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By Diana Lalata
Class of 2017
As I eagerly awaited the cast to bring the stage to life, I could not contain the excitement running through my restless legs as I stood as a groundling in the grandeur of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. I was prepared to stand for three hours straight and fully document both this accomplishment and monumental moment in my life—the moment I have been dreaming of ever since I was first introduced to theatre. I raised my phone to take multiple pictures of the stage, the tall timber structures and thatched roofs above the audience members sitting in the galleries, and even the annoyed face of the Globe theatre assistant who stood about three feet in front of me. As I focused my camera on the stage’s beautifully painted ceiling, I was captured by the rhythmic sound of bongo drums playing and then interrupted by a large hand covering the camera lens. The elderly man guarding the stage informed me that no cameras were allowed during the actual performance and requested that I put my phone away. I reluctantly returned my phone to my purse and watched the lively actors and actresses swiftly glide across the stage, marking the beginning of The Merchant of Venice. I was disappointed that I could not record video clips of the first act, or even take photos of the actors throughout the performance—how was I going to fully describe my experience if I did not have visuals to supplement my words?
This certainly wasn’t the first time I was told that no cameras were allowed in the places I most wanted to take pictures abroad. In Scotland, there were some parts of Edinburgh Castle and The Palace of Holyroodhouse that did not allow any type of photography. In England, we were prohibited from taking pictures in the special exhibition of the British Library, which showcased four copies of the constitutional magic that we call the Magna Carta. For a picture-taking addict, I found these restrictions difficult. However, I tried to find the positive side of this setback—perhaps it was for the best, as I was forced to experience life without the lingering distraction of technology that so often holds the attention of our generation. Identifying myself as what many may call a “millennial”—one who is more than likely unhealthily attached to his or her phone (or some other type of technology)—these stipulations taught me an important lesson that I should have embraced long ago: to live fully in the moment instead of missing it by trying to capture it.
I quickly realized that no amount of high-definition pictures or video clips could capture the magic of Shakespeare’s theatre or my feeling of amazement while standing in a historic building that once held and continues to hold productions of Shakespeare’s literary genius. No close-up photo or “selfie” with an actor from the acting troupe could showcase the theatrical talent and phenomenal way that the cast figuratively time traveled to connect five hundred year old prose to the 21st century. Pictures could never fully give justice to the beauty of the Palace where the Queen stays whenever she visits Scotland, or even the rolling green hills and clear blue skies conveniently in her backyard. As much as I wanted to capture the glamor of the oldest set of Crown Jewels in the British Isles, which were kept safely in a glass case in the Edinburgh Castle, I am sure my photo would have been an insufficient portrayal of the shine and sparkle of the Crown, the Sceptre, and the Sword of State. I was not able and will never be able to illustrate the beauty of these things, even with the most up-to-date technology.
Only words can express my true sentiments from each experience. Stepping into the Palace of Holyroodhouse felt like stepping into Anne Hathaway’s shoes as a peasant-turned-princess in the movie, Princess Diaries. Exploring the Edinburgh Castle felt like traveling back to medieval times with knights in shining armor guarding the halls and exquisite parties in the ballroom. Eating a formal dinner in the Great Hall of Trinity College at Oxford University felt like I took the train at Platform Nine and Three Quarters and traveled straight into the Wizarding World to eat a meal at Hogwarts alongside my dear friends, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. Pictures don’t show the magic I felt overseas as a thrilled tourist or even the amount of knowledge I gained about Scottish and British history as a spirited scholar. Although I still wish I got to take as many pictures as I wanted to, I am grateful to have these pictures and memories in my head and the words to speak about my experiences. As a person once concerned about making sure I took enough high-quality pictures to document my experience to share on social media, I know now that it is more than okay to take a break from technology and to fully live in the moment, not chase after it.
Diana Lalata, of Louisville, Ky., is a junior McConnell Scholar studying English and political science.