Dreams and Dark Deeds on the South Bank

Our friends, Toot and I went to London to see Shakespeare's plays; 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and 'Macbeth' at the Globe Theatre.  We had a great time, both productions were very good and the Globe is a wonderful venue!

Toot and I consider this production of Macbeth to be the best we have seen to date. Notably, Lady Macbeth and Banquo stood out.

In  A Midsummer Night's Dream, the character of Nick Bottom the weaver was acted with considerable wit and humour. All in all, the 'play within the play', "the most lamentable comedy and most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisbe",  was as good as we have ever seen.

"I know a bank whereon the wild thyme blows,

Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows

Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,

With sweet musk-roses, and with eglantine:

There sleeps Titania some time of the night,

Lulled in these flowers with dances and delight;

And there the snake throws her enamelled skin,

Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in". 

A Midsummer Night's Dream (2.1.249)

We recommend getting tickets for any performance at the Globe, seeing a Shakespeare play in a contemporary setting is a unique experience!
http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/

"To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more; it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing".

Macbeth (5.5.16) 

Credits: Shakespeare on line and Shakespeare's Globe