Abby Lombardo: Homecoming

 This weekend felt like a continuation of themes discussed at Tintern Abbey: themes of returning to a place filled with memory and the span of time that marks the growth of a person. These themes became extremely salient to me as our coach full of England Semestrians pulled into the quaint rivertown of Stratford-upon-Avon, which I had visited a little over a year ago in May 2013 while attending Westmont’s London Theatre Mayterm.

Though my previous stay in Stratford consisted of introverted, bed-ridden days of rest, recuperation, and solitude, I felt a tug on my heart. I felt the warmth of familiarity flow from tip to toe. I felt the spilling of stored-up memories previously reserved within my mind. And as I stepped over the threshold of the same bed-and-breakfast where I had stayed a year previous, my cell phone instantly connected to the lovingly remembered and not forgotten Wi-Fi network! My mind knew. My body knew. My phone knew. I was home.

One of the main reasons Stratford-upon-Avon feels like home to me is my love of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal Shakespeare Theatre. This weekend’s Love’s Labour’s Lost would count as my 4th Royal Shakespeare Company production I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of viewing. With so many memories encapsulated within the wooden halls, plush red seats, and brick walls of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, walking through the doors Friday night felt like I could tangibly connect to my past experiences. All of the joyous laughs (there were many) humble critiques (if there is such a thing) and reverent praises (who could stop?) experienced in this sacred space whelmed me in a flood of remembrance.

I asked myself why and how a theatre building made out of sticks and stones could make me remember so much and feel so much familiarity! And then I realized the answer—Shakespeare, DUH! In my time at Westmont as an English Major, I studied Shakespeare and his works every year. Deep discussions about characters’ choices, behaviors, and motivations fostered an intimate connection between character and reader. I became very comfortable and familiar with the Bard and all of his lovable and not-so-lovable characters. To push my point further—they became family. Apparently, I am not the only one to connect in such a way to Shakespeare’s plays, for they have lasted over 400 years and have become some of the most familiar plays (in the English language) of all time! Now—I figured—my love of all things Shakespeare may or may not have had an impact on my mental, physical, and emotional reaction upon my return to the RST.

Though I had missed my hometown high school’s homecoming football game (which happened to take place on the exact same October weekend) I had experienced my own homecoming of sorts when I made my way through the theatre, found my correctly numbered plush red seat, and bounced up and down as my 4th RSC production began.