wherearetheloves2006

6 July Wallingford

The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth like the gentle rain from heaven on the place beneath........
trouble was, the rain was not exactly gentle.

Last night we had tickets (pre-booked a couple of days earlier when it was sunny and hot) for 'A Merchant of Venice', performed in the new outdoor theatre in the grounds of Oxford Castle (former gaol). We spent the day walking around Oxford in increasing mist and light rain, but ever optimistic that by evening it would clear. One of the consolations was, the cast were considerably wetter than we were. At the beginning, it was only light drizzle and even stopped for a while, but by the second act it was really coming down, and at one point the performance was stopped while they drilled holes in the stage for the water to drain away. As the play was being done in modern dress, complete with platform shoes on the girls, it was getting more and more dangerous for them. We were told at that stage that if we wanted to leave, do so now while there was a short break!! Some did leave, which I think was a bit unfair on the cast, who were real troopers. Fortunately for Portia and Nerissa, the famous scene is delivered in men's clothes which in this case were black tracksuits. It was a very different rendition of the Merchant, with rap and pop music introducing some scenes.

posted by lizandarthur @ 6:03 pm