Much Ado About Nothing - Grads
Mon, 10 Mar 2008, 10:43 amleecetheartist14 posts in thread
Much Ado About Nothing - Grads
Mon, 10 Mar 2008, 10:43 amA Rambling Review by Alicia Smith.
Once again Stephen Lee brings us a little known Shakespeare and presents it with infectious delight.
We went to see it on Saturday night, and you would think that after 7 straight performances you would start to see some cracks. But no, the acting was fast paced and energetic, and at times the audience were in tears of laughter.
It's an interesting play and one I haven't seen before, except for the 1st third of the Brannagh version. While being primarily a comedy, there's a really dark thread that runs through it partway, which is an interesting contrast.
Mr Lee has set this in the 1920's, in keeping with the original play's post war scenario, people are looking for relaxation and diversion - and the role of woman in society is being questioned. The jazz score works beautifully, highlighting the beauty of the flapper and other costumes. Lovely clothes.
The wedding scene is played very sensitively, it is very emotionally charged...
This is chiefly a comedy though, and there are some scenes...particularly the Benedict (David Gregory) under the table scene.
This is a play that really ought to be better known, and this is the production to introduce you to it. Actually, I wish this had been the play I'd been made to study to death, instead of Hamlet. It's a lot more accessible to a modern audience, and the interplay between the characters, Claudio (Chris McInnes) & Hero (Perfectly cast the sweet Sara Young), Beatrice (Wonderfully played by Julia Dalby) and Benedict particularly, the tricks and shennanigans.
As well as the darker consequences of the brooding, bitter, Don John's actions make for great drama. I like the touch of Don John's (Rodney Vermeij) little toy, you'll know it when you see it. It really added something and was quite startling. Has someone finally solved the problem of giving actors something to do with their hands?
And then there is the wonderful proto-Inspetor-Clouseau where Shakespeare's mastery of language and Dogberry's (Grant Malcolm's) delivery is superb and quite hilarious. Mrs Pinns (Joanne Williams) of the Neighbourhood Watch's arrest technique is something to look out for.
If you wanted to introduce kids to Shakespeare, you could do worse than this one, I was sitting next to a young teen, and she was rapt, so it wasn't just me.
I can't mention everyone, because I'd just go on and on, but there was some very interesting interplay going on in the backgrounds that was more than worth a second glance, and as this is a play about rumour and gossip, it's very appropriate. Esmerald Rocha, as Conrade the reporter is worth keeping an eye on, and is really expressive without even saying a word.
This production is well worth seeing, and at the New Fortune, it's being seen as it was in Shakespeare's time and it's all good really.
You may still see it on the 11th through to the 15th of March, at The New Fortune Theatre at UWA.
Sitting at the side is good viewing if you can manage it.
This review can also be read at the lympago forums as well as at Alicia's livejournal.
Copyright 2008 Alicia Smith
Alicia draws for a living at Alicia Smith Artworks - Wonderful Things
A Rambling Review by Alicia Smith.
Once again Stephen Lee brings us a little known Shakespeare and presents it with infectious delight.
We went to see it on Saturday night, and you would think that after 7 straight performances you would start to see some cracks. But no, the acting was fast paced and energetic, and at times the audience were in tears of laughter.
It's an interesting play and one I haven't seen before, except for the 1st third of the Brannagh version. While being primarily a comedy, there's a really dark thread that runs through it partway, which is an interesting contrast.
Mr Lee has set this in the 1920's, in keeping with the original play's post war scenario, people are looking for relaxation and diversion - and the role of woman in society is being questioned. The jazz score works beautifully, highlighting the beauty of the flapper and other costumes. Lovely clothes.
The wedding scene is played very sensitively, it is very emotionally charged...
This is chiefly a comedy though, and there are some scenes...particularly the Benedict (David Gregory) under the table scene.
This is a play that really ought to be better known, and this is the production to introduce you to it. Actually, I wish this had been the play I'd been made to study to death, instead of Hamlet. It's a lot more accessible to a modern audience, and the interplay between the characters, Claudio (Chris McInnes) & Hero (Perfectly cast the sweet Sara Young), Beatrice (Wonderfully played by Julia Dalby) and Benedict particularly, the tricks and shennanigans.
As well as the darker consequences of the brooding, bitter, Don John's actions make for great drama. I like the touch of Don John's (Rodney Vermeij) little toy, you'll know it when you see it. It really added something and was quite startling. Has someone finally solved the problem of giving actors something to do with their hands?
And then there is the wonderful proto-Inspetor-Clouseau where Shakespeare's mastery of language and Dogberry's (Grant Malcolm's) delivery is superb and quite hilarious. Mrs Pinns (Joanne Williams) of the Neighbourhood Watch's arrest technique is something to look out for.
If you wanted to introduce kids to Shakespeare, you could do worse than this one, I was sitting next to a young teen, and she was rapt, so it wasn't just me.
I can't mention everyone, because I'd just go on and on, but there was some very interesting interplay going on in the backgrounds that was more than worth a second glance, and as this is a play about rumour and gossip, it's very appropriate. Esmerald Rocha, as Conrade the reporter is worth keeping an eye on, and is really expressive without even saying a word.
This production is well worth seeing, and at the New Fortune, it's being seen as it was in Shakespeare's time and it's all good really.
You may still see it on the 11th through to the 15th of March, at The New Fortune Theatre at UWA.
Sitting at the side is good viewing if you can manage it.
This review can also be read at the lympago forums as well as at Alicia's livejournal.
Copyright 2008 Alicia Smith
Alicia draws for a living at Alicia Smith Artworks - Wonderful Things
oops-
I would just like to say
And I'd like to say...
Sheesh Kate, I'm glad you left at half time! Who knows what you would have made of the Watch if you'd stayed after interval.
You're fully entitled to your point of view and I can appreciate that a very few people might not enjoy the "slant" on this production - personally, I have no patience for people who whinge about Shakespeare in modern dress. But a difference over interpretation is a very different thing to labelling the production a "poor ass job". This was a rock solid production with fine performances, clear through lines and energy, great costumes, evocative props and furnishings and effective lighting and sound. If minor things that are entirely in tune with the rest of the production are pissing me off, then I know there's something skewed about my reaction to a show as a whole. I wonder what was tempering your response?
Maybe you did feel that "the play did not deserve anything", but if you're going to provide any balance in your review, you would have to acknowledge that you were in a tiny (solitary?) minority. Your report of overdone "old style of Shakespearean acting", "entire lack of subtlety" and yelling of lines is completely at odds with the responses of hundreds that laughed, cried and spontaneously applauded throughout the run of the season.
Yes, Leece's rambling reviews have been known to go a little OTT* in accentuating the positive and nearly eliminating the negative, but IMNSHO* Stephen Lee is one of the finest directors to have worked in the New Fortune Theatre and his Much Ado was the best GRADS Shakespeare in the season's thirteen year run - and I've directed or performed in eight of them!
Cheers
Grant
* OTT - Over The Top
* IMNSHO - In My Not So Humble Opinion - or maybe it is somewhat humble, because I'm putting Stephen's production ahead of the three that I've directed for the New Fortune!
--
Director, actor and administrator of this website
Finally! Someone who sees
Interesting to note
Didst thou laugh?
Finally! Another Pretentious Twit!
Interesting
Hasty departure?
My apologies
Stephen Lee is a jerk.
bycott this website
More boycotts
Thanks for raising this, Daniel.
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Regards
Grant
--
Director, actor and administrator of this website