So basically, the title says it all.

I finished my essay and Julia, and Chelsea, and I headed to London to pick up our tickets and chill out before Hamlet with Benedict Cumberbatch. We got off the bus at Baker Street which was neat, but we couldn’t really explore, and I’m pretty sure that there isn’t actually a 221B Baker Street. At least that’s what I have heard. We didn’t have terrible seats, which was nice. It was so much fun to see the film equipment all over the theater. They had some really nice cameras, a jib, and a dolly. That in and of itself made me really excited.

And then the curtain lifted. And there was Benedict Cumberbatch, sitting on the stage.

I really can’t explain it. It was the best play I have ever seen in my life. The staging, the lighting, the set design, the acting, the music, the special effects, and like everything else, was almost too perfect to be a play. It was gorgeous. The acting was amazing. Not just Benedict (who did a superb job!) but everyone. I have never seen a play where I did not like at least one actor. But they were all so good. The music added a whole new element and made everything more creepy and awesome. I wish I could have it on CD. The set design and lighting was jaw dropping. I’m pretty sure I was one of the few to actually notice the lighting because it was so good, you really don’t notice it (that’s the beauty of really good lighting, you don’t notice it). The stage was HUGE. It just kept going farther and farther back. It was gorgeous. The stage also set the scene and mood. And the special effects? Well, let’s just say jaw dropping. I can’t really describe it but at the end of the first half, the uncle has just talked about having Hamlet killed and suddenly tornado like explosions of “dirt and rocks” (I think some are actually real) shoot out from all over the stage. It literally looked like he was in a tornado. I have never seen something like that before in my life. When the curtain lifted at the second part, the stage was full of piles of “rocks and dirt” that looked so real (apparently they were plastic things) that basically made me wonder how on earth they got it on the stage, moved it, kept it, and cleaned it up. But actually there was only a small amount of dirt on stage. It was just very realistic! The way I took it was that the war zone feel meant that Denmark was crumbling.

Unfortunately, because it was filmed, Benedict did not come out the stage door, so that was disappointing. But it was still awesome to see the play obviously.

Then, today (Saturday) we got up early to go to Stratford Upon Avon to see Henry V. Henry V is my favourite history play (Hamlet is my favourite tragedy and Twelfth Night is my favourite comedy). It also holds special significance to me because of being in it my spring year of my Sophomore year. On the way there we saw so many cute little English towns. Really, they look like the movies and I want to explore! So many old buildings and many actual thatched roofs!!

We got to the Royal Shakespeare Company and I kinda found a masquerade mask that was pretty cheap, I bought a programme, and I got a shirt that says “Once more onto the breach dear friends, once more.” A bit of an impulse buy, but totally worth it.

The theater looked like the Globe sort of, but with seats. We happened to have some REALLY good seats!! And the play was good. Not quite as good as Hamlet, but, seriously one of the best Shakespeare plays I have ever seen. The guy who played Henry was amazing. He did such a good job! The costumes were great. They had some good special effects and music too. It was very minimal props and staging because that is how original Shakespeare was so that was cool. The best part was probably the acting which was on point. Basically, these actors had been doing Shakespeare for so long. They got so into it and they were so animated that they brought the show alive so well. Also, the guy who played the French Constable was Robin Hood in the last Doctor Who season. I kind of geeked out. He was great! And the guy who played the Chorus was in Star Wars 1, 2, 3 and Polonius in David Tennant’s Hamlet. It was an amazing time with friends.

And then this evening, we celebrated Melody’s birthday. She’s 21. I love the friends I have made here. They are just so awesome. 🙂