Obstructed Views

and the thrill of the £10 ticket

The audience member to my left was a column, if I recall correctly. I was in the balcony and fairly close. It was Mary Stuart. I recall being wowed by a black dress with big gold polka dots, and perhaps some water onstage? The program was an entire chapter of a history book. I wished I had gotten there earlier to read it all. I probably would have understood a little more of the plot. Someone had told me that a UK audience tends to be familiar with the plot ahead of time - so the production does not cater to my British history naivete. The column did give me a little more cover as I leafed through the program when I felt lost.

from the National Theatre’s website. I must have been in the right section of the balcony, or that 5 or 11 box to the side. My column friend seems not to be shown here.

I was 20. In London for a week with tickets to 4 shows…