The job of an historic actor is a strange one. We met some extraordinary performers on the Mayflower 2 today. One was obviously incomprehensible to anyone who wasn't first language English - and probably to a lot of people who were - with his carefully studied vowels and his naviga-si-on. The boys certainly needed simultaneous translation. Another spent more time wondering at William's lack of respect for his father and looking bewildered at the mention of Thanksgiving than she did explaining who she was or what she was doing (to be fair, why she was on the boat three months after the pilgrim fathers had arrived and set up camp was a puzzle they hadn't really thought through). Is it a joy of spontaneous involvement and improvisation, or is it permanent isolation as one can never really relate to the people coming through the door (although one must rely on them completely - if they don't play their part, the show is over before it starts). Is it a chance to really research a time and place, or a constant restriction to one point of view? Maybe it's just that today's examples were extremely talented, but I can't help but think that there are men at home in Plymouth tonight combing their anachronistic facial hair and practicing their 17th century expletives, in the hope that eventually they'll be promoted to Captain.
Today’s statistics:
- Started driving: 10.02
- Finished driving: 15.35
- Miles: Not sure, sorry - forgot to check the milometer, and the car is now 25 miles away on the mainland.
- Ferries: 1
- Children sold into apprenticeship on a 17th century ship: 1 (almost).
- Favourite placename: Mashpee, MA
- Breakfast: Seven Hills Inn, Lenox
- Lunch: Hotdog / icecream stands, Plymouth
- Dinner: Canning residence, Tom Nevers
Today’s Discoveries:- It's probably worth waiting till iPhone 5.
- Coffee oreo icecream should never be overlooked.
- Nothing is better than lying in bed at night and hearing the sea.
- Upside-down houses might be better even than coffee oreo icecream.
So when I visited Colonial Williamsburg there was this English guy there who would not get out of character for anything. We wanted to know if there was a place we could go get something to eat and he just kept babbling on about the food in that time period. Honestly, if he could do Shakespeare you'd think he'd be doing Shakespeare.
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