Regent's Park.

Here are a few pictures from "Much Ado About Nothing" that I went to see at the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park. This is the cast I watched put on the performance (I did not take these pictures, but I gave credit where it is due). You can also go read more about the production, cast, story, and see more pictures at the Open Air website. There are not words for how astounding this play was.

Claudio (played by Ben Mansfield) was amazing. The actor did a great job of bringing the "Handsome Florentine" Claudio to life. I may have fallen in love a little.

The Open Air has very interesting program and pamphlet art. I like it.

One of my favorite Shakespearean couples. Beatrice (played by Samantha Spiro) and Benedick (played by Sean Campion). This couple is one that has a history, they are one of the more mature couples of Shakespeare's works and really seem like they will make their relationship last at the conclusion of the play. They have a great battle of wits between each other and they work because they constantly keep each other on their toes. The actors had great chemistry and made Beatrice and Benedick completely lovable to the audience.

The best character of the show (in my opinion) was Beatrice (by actress Samantha Spiro). She had so much energy and was a witty, vivacious character. She really brought a spark to the play. (Photograph: Alastair Muir)

A matinee audience watch a production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Open Air Theatre, Regents Park. I went to a matinee show and it was great, I had really close seats and the actors bring the audience in and really make them feel like part of the production. (Photo: Getty Images)

Ben Mansfield as Claudio, again. (Photos: Alistair Muir)

Samantha Spiro (Beatrice) overhears Anneika Rose (Hero) and Sarah Ingram (Ursula) praising Benedick aiding in the love she already has (but won't show) for him. I strongly recommend you to read "Much Ado About Nothing" or at least watch the movie or a theatre production of it. It (like most Shakespeare) is phenomenal. (Photo by Alistair Muir)

The "overheard" scene of Benedick overhearing the Prince and Claudio praising Beatrice. (Photo by Alistair Muir)

These pictures are mostly for your aesthetic pleasure. They are all of the different varieties of flowers and other flora and fauna that the beautiful Regent's Park has to offer. I watched the matinee of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" at the Open Air theatre there and then went on a picture-taking expedition afterward and these pictures were the result. Enjoy. :)

The entrance to Regents Park. I believe this has been in an earlier post, but this is a better picture.

Hi-

Never fear, this is not going to be one of my usually long-winded posts. I am starting to wrap things up here in England. I will be back in the United States in two weeks from today! I cannot beleive it. Time has flown. I will get into Artesia late on July 5, then drive to Lubbock on July 6 to start summer school (with class everyday 9-4) on July 7! Things are never going to slow down this summer! I hope to make trips back to Artesia the first couple of weekends I am back in Lubbock to spend a little more time with my family before getting a job that will more than likely consume my weekends once I've started it.

Once again, I leave for Ireland/Isle of Mann on Saturday to meet up with Grandpa Tom and Brooke (who just arrived there today) for a week long stay on the Isle at a bed and breakfast (hello, nice shower and comfortable bed!) and then I'm homeward bound. I will probably only have one or two more posts after this one to conclude my England trip and hopefully I will be able to post from Ireland as well. If not, I will post all of the pictures from Ireland when I am back Stateside. The last two major events we have before our England stay is finished are "Dirty Dancing" musical tomorrow night and a midsummer boat party on Thursday night. This will be a nice opportunity to say our goodbyes and be together one last time before we all leave early on Saturday morning after routine room checks and check-outs. I am lucky to only be saying a temporary goodbye seeing as how the main girls (Kelsey and Jordan) I hang out with the most here go to Texas Tech too. :) (Red Raiders stick together...there were more of us as a group in this program than groups of other students from same schools.) So I'm sure there will be plenty of "we-miss-london-and-want-to-go-back-NOW" reunions once we are all back in Lubbock.

Well, good night all! I hope everyone has a fantastic week. I love and miss each of you.

Always,
Mattie.