The modern city consists of monstrous edifices and of dark, narrow streets full of petrol fumes and toxic gases, torn by the noise of the taxicabs, lorries and buses, and thronged ceaselessly by great crowds.
The sightseers who come by bus -- and often take in Warwick Castle and Blenheim Palace on the side -- don't usually see the plays, and some of them are even surprised to find a theatre in Stratford.
Besides, the New Oriental is accessible by several buses and subway lines and it hence can be reached within half an hour from my home, even during rush hour.
With lockdowns in place around the world, there are fewer vibrations in the Earth that are normally caused by highway traffic, trains, busses, people moving around going about their daily lives.