Updates!

Hiya,
Sorry I didn't get to updating anything last night. I was online, but it was a bit later than usual because I went to see "Taming of the Shrew" down at the RSC's Courtyard Theatre. It was a very good production with a really stellar and adorable set that began as a modern seedy motel/nightclub and turned around into an Italian house/manor/etc. They did the bit with Sly and the players at the beginning in modern dress, and Sly is cajoled into playing Petruchio with a streetwalker girl playing Katherine. The players arrive in style, with the back of a truck appearing to come right through the back wall and the back opening to reveal all the actors with little minature Italian buildings that they roll out to make the city! There are stools all around too that look like little archways and parts of buildings. A domed building has it's top taken off like a food chafing dish and reveals a platter of fruit which is then lifted as the rest of the roof drops four ways to make a table!! It was so cute and clever! The production itself was quite cruel in it's playing. A bit of a portrait of abuse, with none of Petruchio's "taming" done in jest. He was beating Kate and his servants the whole show until they're all broken down. However, at the end after Kate's submission to man, the whole play dissolved back into modern day and the players strip Petruchio/Sly of his costume, leaving him standing in only his underwear as they pack the truck back up and Kate climbs in with them, tossing the old Sly clothes out and looking at him in disgust. As the truck door closes, Petruchio/Sly is left clutching his clothes and looks up in horror as the lights pull down on his face and then go out. It was a well-done ending. They stayed true to Shakespeare's writing of the play and it's mysogenistic ideals and making Kate's speech honest and real while not having it all turn out awkwardly sexist at the end by adding that bit in. I liked the actors for the most part (one of the servants being my favorite- he was HILARIOUS. Bravo, Biondello!) and it was a fun and somewhat distrubing night at the theatre! :-P

It's the weekend now! YAY! I could have volunteered to go in on Saturday to work but I am taking the time to hang out, get some laundry done, and possibly go to Warwick Castle for a bit of medieval fun. Next week, tech will be in full swing for "Love's Labours Lost" and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll get to see dress rehearsal 'cause I won't be around for Press Night which is when the company usually gets to go. Christine, no promises on autographs. It looks like I won't get to see Hamlet (it's sold out for the rest of eternity) and I've got the only potential one already promised to Marcus :-P Can't be bugging the man during tech to sign more than one thing! I can get a poster or something though, if you want.

I got to see the costume shop, armory, and millenry (hats) departments yesterday too. They had all the Love's Labours costumes hanging about and they are STUNNING. There are lots of antique fabrics, beadwork, and incredibly intricate layering. I saw David Tennett's doublet up close and it is really incredible. It's all handstiched blue suede, with slashing all over it and a grey-blue silk peeping through, another layer of lining, and then the inner lining of the jacket. So gorgeous. One of the dresses for the girls nearly made me faint. It's an incredible dark sapphire blue with orange/red themed flower embroidery in a large print all over. So so so pretty. Ugh. I wish I could wear it! Armory was neat. They've got some suits of real leather armor with intricate stamping and embossing all over. They also do the boots and shoes there. So cool.

Anyway, I'm off to eat dinner and then maybe head down to the river to read or something. It's a lovely evening and I can sleep in a bit tomorrow! Yay!

Love,
Nat