Soggy fun at the Pop-up Globe

Under the greenwood tree,

Who loves to lie with me,

And turn his merry note,

Unto the sweet bird's throat,

Come hither, come hither, come hither:

Here shall he see

No enemy

But winter and rough weather.

Who doth ambition shun

And loves to live i' the sun,

Seeking the food he eats

And pleased with the food he gets,

Come hither, come hither, come hither:

Here shall he see

No enemy

But winter and rough weather.

~ As You Like It II.5

"Rough weather" at the Pop-up Globe this morning is stating it rather mildly. Torrential rain and inch-thick mud would be nearer the mark. This, however, did absolutely nothing to dampen the lively spirits of around 480 school children, some of them very small, who came to see As You Like It. Nor did the rain rust their voiceboxes, which laughed, booed, whistled, whooped, sang, screeched and screamed; the resulting cacophany was like feeding time at the zoo and, having been 'promoted' to working on the usher's two-way radio, meant that I couldn't hear a blessed word that was said on the other end... 

I do love school matinees though – they are such fun and it is really lovely to see so many twinkies enjoying Shakespeare. It must be wonderful to play to them as they are such a giving audience.