My Ten Hour Two Cents on 'The Shrew'..
Fri, 21 Mar 2003, 11:41 pmWalter Plinge2 posts in thread
My Ten Hour Two Cents on 'The Shrew'..
Fri, 21 Mar 2003, 11:41 pmLet me start by saying that I'm not much of a reviewer, so bear with me. Having found out (much to my dismay) that due to my stupidity at not looking at my comp tickets and having to actually _pay_ to see 'Shrew', I almost made the biggest mistake of my life; I almost didn't go. Thankfully, my loyalty to friends in the show made me spend money I didn't actually have to go, and I don't regret it in the slightest. I post this with only one performance left, and urge that those of you who get the chance to go, definitely do!
Stephen Lee's 'Taming of the Shrew' is one of the most comical, entertaining versions of a Shakespearean comedy I've seen in...well...ever! I went along on a week night, when the theatre was overrun by school students, and I thought 'great. Coughing, shuffling, talking...what a way to ruin a night'. So I didn't start out on a positive note at all.
When a can of Coke flew onto the stage at the actors heads, I almost leaped out of my seat and started tearing into the little brats that would dare destroy the beautiful singing! However, Stephens clambering on stage, although at first confusing, transcended into an innovative approach to introducing the play. To me, it touched on an almost Brechtian element, enforcing the detachment of the play as a play. It was also quite a delicate way of approaching the issue of 'womens place'. My only complaint of this opening segment, was that it seemed to drag for that tiny bit too long. It would have been equally as effective at half (or even a quarter) of the length. At that stage of the night, I just started thinking 'C'mon, when's the play start??'. However, I still praise Stephen's unique method of adapting, and even adding, Shakespeare. It's lovely to see someone attempting something genuinely new.
Performances all around were superb. I find it difficult to discuss everyone, as I didn't have the foresight to grab a programme, and so I don't know names, nor spellings. I apologise, because individual comments are far more thoughtful, but I have to be mean tonight and only comment on those I know/can spell the character names of/describe in a single sentence. Plus, I want to keep this short, since there's no point rambling when there's only one night left (mind you, I think I exceeded 'normal length', and entered 'rambling arena' a paragraph ago...). So I'll be brief.
Projection in such an open space as the New Fortune was very impressive. Every word was clear, and I was sitting right at the very back (ducking left and right to look around the stupid big pole directly in front of me. That's what I get for not booking!). The peacocks didn't even squawk once (although a couple of mystery feathers floated down from the balcony, which raised the eyebrows of my 'un-peacock-aware' friends). The immediate energy of the performers engulfed the attention of the entire audience, and brought an instant smile to our faces. I've often been accused of being a stony faced play viewer, and I claim it takes a lot to make me laugh. I laughed constantly (and loudly!) throughout the entire of 'The Shrew'.
David Meadows as Petrucchio deftly delivered a barrage of lines with a relaxed and natural approach, and was a delight to watch. His subtle humour was hilarious and his comic timing was fabulous. The often slapstick interaction with 'the fool' (as Stephen referred to him. I'm afraid I don't know his name, or his character name, but I'm sure everyone else knows who he is!), who delivered a very enthusiastic and energetic performance of his own.
Maggie McPhee was amazing as Katherine. So likeably audacious, she played a very difficult, un-p.c role with professionalism and filled the stage with her shrewish presence at all times.
Tony Petani, and his fabulously Italian friend (again, sorry about names!) bounced off one another. They delivered their lines like shotguns and never ceased to raise the ceiling (or lack thereof) with laughs. Every time the friend entered the space with his walk straight from 'The Ministry of Silly Walks', and his Godfather-like voice, the audience were reduced to tears. And 1000 'well dones' to Tony, who provided the highlight of the night, when the tablecloth fell off the table, revealing himself and Bianca rocking the table in a faux act of love. A priceless moment available only in the theatre! Well saved!
Bianca was the perfect angel, with a most likely intentional affection for the fashion of Sandra D.
Mark and Kim played lovely rivals, with clear, humourous banter, and Shirley was fabulous in her multiple roles; I almost didn't recognise her at first!!
The cast had a wonderful chemistry, with all possessing an impeccable sense of timing. It was well paced, with hardly a gap to be had in line delivery. I have to ask this though; perhaps it's simply ignorance on my behalf, or my desire not to delve too deeply into it, but why was it set in the era of 1950s Italy? Although this provided a great comic element, and some beautiful costumes, was this simply a chance to break the theme of traditional Shakespeare? To set the audience up with the instantaneous knowledge that this wasn't going to be the typical, run of the mill Shakespearean production? I'll think on it some more...
Well it's getting past my bed time, and there is so much more I wish I could say, but like most reviews, the things I want to say peter out into two word sentences. And so I leave you with this...a fabulous play in a fabulous venue, with a collection of some of the greatest theatre actors in Perth. If you can, don't waste any time in going to see this wonderful play. What a charming debut for Stephen Lee. Well done to everyone involved!
Cheers,
Ange..
PS> So much for my keeping it brief! Well done to anyone who made it this far. I talk too much...
Stephen Lee's 'Taming of the Shrew' is one of the most comical, entertaining versions of a Shakespearean comedy I've seen in...well...ever! I went along on a week night, when the theatre was overrun by school students, and I thought 'great. Coughing, shuffling, talking...what a way to ruin a night'. So I didn't start out on a positive note at all.
When a can of Coke flew onto the stage at the actors heads, I almost leaped out of my seat and started tearing into the little brats that would dare destroy the beautiful singing! However, Stephens clambering on stage, although at first confusing, transcended into an innovative approach to introducing the play. To me, it touched on an almost Brechtian element, enforcing the detachment of the play as a play. It was also quite a delicate way of approaching the issue of 'womens place'. My only complaint of this opening segment, was that it seemed to drag for that tiny bit too long. It would have been equally as effective at half (or even a quarter) of the length. At that stage of the night, I just started thinking 'C'mon, when's the play start??'. However, I still praise Stephen's unique method of adapting, and even adding, Shakespeare. It's lovely to see someone attempting something genuinely new.
Performances all around were superb. I find it difficult to discuss everyone, as I didn't have the foresight to grab a programme, and so I don't know names, nor spellings. I apologise, because individual comments are far more thoughtful, but I have to be mean tonight and only comment on those I know/can spell the character names of/describe in a single sentence. Plus, I want to keep this short, since there's no point rambling when there's only one night left (mind you, I think I exceeded 'normal length', and entered 'rambling arena' a paragraph ago...). So I'll be brief.
Projection in such an open space as the New Fortune was very impressive. Every word was clear, and I was sitting right at the very back (ducking left and right to look around the stupid big pole directly in front of me. That's what I get for not booking!). The peacocks didn't even squawk once (although a couple of mystery feathers floated down from the balcony, which raised the eyebrows of my 'un-peacock-aware' friends). The immediate energy of the performers engulfed the attention of the entire audience, and brought an instant smile to our faces. I've often been accused of being a stony faced play viewer, and I claim it takes a lot to make me laugh. I laughed constantly (and loudly!) throughout the entire of 'The Shrew'.
David Meadows as Petrucchio deftly delivered a barrage of lines with a relaxed and natural approach, and was a delight to watch. His subtle humour was hilarious and his comic timing was fabulous. The often slapstick interaction with 'the fool' (as Stephen referred to him. I'm afraid I don't know his name, or his character name, but I'm sure everyone else knows who he is!), who delivered a very enthusiastic and energetic performance of his own.
Maggie McPhee was amazing as Katherine. So likeably audacious, she played a very difficult, un-p.c role with professionalism and filled the stage with her shrewish presence at all times.
Tony Petani, and his fabulously Italian friend (again, sorry about names!) bounced off one another. They delivered their lines like shotguns and never ceased to raise the ceiling (or lack thereof) with laughs. Every time the friend entered the space with his walk straight from 'The Ministry of Silly Walks', and his Godfather-like voice, the audience were reduced to tears. And 1000 'well dones' to Tony, who provided the highlight of the night, when the tablecloth fell off the table, revealing himself and Bianca rocking the table in a faux act of love. A priceless moment available only in the theatre! Well saved!
Bianca was the perfect angel, with a most likely intentional affection for the fashion of Sandra D.
Mark and Kim played lovely rivals, with clear, humourous banter, and Shirley was fabulous in her multiple roles; I almost didn't recognise her at first!!
The cast had a wonderful chemistry, with all possessing an impeccable sense of timing. It was well paced, with hardly a gap to be had in line delivery. I have to ask this though; perhaps it's simply ignorance on my behalf, or my desire not to delve too deeply into it, but why was it set in the era of 1950s Italy? Although this provided a great comic element, and some beautiful costumes, was this simply a chance to break the theme of traditional Shakespeare? To set the audience up with the instantaneous knowledge that this wasn't going to be the typical, run of the mill Shakespearean production? I'll think on it some more...
Well it's getting past my bed time, and there is so much more I wish I could say, but like most reviews, the things I want to say peter out into two word sentences. And so I leave you with this...a fabulous play in a fabulous venue, with a collection of some of the greatest theatre actors in Perth. If you can, don't waste any time in going to see this wonderful play. What a charming debut for Stephen Lee. Well done to everyone involved!
Cheers,
Ange..
PS> So much for my keeping it brief! Well done to anyone who made it this far. I talk too much...