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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2016 23:31:04 GMT
What are you saying? It's all an illusion? Oh damn. Well then why can't Glenda Jackson be Baby Spice? Lol |
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2016 7:59:28 GMT
First up, the Globe did Romeo and Juliet in 2009. Not a great production, but still, if you're looking for major Shakespeare productions in London then it's remiss to ignore the Globe.
Second up, if Simon Russell Beale can play the 80 year old King Lear at age 53, then the 27 year old Lily James can play the 13 year old Juliet. People can be boring and bang on about the ages all they want, but theatre is by its very design unrealistic, and I will take a skilled actor of the wrong age any day over someone the right age who just doesn't have the capacity to deliver. Honestly, there is no conversation more consistently boring than people banging on about the ages of actors in Shakespeare, unless we want to break it down further, in which case Hamlet's age is the most consistently boring conversation.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2016 8:56:05 GMT
Romeo's age is not specifically referred to but the similarity to Juliet in language and manner has always led me to think he is 15 or so. As for age, it's down to the skill of the actor, which was the case for the suspension of disbelief in Shakespeare's time as much as ours. I do prefer a younger cast though as I think it gives it a different energy to the play, same with West Side Story.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2016 10:03:53 GMT
First up, the Globe did Romeo and Juliet in 2009. Not a great production, but still, if you're looking for major Shakespeare productions in London then it's remiss to ignore the Globe. Second up, if Simon Russell Beale can play the 80 year old King Lear at age 53, then the 27 year old Lily James can play the 13 year old Juliet. People can be boring and bang on about the ages all they want, but theatre is by its very design unrealistic, and I will take a skilled actor of the wrong age any day over someone the right age who just doesn't have the capacity to deliver. Honestly, there is no conversation more consistently boring than people banging on about the ages of actors in Shakespeare, unless we want to break it down further, in which case Hamlet's age is the most consistently boring conversation. I don't do the Globe Not lavish Also 2009 is a long time ago How many Hamlets we had in that time? |
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2016 19:01:30 GMT
Just started watching last night's "Wallander". Actual quote:
Wallander's daughter: "So, how was the play?"
Sir Kenny Branagh: "Oh ... I left at the interval!"
In the first scene Kenneth got violently mugged, presumably while leaving the show at the interval.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2016 19:05:43 GMT
Just started watching last night's "Wallander". Actual quote: Wallander's daughter: "So, how was the play?" Sir Kenny Branagh: "Oh ... I left at the interval!" In the first scene Kenneth got violently mugged, presumably while leaving the show at the interval. Too funny!!! |
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Post by crabtree on May 31, 2016 21:54:54 GMT
I can't think of it off hand, but what's the actual line that mentions Juliet's age?
Lord knows, we should not get bogged down with the performers being the exact age of the characters - that leads us down all manner of literal avenues that I certainly don't want to go down. Joey was not a real horse in War Horse, by the way, and I don't think anyone felt cheated. Performing has never been about being literal. Well, just look at the circumstances that R&J were first performed under.
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 31, 2016 21:59:10 GMT
I agree with all you say. This is a bad production. Misconceived on almost every level. I will never go and see anything Branagh is involved in. (I can't allow KitHarrington to be classed with Madden though-He gives a much better and more committed performance in DF) God talk about timely discussions Left in the middle of the balcony scene As my agitation was affecting women next to me It shocks me that someone who is supposed to be a respected purveyor of Shakespeare is so cack handed in their direction of this play The aforementioned scene is so stupid to look at visually With Romeo often standing higher than Juliet who is supposed to be looking down on him WFT?! The "star" casting exposes what weak actors names can be Richard Madden is no better than his fellow Game of Thrones friend (they can meet after shows to see who is the worse stage actor given their respective theatres back onto each other more or less) I had so close my eyes and ears every time Jacobi minced about Unwatchable Meera Syal decided to go back to Goodness Gracious Me for her brummie nurse Doesn't work Lily James is a boring Juliet The whole cast lack any basic skills of diction and the pacing of lines is all over the place It seemed no one was comfortable speaking the verse and I have never come across this on such a mass scale in one show The dancing music and use of Italian is pathetically laughable The staging looks cheap and serves the action poorly There was such a lack of any unifying concept I was actually quite shocked The only recompense is that the negative reviews it received were well deserved and I hope Kenneth Branagh realises he ain't all that as a stage director Let's not pretend A slew of 2 and 3 stars is not where this show was aiming For me the RSC staging done by Rupert Goold (in his heyday) remains the gold standard for this play It's fine to adapt and update and meddle about with classic plays if the basics are in place This can offer new insights Alternatively a good classic staging is also good If done to the highest standards And I mean HIGH However if your fabric is cheap and nasty the dress will quickly unravel and fall apart |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2016 6:11:42 GMT
I can't think of it off hand, but what's the actual line that mentions Juliet's age? Lord knows, we should not get bogged down with the performers being the exact age of the characters - that leads us down all manner of literal avenues that I certainly don't want to go down. Joey was not a real horse in War Horse, by the way, and I don't think anyone felt cheated. Performing has never been about being literal. Well, just look at the circumstances that R&J were first performed under. Act 1, scene 3 basically opens with Lady Capulet and the Nurse discussing how Juliet is two weeks away from her 14th birthday. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2016 8:42:50 GMT
I can't think of it off hand, but what's the actual line that mentions Juliet's age? Lord knows, we should not get bogged down with the performers being the exact age of the characters - that leads us down all manner of literal avenues that I certainly don't want to go down. Joey was not a real horse in War Horse, by the way, and I don't think anyone felt cheated. Performing has never been about being literal. Well, just look at the circumstances that R&J were first performed under. He was what? ?
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Post by bellboard27 on Jun 15, 2016 8:19:41 GMT
Last night the production was being filmed. I understood this was a trial run. In the foyer there was a notice that there would be cameras and FOH mentioned it. I have seen quite a few productions being filmed, live broadcast, etc., but nothing like this. The stalls are divided into front and back at Row O. In front of Row O there were three large cameras about a metre apart, each with their own camera men standing behind (there were also 2 more cameras near the stage to the side, but these were not in the way). People seated in the central stalls behind this lot would have had real problems seeing much (I tried out some seats before the start). I asked a FOH staff if these people knew what they were getting. I was told yes, but someone overheard and said she did not know, but the ticket was discounted (to what price I do not know). However, even discounted I would not recommend it. So, if future productions are filmed, I would resist the temptation to save a few quid.
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Post by Mr Crummles on Jun 20, 2016 11:11:59 GMT
I really enjoyed this Romeo and Juliet. I had previously seen Rupert Goold's, at the RSC, Dominic Dromgoole's, at the Globe, and some other in the West End I can't remember much about.
This was my favourite. I thought Richard Madden and Lily James were quite good, managing perfectly to convey the passion, youthfulness and pathos of the tragic couple. I thought it was a vibrant production which reminded me of the sudden bust of energy released when a match catches fire that then dies almost as suddenly, as it quickly exhausts itself. I thought the whole cast was good. At the final bow, Benvolio (Jack Colgrave Hirst), announced that it was Richard Madden's birthday and invited the audience to sing Happy Birthday to him, which the audience ebulliently did. I thought it was rather endearing to see Richard Madden, who "for the two hours traffic our stage", cried, laughed, made love to Juliet, fought with a sword, and carried out many other youthful and intrepid deeds, blush and show great shyness at the friendly gesture.
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Post by ncbears on Jul 7, 2016 10:34:34 GMT
Saw this last night. Madden was off even though it was being filmed. Today (7 July) it is being streamed but I don't see how if Madden is off. Young women behind me were disappointed to not see him,. Tom Hanson moved from Paris to Romeo and I thought him handsome enough. More later but I enjoyed the first half but not the second and did appreciate the balcony scene. I was offered a stalls seat for 35£ near a camera which I was told "could" restrict view so I opted from grand circle clear view instead. Well, would have been clear view if not for the tall teenage boy dragged there by his mother.
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Post by jek on Jul 7, 2016 22:04:35 GMT
Was at a Picturehouse Cinema tonight for the live relay. Kenneth Branagh made an announcement at the start that Richard Madden had seriously injured his ankle two days ago and, after extensive physio was able to play the role but that they had made some minor adjustments to the staging. Having not seen the production before I don't know how much it differed from the norm but Richard Madden certainly seemed to be throwing himself around the place with no evident restraint!
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Post by crabtree on Jul 7, 2016 22:06:21 GMT
just seen the screening in Black and white and in widescreen - I loved the darkness, the shadows, but friends did not feel involved because of black and white. I suspect they were too young to have had black and white as staple. There was a great giddy atmosphere to the production, and full of love but not much sexiness about it. I did enjoy it though and there are some beautifully staged scenes. The second half, after a rather inventive first half, is quite straight.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2016 23:18:11 GMT
Saw the cinema broadcast tonight. Richard was back in although apparently some of the staging has been altered to accommodate his bad ankle. I wouldn't have noticed anything being up with him if they hadn't have said so props to him for managing to get on stage for this performance and pull it off. The broadcast was shown in black and white which I was apprehensive about at first but I think ultimately worked.
I really liked the staging, setting, costumes and use of Italian. The music for the most part worked but I felt it sounded a little too modern when the masquerade scene is being introduced. I liked the performances overall. If I'm focusing on the leads, I thought Lily was more consistent than Richard but also much more one-note. Lily just got a little OTT for me at times but I thought she made herself as believable as possible as a teenager. The close-ups of Richard whilst others were speaking did him no favours, I felt like I could see him thinking 'how should I react to this?' He was great during his dialogue moments though.
3*.
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Post by talkstageytome on Jul 8, 2016 1:46:21 GMT
I also saw the broadcast tonight, having opted out of seeing it when my friend offered a spare ticket to the matinee on West End Live weekend.
Cast was disappointingly passionless, and I thought Madden and James were too mature to convey the hormone fuelled attraction that makes R+J's love at first sight realistic. Derek Jacobi was interesting as Mercutio, and played him as a dandy, apparently influenced by Oscar Wilde according to the pre-show talk thing. It's just a shame his death was so... lame.
Although I didn't warm to him immediately, by the end of act 1 I also really liked Jack Colgrave Hirst as Benvolio too, and I missed the swagger and camaraderie of Benvolio, Mercutio and Romeo in act 2, which was a little bit exhausting to be honest. Lily James must sleep well after every performance because her hysterical act 2 Juliet wails and weeps pretty much the whole way through. It must be pretty draining for her. It's devastating, but because she's so hysterical from the start of the act, the play never really reached an emotional high point and it hardly felt like the ultimate tale of woe.
That being said, the subtlety of Lord Montague and Lord Capulet's reconciliation was rather touching.
LOVED the fact that it was in black and white though. Felt very sophisticated. The simplicity of the costumes and set worked for me too.
Over all I thought it was just fine. I enjoyed a few elements but for me there was just not enough passion or connection between any of the actors really. Still, it was nicely filmed and for £14 at my local cinema I'd say I had an enjoyable night out.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2016 10:48:13 GMT
I thought Madden and James were too mature to convey the hormone fuelled attraction that makes R+J's love at first sight realistic. I thought the problem was that they were both too attractive and confident. In a credible relationship, you need one to love, the other to "be loved." There has to be a small imbalance to build from, I think. Only credible relationships I've ever known, it has been impossible to decide which one loves the other more. An imbalance never works out in the long-term (not that R&J ever got the opportunity to test their longevity...). |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2016 10:57:44 GMT
LOVED the fact that it was in black and white though. Felt very sophisticated. Of course, Shakespeare wrote it in black and white, before colour was invented. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2016 14:13:00 GMT
i would really like to go and see this. but i would just like to know at what percentage of the performance does Richard Madden spend with little or no clothes on ? i'm not shallow but it's a big decision making factor.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2016 14:17:54 GMT
If that's your main impetus, you may as well stay home and watch old Game Of Thrones episodes, honestly.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2016 14:26:52 GMT
If that's your main impetus, you may as well stay home and watch old Game Of Thrones episodes, honestly. Tell me about it. Learn *that* the hard way! Two and a half hours and all I got was a couple of suicides and a neck ache. Not even a *hint* of a pec. Poor show Branagh, very poor show. Makes you wonder why on earth he got a knighthood. Tsk. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2016 15:27:27 GMT
humpphh
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Post by crabtree on Jul 8, 2016 16:42:55 GMT
a couple of vest and braces, but quite a sexless production, but chic.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2016 18:03:53 GMT
Saw this on Saturday minus Richard Madden (I felt for the Box Office/Ushers delivering that news) His understudy-whose name I can't find online right now and can't remember many apologies- was great, I thought (despite yes, forgetting the poor bloke's name). He was cheeky and funny with the early scenes, and suitably engaging and emotionally invested in the heavier moments. He probably doesn't have quite the same chemistry with Lily James as Madden (speculating as I haven't seen them togeher obviously) but still was great to watch. Lily James is delightful as Juliet really sweet without being too sickening.
Overall it was a solid production I thought. A few casting choices I wasn't keen on, but Jacobi I found delightful and I loved Meera Syral as the nurse.
The look/concept I thought was slick and interesting, not quite pulled off in some respects but not jarring enough to be a negative. Would actually love to see the black and white cinema version now.
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