Javier D.

Being in Stratford was unlike anything I have ever experienced before. The dignified culture and classy atmosphere never ceased to amaze me. Going to the Royal Shakespeare Company and being able to sit front row to watch these performances was incredible for me. Overall I would have to say my favorite plays were Cardenio and Macbeth, but closely following was Merchant of Venice, which captured my attention, and being that it was our focus play meant that we got to see it twice. The subtle details I missed the first time watching Merchant of Venice did not go unmissed the second time for me. The second time I was better equipped knowing full well the work and energy put into the play by its cast. Getting to meet the actress who played Portia really gave me insight into the level of absolute talent each actor puts forth in every play.

Seeing Shakespeare and DOING Shakespeare are definitely two things often underrated by English courses, as our voice lessons coach repeated to us. I was privileged with the opportunity to go everyday to the Birthplace Trust and DO Shakespeare, whether that meant voice lessons, acting tutorials and games, directing and enacting our own scenes, or simply discussing our thoughts on the plays we had read and watched. All of these fueled my understanding of Shakespeare and launched me into a greater appreciation for the theatre arts, Shakespeare himself and all the plays we saw.

While at times it may have been fast-paced, I became very accustomed to the day-to-day routine. I must admit, however, that I found myself unusually jetlagged and struggled sometimes maintaining my energy level at peak performance. However, as Mr. Burgess explained to me, it was only natural given the amount of attention and focus we put into each day while in England. I was astounded by the amount of information and helpfulness the Birthplace Trust had to give to us. I was stunned with their ability to bring Shakespeare to US. The Birthplace Trust should not be underestimated in the least, even now that I’m writing from home; I have access to and can contact them via Twitter, Facebook and their blog, which surprisingly contrasts well with the fact that Shakespeare’s plays are about 400 years old. This is some serious effort on the Birthplace Trust’s behalf!

The fact that every performance was accompanied with a pre-discussion or post-discussion greatly influenced my understanding of that performance, especially on those plays which we had not studied, such as The City Madam and Cardenio, without which I would be lost in translation. Both of these plays took place in the Swan Theatre, a smaller more personal theatre, which I enjoyed very much. With less mechanics and fewer backdrops, it forced me to imagine a little further than the larger RSC theatre did, but not too much. Seeing the actors up close was surreal in a some ways because not only was I in a foreign country, but I was sitting in a live theatre set in a different time period (excluding Merchant of Venice) and let’s not forget Patrick Stewart! Putting Patrick Stewart aside for a moment, The Merchant of Venice, taught me just how modern Shakespeare can be interpreted in a live theatre. Sure, I too had seen the more contemporary gangster film version of Romeo and Juliet, but that was film. To do The Merchant of Venice in a contemporary setting and for it to work and convert over nicely was really neat. I, like everyone else in the audience, felt trapped when it came time for Antonio’s pound of flesh to be removed, suspended from above. I thought the director did a very nice job with this slaughterhouse court setting.

Warwick Castle added a ton of excitement and acknowledgment into Shakespearean times for me. Being on top of a super tall tower was terrifying but also pushed the limits of my disbelief of the entire trip, being in Stratford and living this surreal life. I relished the differences between Stratford and Seattle. The food was amazing, our bed and breakfast was amazing, and our hosts were very kind. The properness of Stratford can be seen upon arriving and talking to any of its inhabitants, in a way I thought it was similar to Seattle in that it was isolated from the rest of the world. Stratford was an honest uplifting place with beautiful scenery surrounding it. We were very fortunate in being able to revisit Shakespeare’s background. Stratford offered a sincere sense of soothing and scholarly climate. As cheesy as it may sound my only regret of being in Stratford was not being able to spend more time there. Nonetheless, I can honestly say I can’t wait to go back someday to Stratford, only next time bringing my family with me.

 

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