Theater Anyone?

You may not know this about me, but I'm quite a fan of theater [and as a result, films], and especially Shakespeare's plays. Strange I know, but what's really interesting is where this all started.

My uncle, Keith, is gay and he and his partner, Barry, have been together since just after I was born. Barry and I get on very well, and when they still lived in Cape Town, I used to go out with them to movies and whatever quite often.

One year, when I was 10 or 11, Barry suggested I go with him to see a play at Maynardville. For those of you who don't know, Maynardville is an open air theater, and every year they put on a Shakespearean production, but the play is set in a different time period. So, they have had 'Two Gentlemen of Verona' set in the '60s, and 'Twelfth Night' set in the 80's on a tropical island, and 'Romeo and Juliet' set in Harlem, New York in modern day times.

All this makes life very fun, and as a result my love for theater was birthed. Barry and I went to see a play entitled 'Twelfth Night', and I cried it was so funny. Ever since then I have gone to Maynardville every year, irrespective of who has gone with me, and I love it. Highlight of January...

This year, they are doing a play entitled 'Much Ado About Nothing' which is ok, but I'm going to go anyway, for two reasons. One, I go every year, and it's never bad. Two, Barry [and Keith] are down from Australia, and it's the first time I've seen Barry in 4 years, so I'd really like to go and see it with him.

If anyone is keen to come along, I'm sure I can organise something. It's going to be great. I love finding the hidden stories in the plays, and that's what makes it great for me.

So, is there something you do evey year? Do you love doing it or do you just do it because it's a tradition? Or have you ever really gotten around to thinking about it? Maybe you should...