Midsummer Nights Dream - a few days after . . .

Wednesday 12th July 2017. Perfect picnic weather, and a very good production. Like much of Shakespeare there is always something new to discover. I'm not really a critical watcher, but I really enjoyed this.

The Scottish play with added atmosphere

The wind has been strengthening all day, noticeable on the motorway drive, and more so as we picnic on the stately 'picnic slope' at  Tolethorpe Hall before the play.

We follow the sun, minor heliotropes, shifting our chairs, balancing our plates. We are not of those who dine on weighted down but flapping tablecloths.

"This evening's performance will begin in five minutes."

We take our seats and watch the branches dancing , and hear the leaves whooshing or soughing.  Better than a painted backcloth and a worthy background for the initial meeting of the weird sisters, and the general mood of the play.

Another thoroughly enjoyable production by the Stamford Shakespeare Company, with particularly strong performances in the roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

Romeo always arrives too early . . .

On Wednesday we were at Tolethorpe again, doing the pre-show picnic thing, in much warmer gentler conditions than last time. After a beautifully warm, sunny day, there was a hint of clouds in the sky. At six o'clock sunshine and dappled shade provided a perfect backdrop to our melon starter, tuna sandwiches and strawberries. Time to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

Romeo and Juliet is one of the Shakespeare plays I know best, since I studied it for 'O' level, and saw a production at Stratford in 1961, with Dorothy Tutin as Juliet, Ian Bannen as Mercutio, and Edith Evans as the Nurse. 

Tonight we have Romeo and Juliet as the children of two warring gypsy clans. Well it was the excuse for a colourful stage set, and made good use of the rural surroundings, and anyway, the play's the thing, and that went very well, and was highly enjoyable.

Pre-performance tableau and bustle

The interval arrived before I was expecting it, always a good sign!  We were glad of our coats. Temperatures dropped sharply.

The second half was just as engaging - perhaps a little heavy on the histrionic tearfulness at times. 

And of course, in the last scene, however much I will Romeo to keep on talking until Juliet wakes up, it never works!

We stopped briefly on the way home to see if the Perseid meteors were visible, but the clouds had thickened.

Tolethorpe Hall and Shakespeare's Henry V

The grounds are open from 5pm, so that people can take a picnic, or buy one to eat before the performance. The surroundings are beautiful, so we decided to do just that. 
It was a wee bit chill, but very pleasant, and less rushed than eating early at home.
Good show too - Henry V.

 
After the play, at about 10.45, the sky was clear and starlit, and an orangey crescent moon looked huge behind the trees as we drove home.

Twelfth Night at Tolethorpe

Twelfth Night in July
mistaken identities
on open-air stage


Excellent performance by Stamford Shakespeare Company on a fine summer's evening.