Richard III
Fri, 7 Nov 2003, 11:06 amWalter Plinge20 posts in thread
Richard III
Fri, 7 Nov 2003, 11:06 amWHAT: Richard III
WHEN: Thursday, November 6
WHERE: Nexus Theatre, Murdoch University, WA
"No-one else seems to have written a serious review of this production, so it falls to me to provide some hopefully useful feedback." :-)
I'll try and keep this short - there are only two performances left (tonight and tomorrow) so I haven't much time to push the show. I've said before that I'm not a Shakespeare aficionado. I have never read or seen Richard III and am only familiar with the story from what I've seen on Blackadder. I haven't even seen Richard I or Richard II, so I apologise for my confusion coming in at the end of the trilogy.
Nevertheless, I LOVED this production. I'll freely admit that, early on, I had no idea what was going on. It took quite a while to work out who was related to who, why such-and-such wanted so-and-so dead, and who was trying to bonk who. (Thanks for the excellent programme which helped somewhat.) However, the production was presented so entertainingly that little things like plot coherency didn't seem to matter.
As advertised, the production was performed in the style of a Bollywood Musical. At the drop of a hat, the cast would burst into huge production numbers - singing and dancing to mostly original (and extremely catchy) music. ENORMOUS congratulations to Musical Director Nick Choo. The choreography was clever and appropriate for the style, the acoustics were perfect, the set was lovely and the costumes were absolutely stunning - particular favourites included Kayti Fryer's backless dress, Kristan Smith's fetching suit, Dana Lisman's shimmering gown, Alexa Taylor's translucent frock and Melissa Merchant's dominatrix outfit. What? Don't look at me like that!
The tremendous liberties taken with the script may raise the hackles of some Shakespeare purists, but it's all done in good fun. It's quite rightly emphasised that the desire for power, and corruption therein, is just as relevant today (if not more so) as it was 400 years ago.
My vested interests? Apart from one close friend in the cast I don't know anyone involved with the production. I only went to the show because of my friend and I'm certainly glad I did. I paid for my tickets like everyone else and at $10 per head it's cheaper than most other shows and GREAT value. And how close a friend, you ask? Well, I COULD have gone and seen The Matrix Revolutions....
Like I said, I'm trying to keep this short, but this really was a tremendously entertaining production. All performances were fine and everyone got their moment in the spotlight. Special mention should go to Paul Grabovac who was obviously enjoying himself immensely as Dirty Dick. It's about 1 hr 45 mins long and has no interval. Thanks to director Serge Tampalini, and all involved, for a wonderful evening's entertainment. Two performances left!
JB
WHEN: Thursday, November 6
WHERE: Nexus Theatre, Murdoch University, WA
"No-one else seems to have written a serious review of this production, so it falls to me to provide some hopefully useful feedback." :-)
I'll try and keep this short - there are only two performances left (tonight and tomorrow) so I haven't much time to push the show. I've said before that I'm not a Shakespeare aficionado. I have never read or seen Richard III and am only familiar with the story from what I've seen on Blackadder. I haven't even seen Richard I or Richard II, so I apologise for my confusion coming in at the end of the trilogy.
Nevertheless, I LOVED this production. I'll freely admit that, early on, I had no idea what was going on. It took quite a while to work out who was related to who, why such-and-such wanted so-and-so dead, and who was trying to bonk who. (Thanks for the excellent programme which helped somewhat.) However, the production was presented so entertainingly that little things like plot coherency didn't seem to matter.
As advertised, the production was performed in the style of a Bollywood Musical. At the drop of a hat, the cast would burst into huge production numbers - singing and dancing to mostly original (and extremely catchy) music. ENORMOUS congratulations to Musical Director Nick Choo. The choreography was clever and appropriate for the style, the acoustics were perfect, the set was lovely and the costumes were absolutely stunning - particular favourites included Kayti Fryer's backless dress, Kristan Smith's fetching suit, Dana Lisman's shimmering gown, Alexa Taylor's translucent frock and Melissa Merchant's dominatrix outfit. What? Don't look at me like that!
The tremendous liberties taken with the script may raise the hackles of some Shakespeare purists, but it's all done in good fun. It's quite rightly emphasised that the desire for power, and corruption therein, is just as relevant today (if not more so) as it was 400 years ago.
My vested interests? Apart from one close friend in the cast I don't know anyone involved with the production. I only went to the show because of my friend and I'm certainly glad I did. I paid for my tickets like everyone else and at $10 per head it's cheaper than most other shows and GREAT value. And how close a friend, you ask? Well, I COULD have gone and seen The Matrix Revolutions....
Like I said, I'm trying to keep this short, but this really was a tremendously entertaining production. All performances were fine and everyone got their moment in the spotlight. Special mention should go to Paul Grabovac who was obviously enjoying himself immensely as Dirty Dick. It's about 1 hr 45 mins long and has no interval. Thanks to director Serge Tampalini, and all involved, for a wonderful evening's entertainment. Two performances left!
JB
I have too long borne your blunt upbraidings and your bitter sco
Wed, 12 Nov 2003, 11:57 pmSorry, Paul, but you're not getting my sympathy vote here.
I don't really like the word "dude" either...one of those Americanisms that has invaded our culture via popular movies and has now assumed a level of meaning it doesn't really deserve, except as a measure of how desperately we want to align ourselves with that culture in favour of our own.
I don't believe I've ever met a general, but I HAVE met with two WA Governor-Generals, and the Governor of a Japanese province, and I think if I had called any of them "dude" it would have displayed a different kind of ignorance.
You may not have liked the style or content of Stinger's review, but I think you've forgotten where it was posted. It was an amateur opinion, not attempting to be anything more than many others I read here. I agree with you it would not pass as an ET! film review, but neither was it trying to. That's like saying your replies to the thread wouldn't cut it in a comedy debate. Probably true but actually irrelevant.
Stinger's review may not have been up to my standards (!) but I don't think it qualifies as crap.
I don't know Stinger or who he is, but he's been here a while and is a regular contributor. I believe I've ripped into his posts once or twice when I felt it was warranted...now it's your turn to cop it.
Cheers
Craig
(PS feel free to say something clever or disparaging about my username, but I believe Jarrod's previous use of "disemvowelled" is the best so far.)
crgwllms
I don't really like the word "dude" either...one of those Americanisms that has invaded our culture via popular movies and has now assumed a level of meaning it doesn't really deserve, except as a measure of how desperately we want to align ourselves with that culture in favour of our own.
I don't believe I've ever met a general, but I HAVE met with two WA Governor-Generals, and the Governor of a Japanese province, and I think if I had called any of them "dude" it would have displayed a different kind of ignorance.
You may not have liked the style or content of Stinger's review, but I think you've forgotten where it was posted. It was an amateur opinion, not attempting to be anything more than many others I read here. I agree with you it would not pass as an ET! film review, but neither was it trying to. That's like saying your replies to the thread wouldn't cut it in a comedy debate. Probably true but actually irrelevant.
Stinger's review may not have been up to my standards (!) but I don't think it qualifies as crap.
I don't know Stinger or who he is, but he's been here a while and is a regular contributor. I believe I've ripped into his posts once or twice when I felt it was warranted...now it's your turn to cop it.
Cheers
Craig
(PS feel free to say something clever or disparaging about my username, but I believe Jarrod's previous use of "disemvowelled" is the best so far.)
crgwllms
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