Diana Ross meet Will Shakespeare

A matinee in the Globe Theatre is an experience. The cheap seats are for standing room in front of the stage for 5 pounds. It was full and people hung in there for two and a half hours. But I sat with the mucky mucks under cover on a cushion! Twelfth night was a scream. Really a fun way to see Shakespeare. Purists would have been appalled but I found it really funny (as did the crowd) It was a campy 70's version with song and dance. The narrator was a huge black fellow with a deep baritone voice who channelled Diana Ross - huge hair and a glamorous gold lame dress. He was a huge (literally) presence. Malvolio in contrast was a tiny girl? who was seriously hilarious - physical comedy was her specialty. Such a contrast to the stuffy normal rendition of the role. Mixing races was the norm here as well as in the Open Air theatre in Regent's Park - completely colour blind. I sat beside an Australian on one side and Canadian from Vancouver on the other. We all agreed this is the way to learn Shakespeare. 

I met Bill outside and we raced to St Paul's across the Millennium Bridge to arrive in time for Evensong. It was a chance to sit in the breathtaking cathedral (we were sitting right under the dome) and listen to the choir and organ. We politely stood and sat at the right time and took in some of the full-on high Anglican service but mainly absorbed the incredible setting. 
Pictures are not adequate. St Paul's up close is too big to photograph and cameras are off limits at the Globe (with volunteers ready to pounce on anyone foolish enough to tentatively raise a phone.)