So I’ve been away for the last 5 weeks and I have tried to see as much theatre as possible. I saw many shows in London as well as a show in the ancient theatre at Epidaurus in the Peloponnese in Greece. The theatre there was built in the 4th century B.C. and seats nearly 15,000 people. (My dad pointed out that that is 3,000 more seats than Poly Pavilion where the UCLA basketball team plays!) The theatre boasts perfect acoustics – which is a delight to the actor. My sister and I saw Helen Mirren in Phaedre when we were visit the theatre. It was a very interesting and exciting experience. Although they did not have an ATM… a very frustrating experience when you’re coming from New York City. We do get spoiled by an ATM every block… . (because we didn’t have any cash we couldn’t eat from about 3pm until 1am….)
Helen Mirren in PHAEDRA
Well, before the show started we walked around the ancient site. There were temples to different gods, and bath houses for healing as well as a very large stadium. The theatre was set on one side of the city and looked out into the hills sourrounding it. What blew my mind was that the theatre, essentially in the middle of nowhere, sat that many people. And when Helen Mirren whispered the word “Hyppolytus” because she couldn’t find the strength to bring more volume to the name of the man she loved, all of the thousands of us present could hear it perfectly. It was chillingly exciting. And it got me thinking about how we really don’t need all the intricate and fancy modern conveniences that we have grown accustomed to in order to put on great theatre.
icbins
jraemaldonado
misterpatches
lbferrel
chiatola
mannycbins
rmaranoff