helped to add to the atmosphere in a very authentic way! And the wonders of modern technology made it all possible - I felt transported not only back into Shakespeare's time, but also half way round the world!
Next week is another screening (Alls Well that ends well I believe) and I can't wait. At only $10 a ticket it's a treat not to be missed.
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