Now the rain, amidst apocalyptic warnings of near-terminal drought. The exhortations to us all to apply rigorous water-saving sound odd, to say the least, as we slosh our way through ankle-deep puddles. But the odd sunny interval discloses that the rain is doing its job, and springtime flowers abound, at any rate here in the Walthamstow wetlands.
There’s also been a seasonal sprouting of politicians. On my way to Shakespeare’s Globe yesterday I passed through Southwark Cathedral churchyard, and there, within yards of the last resting-place of Will’s brother Edmund, I found Mr Mayor cheerfully greeting passers-by. Could perchance there be an election sometime soon?
I was on my way to herald the start of the international Shakespeare season – a rare staging of his erotic poem “Venus and Adonis” by the South African Company, the Isango Ensemble. Lovely, lovely stuff – more gloriously elegant and operatic than erotic, but enchanting. The company is
wonderful to watch and to listen to.
The gorgeous women in the company all dress identically, and take it in turns to play Venus. They move enticingly, and sing like angels, while the men leap and dance and invoke boar-hunting with gusto. It all bodes well for a Summer of Shakespeare, here in London and Stratford on Avon – to balance out all that sporting stuff going on over at Stratford on Thames.
My sporting endeavour this week has been limited to watching those gallant souls pounding the streets in today’s London Marathon. I marvel at the sheer dedication and staying power – thirty-six thousand runners – mostly there to raise money for charity. Special applause for all fellow-thesps who took part, like that splendid actor and puppeteer, the gallant Sam Dutton, who dressed up as a needle and thread…at least I think that’s what he said…
Tomorrow is the Bard’s birthday, and my American students have a treat in store in the form of a special talk by the much-respected Shakesperian actor Frank Barrie – who is also, as it happens, a mentor for www.teachyourselfacting.com.
As ever there will be a report on these pages, as well as one on the latest Ayckbourn comedy, on tour this week at the Tricycle Theatre. Stay tuned.
