Tag Archives: Shakespeare

THOROUGHLY MODERN MINI: Richard III, Trafalgar Studios

Posted on by

Director Jamie Lloyd seeks to make Shakespeare accessible, bringing it to new and younger audiences. This thrilling account of the historical play, Richard III does that brilliantly, it is a gripping theatrical experience from start to end.

Bringing Martin Freeman into the lead role attracted much attention, many people doubted whether the famous Hobbit and Sherlock actor could break his nice guy persona. What Martin Freeman does in this play is to create a cold, calculating, almost inhuman character. He pulls it off with such confidence that we still feel the raw, broken side to the cruel King, making him seem genuine and believable. I particularly enjoyed watching Freeman continuously slip further into madness and villainy throughout the play, and he showed real skill illustrating the extremity of the King without over exaggerating.

There has been some criticism for the set, which remains constant throughout the show. The static set occasionally restricts movement but effectively adds a claustrophobic tension and feeling of no escape to the play which worked in favour of the actors, giving a sense of relentless closeness as well as intensity to the scenes.

A brilliant aspect to Richard III is the dark comedic side to the work which has been heightened by the cast in this production, creating many sinister yet hilarious moments which are contrasted with the ruthless violence that accompanies them. This works very well, with the tragedies and losses in the play remaining serious despite the comedy.

The cast is a myriad of great acting with a fantastically charismatic Buckingham (portrayed by Jo Stone-Fewings) and a desperate Queen Elizabeth (portrayed by Gina McKee) acting alongside Freeman.

This production of Richard III is fascinating, funny and dark with a chilling soundtrack and one that has countless positive attributes. The 70s aesthetic added another layer of twisted surrealism which I loved, and I find it pointless to delve too deep into what the original thoughts were behind the concept, even if they were connected with ‘The Winter of Discontent’ in the 70s or otherwise.

I found this piece of theatre incredibly unique and so well executed (no pun intended) that I would love to pop down to Trafalgar studios and see it for a third time!

Continues until Saturday 27 September. More information and book tickets here.

Written by Thoroughly Modern Mini, Eloise Kenny-Ryder.

Twelfth Night, The Globe

Posted on by

There is one show on the lips of the critics this autumn, the Globe’s Twelfth Night.

When a rare production like this arrives in London with a spectacular all star cast, I am careful to book for the start of the run, terrified and paranoid that the stars will “get tired” or “pull out due to illness”; with John Rylance and Stephen Fry appearing, I was not willing to risk that. Booking opened months and months ago, I had it pencilled in my diary and rang up immediately, two standing tickets for opening night please. I’d almost forgotten about it when the date finally came round.

This magical production marks Stephen Fry’s return to the stage after his stage fright debacle in 1995, which led him to flee from the show after the first week. Determined to bring him back to the stage, Rylance asked him to choose his dream role, and the rest is history. The play is, as all expected, a resounding success, not least because the cast are both as a whole and individually faultless. The visual production, timing and music all complement the actors beautifully. Rylance is chillingly sublime as the white-faced Olivia, Fry conquers as mad Malvolio and Johnny Flynn is surprisingly flirtatious and feminine as Viola, a part very different from the roles I have seen him play previously.

The show transfers to the Apollo Theatre form November 2nd and will undoubtedly receive five-star reviews there as well. An absolute triumph of talent and theatricality. Start queuing for returns now!

http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/theatre/on-stage/twelfth-night-2012

Buy tickets for the Apollo theatre run here.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Posted on by

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a popular programming choice for summer, and I have seen a plethora of different interpretations. This whimsical, magical play offers directors and designers the chance to go wild and conjure up an imaginative world, totally nonsensical if they wish. With this play you can expect the unexpected and Matthew Dunster’s bizarrely captivating production confirms this.

It is an elaborate realisation of the Shakespeare tale… a group of abrasive workmen are employed to perform for the wedding party…a TOWIE-esque crowd dressed in offensive princess wedding dresses. Along the way they are infected by the flower of an alien faced puck and his fairy commanders… Titania is a freakish mermaid and Demetrius a savage gothy animalistic brute. Titania’s attendants are alarmingly sinister bald human creatures.

The set is hilarious… a chavvy caravan is elevated into the sky to reveal an underworld… from which the fairies emerge splashing and thrashing about. In the background a shopping mall poster advertises: Athensfield by Oberon Developments! The cast are fully committed, giving an impressively enthusiastic group performance. For me George Bukhari (Bottom) and Rebecca Oldfield (Helena) are particularly brilliant. Bukhari provokes plenty of laughter with his clever comic timing and Oldfield is fabulously witty and whiny as the lovesick Helena.

It is an artistic production with thought-provoking visuals. The choreography by Charlotte Broom is great especially in the final riotous dance after the wedding. I also really appreciated the spellbinding music which accompanies the action beautifully, composed specially by Olly Fox.

I adore this alfresco theatre… and though this wasn’t my favourite production yet, the atmosphere was as enchanting as ever.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream continues at Regent’s Park until 5thSeptember, book here.