More Shakespearience - Henry V

The third of four productions of Shakespearian plays by the Hills Collective closed last Saturday night. This time Jakal (sic) Theatre presented a trimmed version of Henry V.In contrast to the production of well-acted if visually sparse Winter's Tale presented a couple of weeks ago by Scarp Theatre, i thought this production was visually quite stylish with some striking tableaux and lighting, and simple but effective use of colour to differentiate the English and French camps.For any audience member not familiar with the play or the period of history it is set in, little "helpers" for the audience, such as dressing the English predominantly in red and the French in blue, can make the world of difference. Similarly, full height red and blue banners looped on rods slung over the stage allowed quick changes between colour schemes symbolising the two warring nations.The Battle of Agincourt was cleverly staged by pin spotting actors in sequence in various warlike poses. Unfortunately, this device was accompanied by some relatively low-key orchestral music. I couldn't help feeling that this would have been a vastly more effective device with more appropriate music.Visuals and music aside, the acting and staging were for the most part sedentary. I couldn't help feeling the production suffered from having the director in the title role. The consequence of which was that scenes were very static with very little movement; entrances and exits were often awkwardly staged and executed. The pace was generally very slow and as a result the production did not build the dramatic tension needed to maintain some extended dramatic pauses.Is it too mean to suggest that i applaud the effort and enthusiasm if not the execution? There were some great ideas there and i look forward to seeing this young company's work after a couple more years' experience.I'm also looking forward to heading back up to the hills to see Jakal's The Taming of the Shrew. Does anyone know the season dates? Am i right in thinking it closes this weekend?CheersGrant

Performances of "The Taming of the Shrew" are Thursday 27, Friday 28 and Saturday 29 May. A short but illustrious season, with some stirring performances by some vibrant young actors.As this script has been altered "according to the fashion of the time" some hardened Shakespeare fans may be affended. Oh and there is some coarse language so bring your mother for extra effect.Kristine "the widow" Lockwood> The third of four productions of Shakespearian plays by the Hills> Collective closed last Saturday night. This time Jakal (sic) Theatre> presented a trimmed version of Henry V.> In contrast to the production of well-acted if visually sparse> Winter's Tale presented a couple of weeks ago by Scarp Theatre, i> thought this production was visually quite stylish with some striking> tableaux and lighting, and simple but effective use of colour to differentiate> the English and French camps.> For any audience member not familiar with the play or the period> of history it is set in, little "helpers" for the audience,> such as dressing the English predominantly in red and the French in> blue, can make the world of difference. Similarly, full height red> and blue banners looped on rods slung over the stage allowed quick> changes between colour schemes symbolising the two warring nations.>> The Battle of Agincourt was cleverly staged by pin spotting actors> in sequence in various warlike poses. Unfortunately, this device was> accompanied by some relatively low-key orchestral music. I couldn't> help feeling that this would have been a vastly more effective device> with more appropriate music.> Visuals and music aside, the acting and staging were for the> most part sedentary. I couldn't help feeling the production suffered> from having the director in the title role. The consequence of which> was that scenes were very static with very little movement; entrances> and exits were often awkwardly staged and executed. The pace was generally> very slow and as a result the production did not build the dramatic> tension needed to maintain some extended dramatic pauses.> Is it too mean to suggest that i applaud the effort and enthusiasm> if not the execution? There were some great ideas there and i look> forward to seeing this young company's work after a couple more years'> experience.> I'm also looking forward to heading back up to the hills to see> Jakal's The Taming of the Shrew. Does anyone know the season dates?> Am i right in thinking it closes this weekend?> Cheers> Grant

Yes. Jakal's season of Shrew finishes this weekend.Why do so many young directors place such little value on the director's role that they see fit to cast themself as the lead ? Have they had such poor direction in the past that they see direction as a "non event" ?I know Kenneth Brannagh does it, but it is on film, where you can take a look and reshoot if necessary and the quality of his colleagues is also somewhat better than your average 17 year old in the suburbs.

Hi Kristinehehehethought you might be listening> Performances of "The Taming of the Shrew" are Thursday> 27, Friday 28 and Saturday 29 May. A short but illustrious season,> with some stirring performances by some vibrant young actors.dang! there's too much on!!i'm probably going to have to miss it :(> As this script has been altered "according to the fashion> of the time" some hardened Shakespeare fans may be affended.tuh! pedants the lot of them...as long as people don't pretend they are doing Shakespeare and admit to doing their own adaptation, i've got no argument with them.> Oh and there is some coarse language so bring your mother for extra> effect.hehehei remember my mother complaining when she heard Keating say "shit" on the radio that she didn't "hear that kind of language on the street and certainly didn't expect it of the [then] prime minister." Her reaction to my appearing in a production of Don's Party was priceless.CheersGrant

yes I'm always lurking in the shadows but as my mother always says "if you dont have anything constructive to say, dont say anything".dont feel sad for missing it on my account I'm only on for something like 5 minutes, but if you miss Shrew you will miss the best Gwenyth Poltrow (?) look alike in Perth, good little actress too, ours not the real one.Kristine "sundry female" Lockwood> Hi Kristine> hehehe> thought you might be listening> dang! there's too much on!!> i'm probably going to have to miss it :(> tuh! pedants the lot of them...> as long as people don't pretend they are doing Shakespeare and> admit to doing their own adaptation, i've got no argument with them.>> hehehe> i remember my mother complaining when she heard Keating say "shit"> on the radio that she didn't "hear that kind of language on the> street and certainly didn't expect it of the [then] prime minister."> Her reaction to my appearing in a production of Don's Party was priceless.>> Cheers> Grant

> Why do so many young directors place such little value on the> director's role that they see fit to cast themself as the lead ?Simple. One word in most cases: EGO!!!!!!

hehe> Simple. One word in most cases: EGO!!!!!!well, i was prepared to give the benefit of the doubt here.i felt that it may not have been a case of undervaluing the role of the director, but perhaps not having confidence in anyone else in the company managing the rolei have a feeling that word may get back to the people involved about this discussion and i'll be interested to see the debate that ensues :)CheersGrant

> hehe> well, i was prepared to give the benefit of the doubt here.> i have a feeling that word may get back to the people involved> about this discussion and i'll be interested to see the debate that> ensues :)Well, the recent correspondence was getting frightfully drab, and there's nothing better to kick-start an outraged tirade than a blinkered, irrational extremist outburst. Just what the doctor ordered I think. :)

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TOP MODELS is about to begin another Film and Television Acting course on Saturday 19th, 1999 (from 1 -3pm). We are conducting auditions/interviews for this intensive course on Saturday 12th, 1999 (12 - 2pm). Prospective students are asked to prepare an audition piece no longer than 2 minutes long from any period (including any film).If you are keen to learn, really learn about how to act for film and television then our 14 week course is for you.For an audition time please phone Top Models on ph 9321 1339 or for further enquiries about the course content phone Garry T. Saunders on ph 9472 0256 or email me on garryt@earthling.net>