Setting the scene...

This was the scene dining with friends on their lovely terrace in Barrou last night and although their house is on Grande rue which runs through the centre of the village we had this clear view onto the surrounding countryside.

A wooden heart...

 

Spotted in the grounds of Chateau de La Guerche.

A weekend of brocanting...

Started off on Saturday at Preuilly-sur-Claise near the plan d'eau.

These seemed awfy deer tae us.

Then Sunday to Palmy around the lake.

On a very hot day an ice cream would have been nice but we were not sure where we could get one.

Then we headed over to Barrou where it is always good to catch up with previous neighbours.

The village had a good display of art in the Salle de Fete as part of the artisanal exhibition.  

Sunday benches - from our Scotland trip.

 

Plenty of options on the river Kelvin walk in Glasgow.

Mesure pour mesure at Château de La Guerche.

Last night we once again found ourselves in the courtyard of our neighbour Château de La Guerche, watching an outdoor production of Shakespeare's Mesure pour mesure (Measure for Measure).

The setting could hardly have been more appropriate. The château's stone walls and towers as usual forming the natural stage set, their centuries-old presence lending extra weight to a play preoccupied with power, justice and the uneasy balance between the rules we impose on others and those we apply to ourselves. 

Watching Shakespeare in French was, linguistically at least, well beyond us. Yet, as with previous productions by the Théâtre du Perron, a basic familiarity with the story meant the language soon became secondary as the visual expressions and staging carried much of the drama, allowing the performance to be appreciated in a different way.

In this production, the moral tension at the heart of the play felt especially strong. Angelo's uncompromising virtue, Isabella's unwavering integrity, our standout performance of the evening and the Duke's elaborate (?) games of disguise and judgement unfolded against the solid, unchanging backdrop of a château that has we are sure witnessed centuries of changing rulers and shifting ideas of justice.

There was an added resonance in hearing debates about mercy, authority and punishment within walls that have themselves survived wars, revolutions and the steady passage of history.

Outdoor theatre has a character all its own. As darkness fell, the illuminated stonework became part of the production. The actors' voices carried effortlessly across the courtyard, and when the play explored its darker themes, abuse of authority, hypocrisy and moral compromise, the historic setting amplified the atmosphere without ever overwhelming the performance.

The Théâtre du Perron has been staging classical theatre at La Guerche since 2019, making imaginative use of the château itself as an integral part of each production. It is an approach that transforms a historic monument into a living performance space rather than simply a backdrop.

For a three hours, Shakespeare's Vienna and southern Touraine seemed to occupy the same world. The language may have been French, the play English but the questions Shakespeare asks about justice, mercy and human nature needed no translation.

Measure for Measure is often described as one of Shakespeare's 'problem plays', occupying the uncertain ground between comedy and tragedy. Under the open sky at La Guerche, for us those ambiguities felt particularly alive. After the final scene, the cast returned with an exuberant musical finale, their evident enjoyment reflected in the audience's enthusiastic applause.

This is now the sixth production we've seen here and it has become one of the highlights of our Loire Valley summers. Big shout out to the cast, musical ensemble and family for another lovely evening. 

Last performance tonight.

Good memories of Scotland - canal and river walk with Paul.

 

On our last day with Paul in Glasgow he took us on one of his favourite walks along the Forth and Clyde Canal and then along the river Kelvin to the  Botanic Gardens (pics tomorrow).

Getting back in step...

 

Went out for a wee walk yesterday around La Guerche, first since returning from our extended stay in Scotland. The shy sunflowers brought some brightness to a somewhat overcast morning.

Theatre at the chateau...always fun!

 

This year's fun and frolics at Chateau de La Guerche should be interesting!

Measure for Measure is a dark comedy by William Shakespeare about justice, mercy, and moral hypocrisy. It follows a strict ruler named Angelo who sentences a young man to death for premarital sex, then demands sexual favors from the man’s nun sister in exchange for his life.

Key Plot Points

The Duke's Departure: Duke Vincentio leaves Vienna and puts the rigid Angelo in charge, pretending to leave town but actually staying behind disguised as a friar. 
The Arrest: Angelo strictly enforces an old law and sentences Claudio to death for getting his fiancée Juliet pregnant. 
The Corrupt Bargain: Claudio’s sister Isabella, a novice nun, begs Angelo for mercy. Angelo agrees to spare Claudio only if Isabella sleeps with him.  
The Deception: Isabella refuses. The disguised Duke intervenes, setting up a "bed trick" where Angelo’s abandoned former fiancée Mariana takes Isabella's place in the dark. 
The Resolution: Angelo breaks his promise and orders Claudio executed anyway, but the Duke saves him. The Duke reveals his identity, exposes Angelo's hypocrisy, and forces him to marry Mariana before handing out pardons.
This was 2024's performance 'Ubu roi' by Alfred Jarry.

My Sunday Bench...Comrie,Scotland.

In Comrie, a village in the southern Highlands of Scotland, in the district of Perth and Kinross, known as the "Shaky Toun"

Go Glasgow!

We met up with Paul and Mara on Monday for lunch in Glasgow. The city was looking well under a clear blue sky. As I have said before, like most cities, it is important to look up to appreciate the architecture both classic and modern,

This is the neo-classical rooftop statue 'Italia' created by Scottish sculptor Alexander Stoddart on a rooftop in the Italian Centre on Ingram Street in the 'Merchant City' area.

This is the view looking towards the famous equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington located outside the Gallery of Modern Art in Royal Exchange Square.

He has been joined by a Scottie dog, one of 40 giant sculptures which have been placed around the city to raise awareness of Maggie’s cancer charity. It has of course also been given the traffic cone treatment that was *once unique to Glasgow.

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From Facebook.