Browning around etc...

I'm bored....so whilst looking around I found a poem I had forgotten about. Elizabeth Barrett Browning, "How Do I love thee? Let me count the ways..." This has to be the most beautiful of poems ever written. I might be exaggerating and I'm sure I know other poems that are just as incredible but the emotion and heart felt love that Browning displays here is incredible.

The joys of getting back to all this literature stuff, that is of course not a very language politically correct way of putting it and especially describing it as "stuff" but I am taking poetical writers licence. Was sitting in a class for A Level students Thursday talking "King Lear". Wow! It's amazing how quickly one forgets all the literary terminology and just how exciting it used to be....

That has to be one of the things I wish we all knew when we were at school, that it really isn't that bad! If one only knew that school is actually fun if one only gives it a chance. Admittedly, I am very jealous of the one of the schools (I'm not going to be harsh and mention any names but it's a school I didn't go to)...I met their English teachers at the workshop and the one in particular is one I wish I'd had when I was at school. She is one of those awe inspiring teachers that sees only the positive points in her students and looks for a way to fill them with this same spirit that is driving her....

The workshop or "Textpo" that started Saturday proved to be very interesting. We had several speakers discussing the facets of back of stage management. I have learnt that there is no way in hell I'm ever doing "flies" - the ladder is way too shear and the fly tower far too high off the ground for my liking! Sound design and operations, on the other hand seems to be very interesting and loads of fun and further more, does not require leaving the safety of the ground!

The only disappointing factor has been the fact that there is not enough interest in the dramatic arts especially back of stage in this country. Apparently a number of the youngsters entering into the drama field think back of stage happens by magic (I wish!)! People at least seemed to fairly interested in the King Lear workshop - but could be because they are studying it for school this year.

Of course I was informed that in the old days it used to be a requirement that one could only become a Reps member by also taking part in stage productions. Now, however, it is not compulsory to take part in productions to be accepted as a member and it is because of this that the bar actually carries the theatre or else the theatre wouldn't survive. The usual interests in this country being always situated around alcohol whether it's cricket, rugby or theatre! Sad that the youth these days and even the older group seem to think the only way anyone can have fun is by being drunk and in fact not even just drunk but completely and utterly legless!

As much as I love drama it is nice at the end of it all to retreat back into either my own home or go off to Sunday mass where normality still exists.