14th performance of Love's Labour's Lost (my 7th)
Not surprisingly I couldn't get to my usual parking place when I arrived in Stratford at about 11.00am, so I parked the other side of the river and walked to the theatre. Thankfully it was a lovely day for October.
Just as I arrived at the theatre Patrick Stewart was arriving! (I seem to keep seeing him in civvies!) I heard later that he watched the performance.
I bought my seat online from the RSC after tickets went on sale online last year so I was in the front row of the Circle (at the horseshoe end) which was a good view. It also meant that I could see David Tennant waiting in the wings to go on stage for one scene!
The audience took slightly longer to warm up than last night but I really didn't expect that they would be as good as last night's crowd. It was still a receptive audience though.
The highlight of the performance was that Berowne threw his hat and it actually landed on the upright part of the tree! I don't know if David Tennant or the crowd were more surprised! A cheer went up and then most people started clapping! When it quietened down David said "every time!" which started people laughing again. He then really struggled to get his own composure before he could say his next line!
There were mainly women in the front row today so DT hose one of them with folded arms and she undid hers quite quickly. The codpiece guy obviously found it quite funny!
Being up in the circle, I could see DT really clearly when he was in the tree - his facial expressions are amazing and I just love the way he delivers the "I, who am honest!" line.
Today David didn't walk around the stage when he said the part about swearing on a book.
I really think that Edward Bennet (who plays Navarre in LLL and Lauretes in Hamlet) acts far better in this play than Hamlet.
As I was higher up I noticed today that there is someone up in the roof who manually lowers and raises the swing whenever Boyet clicks his fingers.
As it was a matinee, they just did the two dances and no song immediately after the interval.
I think it's really great how Berowne, Rosaline, Navarre and some of the others move to the back of the stage for the second round of bows. It really seems as though they are an ensemble cast.
Even though I was up in the balcony I managed to get to the stage door before DT came out. It was really crowded but thankfully things were calmer than other times I've seen. I stood in my usual place and actually took a couple of photos - one of which is above and I'm really happy with it!
Just as I arrived at the theatre Patrick Stewart was arriving! (I seem to keep seeing him in civvies!) I heard later that he watched the performance.
I bought my seat online from the RSC after tickets went on sale online last year so I was in the front row of the Circle (at the horseshoe end) which was a good view. It also meant that I could see David Tennant waiting in the wings to go on stage for one scene!
The audience took slightly longer to warm up than last night but I really didn't expect that they would be as good as last night's crowd. It was still a receptive audience though.
The highlight of the performance was that Berowne threw his hat and it actually landed on the upright part of the tree! I don't know if David Tennant or the crowd were more surprised! A cheer went up and then most people started clapping! When it quietened down David said "every time!" which started people laughing again. He then really struggled to get his own composure before he could say his next line!
There were mainly women in the front row today so DT hose one of them with folded arms and she undid hers quite quickly. The codpiece guy obviously found it quite funny!
Being up in the circle, I could see DT really clearly when he was in the tree - his facial expressions are amazing and I just love the way he delivers the "I, who am honest!" line.
Today David didn't walk around the stage when he said the part about swearing on a book.
I really think that Edward Bennet (who plays Navarre in LLL and Lauretes in Hamlet) acts far better in this play than Hamlet.
As I was higher up I noticed today that there is someone up in the roof who manually lowers and raises the swing whenever Boyet clicks his fingers.
As it was a matinee, they just did the two dances and no song immediately after the interval.
I think it's really great how Berowne, Rosaline, Navarre and some of the others move to the back of the stage for the second round of bows. It really seems as though they are an ensemble cast.
Even though I was up in the balcony I managed to get to the stage door before DT came out. It was really crowded but thankfully things were calmer than other times I've seen. I stood in my usual place and actually took a couple of photos - one of which is above and I'm really happy with it!
Next performance of Hamlet for me: Tonight!!!
Next performance of Love's Labour's Lost for me: next Saturday (25th)
