"Richard II" by the Royal Shakespeare Company

I am a big David Tennant fan. He played the Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who. I've seen some of his other work, too, and always enjoyed it. So when I realized that his starring turn in Shakespeare's Richard II would be at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon when I was in England, I knew I had to go. Mom paid for my ticket as an early birthday present and I went and saw the performance today. It was fantastic.

David is an even better actor than I thought. He just draws you into his performance. It was surreal at first, though, to be sitting just a couple of yards away from him. I mean, it was David Tennant in the flesh! Sometimes, I'd watch him react to the other actors when he wasn't speaking because (1)he's David Tennant and (2)he was just fascinating to watch. 

Of course, there is also something special about seeing Shakespeare performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company in the bard's home town. I've seen Two Gentlemen of Verona performed at the San Marco theatre. That's when I discovered that I enjoyed Shakespeare's work a lot more when I saw it performed versus just reading it. I've also seen two filmed productions of Much Ado About Nothing. One with Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh and the other a black-and-white updated version by Joss Whedon. I enjoyed both. I've yet to see the one starring David and Catherine Tate. I think I'm going to have to buy that soon.

Anyway, I knew seeing Shakespeare performed by the RSC in Stratford would be something special, and it was. I was thoroughly engaged from start to finish. I have to say I felt quite bad for King Richard, but that's probably because of David. :-)

One thing I did observe that made me cringe: There was a seriously huge amount of spitting and spraying happening when the actors spoke. Spittle was flying all over the place. I'm surprised they didn't have to mop the stage at intermission! 

Also, in a scene near the end, Richard throws down a mirror he was using and Bolingbroke steps on it on his way out. I noticed that the mirror broke when the actor playing Bolingbroke walked over it with his boot and teeny tiny bits of glass fell on the stage. David was barefoot in the later scenes and stepped right where the glass bits were. Either they weren't sharp, he has really tough feet, or he's the ultimate professional because he never reacted. All I know is I flinched when he stepped on the fragments.

The play is three hours long with intermission and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Photos weren't allowed during the performance, but I did snap a couple during intermission.

First off, this is the seating layout for the main level. As you can see, the stage erupts out into the audience. I was in Row B Seat 8, so I was up close and personal with the actors. In addition, see those diagonal bits running from the upper corners of the stage marked BCDE (or EDCB)? That was part of the stage, as well, and the actors often entered or exited the stage along these routes. I don't know that I'll ever enjoy a traditional flat stage ever again. This layout almost makes you a part of the action.

The theate is designed like theatres from Shakespeare's era. The seats near the stage (the stalls) would be where the peasants would stand. The higher the seat, the higher the individual was on the social ladder. So I guess I'd be a peasant, since I was in the stalls. At least I got to sit down.

This is my view of the stage. I worried that I'd be too close, but if I am ever lucky enough to see a play here again, I will try for the same seats. It was great being that close. Though I think I'd rather be along the front edge of the stage, rather than the side.