From Jamaica

Angel Beswick, teacher
Kingston, Jamaica

Dear Richard,

It was just as you said. At first I was almost sick with nervousness, anxious to see if I'd get a full house, anxious about the girls'
performance, anxious about everything! And then we began. I watched from the front row, the seat closest to the audience, in case anyone forgot a line I could whisper it to them. My family did backstage, which was a huge help. And as I watched my play, I found that I couldn't believe that it was just that - MY play. I was laughing out loud with the audience when Petruchio arrived drunk at his wedding. And when Kathryn slapped Bianca and I made the slapping sound with my hand from the audience, I heard a collective gasp and I smiled to myself. Later on, many audience members expressed their admiration to Bianca, for being such a good actress as not to flinch when she was slapped. :-)

What can I say? Again, that you were right. As we got to the second to last scene it suddenly hit me that the show would be over in a matter of minutes. And so it was. We got thunderour applause, and even now I am still getting stopped in my school or in my neighbourhood and being praised about the talent and the professionalism of the show. People said that they never had interest in Shakespeare, and not only understood the play but enjoyed it. My sister's boyfriend, 21 years old and studying science, told me he'd Blackberried "The Taming of the Shrew" after to find out even more about it. I had a list full of children interested in being in the next production, or parents who wanted their children to be. And on the morning, after I woke up (very late, ha! =)) I found myself dragging around the house, my body and mind much confused and slowed down - in fact, wondering, "What do I do now that everything is over?"

Thank you Richard. You and your company are an inspiration to me. I am simply in awe that you could write such interactive and enjoyable scripts.
I haven't exactly decided when my next play will be, but this much I do know - there WILL be a next play. I will paypal you by this weekend, once my money is settled. I will send some scanned pictures, and if you send me your postal address I will send a real programme, or I can scan that too.
Of course you have permission to quote anything I say on your site. I have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for your work. I thank you for sharing it with the world, because it'd be so much easier not to.
Thank you for spreading the light of Shakespeare. Please know that it now burns in Kingston, Jamaica!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.