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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Apr 18, 2016 17:19:21 GMT
If I can remain extremely frugal for a couple of months I should be able to swing five nights in Stratford for soaking up as much Shakespeare tat as possible. Therefore going to the RSC there is a must. I was initially slightly disappointed to see that the Bill play on the week I can go is A Midsummer Night's Dream (that I recently saw in Glasgow) but then the Rude Mechanicals are being done by a different lot of amateur actors that week so I shall see it anyway as that will make it different and I cannot possibly pass up on seeing a Bill play in Bill Town in Bill Year! The other ones on that week are The Alchemist by Ben Johnson and Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe. Both are writers I have read about in regards to Bill but never seen their stuff and it's the RSC so it can't possibly be bad so booked them too. That's three evenings sorted! So I get to see the Swan Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. I've had to plump for the cheapest tickets but as song as I can hear what is going on that's fine and I am sure the atmosphere will be good. Really looking forward to all three having enjoyed a few live streams in the cinema from that building. Naturally by day I shall have to hunt for Bill's missing skull. Going with my Dad for 5 nights next month to celebrate his 75th. Doctor Faustus, Don Quixote and Cymbeline. Martin |
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Post by The Doctor on Apr 19, 2016 8:08:42 GMT
Cymbeline is probably the Shakespeare play I knew the least about as it is rarely discussed in books and not perfomed much. Thankfully, digging through the RSC site shows that a live stream is on at local cinemas on 28th September. I hope I am free at the time!
RSC Hamlet is live streaming in cinemas on 8th June so booked for that. I hope it is better than the Cumberbatch-starring Hamlet, which I thought was quite poor overall.
-Ralph
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Rich
Protoform
Posts: 880
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Post by Rich on Apr 19, 2016 18:39:20 GMT
The Guardian is publishing some essays this week. The first was good (and is at the perfect level for my A Level class, which is handy) and the second one ok. Not read today's yet.
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Apr 19, 2016 22:32:22 GMT
My work is doing some Shakespeare thing on Thursday after work showing several items from Glasgow uni's collections including a first folio.
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Post by The Doctor on Apr 20, 2016 8:52:11 GMT
Throw it at Q.
-Ralph
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Apr 21, 2016 13:25:00 GMT
If he is there and I have a point to make I might.
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Post by The Doctor on Apr 23, 2016 8:21:32 GMT
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Apr 25, 2016 15:58:26 GMT
And... tonight at 11pm on BBC4, we have a repeat of the 2012 BBC Richard II. Cast includes: King Richard - Ben Whishaw Bolingbroke - Rory Kinnear Duke of York - David Suchet John of Gaunt - Patrick Stewart www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00s90j1Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 and Henry V follow on consecutive nights. The new Henry VI starring the Cumberbatch as Richard III will follow in early May. Martin |
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on May 17, 2016 16:26:21 GMT
Due to several stays in London and last week in Stratford I've seen more theatre than cinema so far this year - and perhaps more in the last five months than in any other full year. Here's my league table so far.
1. Don Quixote (RSC)
2. Nell Gwynn (Gemma Arterton)
3. Red Velvet (Adrian Lester)
4. Doctor Faustus (RSC)
5. The Tempest (Globe)
6. The Master Builder (Ralph Fiennes)
7. Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds
8. The Winter's Tale (Globe)
9. Pericles (Globe)
10. An Inspector Calls (New Theatre Cardiff)
11. Cymbeline (RSC)
12. Rehearsal for Murder (New Theatre Cardiff)
Martin
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 7, 2016 16:33:45 GMT
I am visiting a vertain forum member at the end of the month so I have worked out my trains so I can visit the Globe for an afternoon performance of The Taming Of The Shrew (which I must admit I know best from the Star Trek version!) on the way. Naturally I have booked to stand as a groundling again. None of this sitting nonsense. Also: still only a fiver. Looking forward to going back after seeing The Merchant of Venice there last year.
RSC Live Hamlet at the local fleapit tomorrow!
-Ralph
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jun 7, 2016 17:40:57 GMT
RSC Live Hamlet at the local fleapit tomorrow! Yep. Martin |
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jun 10, 2016 17:14:08 GMT
1. Don Quixote (RSC)
2. Nell Gwynn (Gemma Arterton)
3. Red Velvet (Adrian Lester)
4. Doctor Faustus (RSC)
5. The Tempest (Globe)
6. The Master Builder (Ralph Fiennes)
7. Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds
8. A Midsummer Night's Dream (RSC on tour to New Theatre Cardiff)
9. The Winter's Tale (Globe)
10. Hamlet (RSC Live)
11. Pericles (Globe)
12. An Inspector Calls (New Theatre Cardiff)
13. Cymbeline (RSC)
14. Rehearsal for Murder (New Theatre Cardiff)
Hamlet was decent enough but I've seen too many first-class productions of this particular play. A long day at work and a pint of Guinness meant I dozed off in the second half.
Martin
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 10, 2016 17:41:11 GMT
Easily the best theatre Hamlet I've seen. Certainly much better than the awful NT Cumberland Sausage one.
-Ralph
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jun 10, 2016 18:26:20 GMT
Easily the best theatre Hamlet I've seen. Certainly much better than the awful NT Cumberland Sausage one. -Ralph Yes, I'd rate it above Cumberbatch and the other one I've seen screened live in the cinema, with Rory Kinnear in the lead role. That I fell asleep in it was no reflection on the production, just my tiredness, the warmth of the day and over-familiarity with the material. The only Hamlet I've seen in person was the David Tennant / Patrick Stewart RSC one, which was better than this year's RSC one and worth getting on DVD, and the Kenneth Branagh film is also great, but my favourite Hamlet of all time is controversially the Mel Gibson one. Have also seen the Olivier and Jacobi versions on DVD but didn't rate them very highly. Martin |
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jun 19, 2016 13:33:02 GMT
1. Don Quixote (RSC)
2. Romeo and Juliet (Garrick)
3. Nell Gwynn (Gemma Arterton)
4. Red Velvet (Garrick)
5. Doctor Faustus (RSC)
6. The Tempest (Globe)
7. The Master Builder (Ralph Fiennes)
8. Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds
9. A Midsummer Night's Dream (RSC on tour to New Theatre Cardiff)
10. The Winter's Tale (Globe)
11. Hamlet (RSC Live)
12. Pericles (Globe)
13. An Inspector Calls (New Theatre Cardiff)
14. Cymbeline (RSC)
15. Rehearsal for Murder (New Theatre Cardiff)
Quality R&J with Robb Stark from Game of Thrones as Romeo, Lily James from Downton Abbey and Pride & Prejudice & Zombies as Juliet, and Derek the Jacobi as Mercutio. Catch it in cinemas on 7 July.
Looking forward to catching Ralph Fiennes' Richard III on the cinema screen on 21 July.
Martin
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 22, 2016 22:43:22 GMT
Booked for R&J at the fleapit for the live stream. Will try to catch Richard III.
-Ralph
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 25, 2016 20:21:17 GMT
I have now been to the RSC building! Both theatres inside are very nice though I much preferred the Swan to the RSC auditorium. Great to see 3 plays there. Very informative backstage tour. There's not much to the Tower but it does the Tower thing very well. Good tat shop. Nice location. Lovely to see the place after several cinema live-streams. It's easy to get to (45 mins on the train from Brum) so I can see it being a yearly visit to see something when passing through that part of the country as I usually travel along that direction at least once a year.
Back at the Globe next week for my second visit, this time to see The Taming of the Shrew which is one of Bill's plays that I know quite well from extracts and works 'inspired by' but have never seen a version of done properly all the way through.
-Ralph
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 27, 2016 21:42:30 GMT
Hilariously, I see that London is due for rain tomorrow afternoon during the outdoor Globe show so I have packed my poncho!
-Ralph
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Post by The Doctor on Jul 8, 2016 7:29:17 GMT
Saw R&J. Awful. Jacobi's mincing Mercutio (with ******* irritating added "ba boom!"'s) was painful to watch. It was explained that the production was inspired by (an awful unwatchable film) La Dolce Vita and so the live stream would be broadcast in...black and white. This did not work for me as it reminded me of a film I cannot stand and also took me out of the experience of watching a live show. Not helped by the intermission being factual slides about 1950's (!) Italy.
WTF.
Props to the actor playing Romeo though. It was explained some staging had been changed as he had badly injured his leg two days previously so was still in pain. You couldn't tell though. He was acting his socks off.
-Ralph
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jul 22, 2016 5:55:33 GMT
1. Don Quixote (RSC)
2. Richard III (Almeida Live - Ralph Fiennes - so much better than Cumberbatch)
3. Romeo and Juliet (Garrick)
4. Nell Gwynn (Gemma Arterton)
5. Red Velvet (Garrick)
6. Doctor Faustus (RSC)
7. The Tempest (Globe)
8. The Master Builder (Ralph Fiennes)
9. Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds
10. A Midsummer Night's Dream (RSC on tour to New Theatre Cardiff)
11. The Winter's Tale (Globe)
12. Hamlet (RSC Live)
13. Pericles (Globe)
14. An Inspector Calls (New Theatre Cardiff)
15. Cymbeline (RSC)
16. Rehearsal for Murder (New Theatre Cardiff)
Martin
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Post by The Doctor on Jul 22, 2016 7:17:20 GMT
It was an interesting watch though I felt Fiennes was miscast. Vanessa Redgrave acted everyone off stage.
-Ralph
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Post by The Doctor on Jul 22, 2016 14:41:56 GMT
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Aug 21, 2016 14:23:49 GMT
I have my first £5 ticket standing experience at the Globe coming in October, with Jonathan Pryce in 'The Merchant of Venice'. Also looking forward to seeing Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart next week in 'No Man's Land' here in Cardiff, and Branagh in 'The Entertainer' at the Garrick in Oct.
Martin
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Aug 23, 2016 23:05:53 GMT
I think you will enjoy it, that was what Burns and I went to see at The Globe last year.
Andy
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Post by The Doctor on Aug 24, 2016 8:54:05 GMT
Standing means you are officially a 'penny stinker'.
-Ralph
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Aug 24, 2016 15:53:30 GMT
Standing means you are officially a 'penny stinker'. I was willing to pay for a seat, but it was completely sold out. Then two standing tickets became available! Fortunately it's the afternoon performance. I'd never manage to stay on my feet for the full length of a performance in the evening. Martin |
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Post by The Doctor on Aug 24, 2016 16:25:18 GMT
I've stood both times I have been there and it's been fine. 'Tis part of the authentic experience!
-Ralph
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Aug 29, 2016 23:22:07 GMT
I enjoyed it, just wish I hadn't taken my bag with me. Next time I will travel lighter.
Andy
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Post by Pinwig on Sept 10, 2016 6:44:34 GMT
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Post by The Doctor on Sept 11, 2016 12:51:44 GMT
I look forward to it later. There was an attempt to broadcast a live piece from the Globe this afternoon but the transmission cut out. Hopefully just a teething problem!
-Ralph
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