Shakespearience
One of the advantages of living in Stratford (and there aren't all that many) is the vibrant theatrical scene. I mean, it is the reason I'm here. At the moment, the Royal Shakespeare Company is in the midst of The Complete Works of Shakespeare, all produced in one year. Wow, you say. Either sarcastically or in wonder and amazement.
Well, they began the project in April and it continues until next April. The RSC themselves are not doing all 38 plays, but they are doing approximately half, with visiting companies filling in the gaps with their own productions. The whole thing started with Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar, both of which I'm sorry to report are very substandard. A Munich company came in and performed an adaptation of Othello in German with subtitles and it was absolutely astonishing. There have been some other really great visiting companies. There was an Indian Midsummer Night's Dream with seven different languages and no subtitles. The great thing was: there didn't need to be! It was amazing, physical and visual theatre. Speaking of visual theatre, a Japanese Titus Andronicus blew everyone away. Easily the goriest Shakespeare play, the company performed it in style with an expensive set, lavish costumes and a really sparkling delivery of lines in Japanese. It was sensational in the literal sense of the word. This week, the Chicago Shakespeare Festival is visiting with Henry IV Parts One and Two. Quite good, if perhaps a touch too traditional.
The best RSC work has been a funny and emotional Much Ado About Nothing, set in pre-Revolutionary Cuba. I know, sounds crazy but it worked. And the star power has been provided with Antony and Cleopatra, starring Patrick Stewart. Now, the quality was fantastic as one would think, but another quick story: the Institute here holds a postgraduate Shakespeare conference every June. This year, we had Patrick Stewart as our very special guest! Sitting eight feet away, he spoke to us for an hour about his acting career and his experiences with Shakespeare. So amazing. But, for such a tiny town in the middle of nowhere really, because of the RSC, we can have interesting star encounters. I have, at various times, and always at the Dirty Duck (the actor's pub here) seen Ralph Fiennes, Jeremy Irons, Judi Dench and Alan Rickman.
I will of course update whenever there are astounding things to report. It sure looks like it though. What a great start.
Well, they began the project in April and it continues until next April. The RSC themselves are not doing all 38 plays, but they are doing approximately half, with visiting companies filling in the gaps with their own productions. The whole thing started with Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar, both of which I'm sorry to report are very substandard. A Munich company came in and performed an adaptation of Othello in German with subtitles and it was absolutely astonishing. There have been some other really great visiting companies. There was an Indian Midsummer Night's Dream with seven different languages and no subtitles. The great thing was: there didn't need to be! It was amazing, physical and visual theatre. Speaking of visual theatre, a Japanese Titus Andronicus blew everyone away. Easily the goriest Shakespeare play, the company performed it in style with an expensive set, lavish costumes and a really sparkling delivery of lines in Japanese. It was sensational in the literal sense of the word. This week, the Chicago Shakespeare Festival is visiting with Henry IV Parts One and Two. Quite good, if perhaps a touch too traditional.
The best RSC work has been a funny and emotional Much Ado About Nothing, set in pre-Revolutionary Cuba. I know, sounds crazy but it worked. And the star power has been provided with Antony and Cleopatra, starring Patrick Stewart. Now, the quality was fantastic as one would think, but another quick story: the Institute here holds a postgraduate Shakespeare conference every June. This year, we had Patrick Stewart as our very special guest! Sitting eight feet away, he spoke to us for an hour about his acting career and his experiences with Shakespeare. So amazing. But, for such a tiny town in the middle of nowhere really, because of the RSC, we can have interesting star encounters. I have, at various times, and always at the Dirty Duck (the actor's pub here) seen Ralph Fiennes, Jeremy Irons, Judi Dench and Alan Rickman.
I will of course update whenever there are astounding things to report. It sure looks like it though. What a great start.
posted by Brian | 7:36 AM
2 Comments:
Thanks for turning me on to your blog. :)
Have a great time in Ireland!
Hey ass! I didn't realize you had already gone to Ireland. How did that go? Why is your blog all defective and shit? HAHAHAHA post something or suffer the wrath of your readers.
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