Twelfth Night (Donmar) @ The Wyndham’s Theatre
February 13, 2009
Writing about web page http://www.donmarwestend.com/twelfth_night/ Michael Grandage’s first Shakespeare for the Donmar’s current West End residency opened, quite literally, with a bang, a mighty crash of thunder and lightning. This call to attention opened an efficient and excellently-performed Twelfth Night that was unashamedly traditional in its desire to please and entertain. An unfussy set saw the …
The Wonderful Donmar
February 12, 2009
I’d like to take a moment to tell the world how wonderful the Donmar Warehouse are. Owing to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, I missed their current production of Twelfth Night in London, a production I had booked front-row seats for on the first day of sales at not-inconsiderable cost. However, despite it being in no …
Othello (RSC) @ Warwick Arts Centre
February 7, 2009
The RSC’s new touring production of Othello feels surprisingly marginalised. Opening in Coventry, with no Stratford performances and a British press who seem more interested in the upcoming Northern Broadsides production (featuring, as it does, comedian Lenny Henry in the title role), this Othello has a lot to do to avoid slipping under the radar …
Running times
February 6, 2009
While investigating the RSC’s new production of Othello (which I’m seeing tonight), I flicked onto the RSC site and saw that the running time for the production is three and a half hours. I won’t lie to you – my heart sank. I’ve realised that, over the last year or so, I’ve become far more …
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Propeller) @ Liverpool Playhouse
February 1, 2009
It makes a pleasing change to see a Dream during a hugely cold spell at the end of January, as opposed to in sweltering heat – which suggests to me a production that actually has something interesting to do with the play, rather than rolling it out to fill a quiet summer slot. This, the second half …
The Merchant of Venice (Propeller) @ Liverpool Playhouse
January 31, 2009
After some rather poor Shakespeare at the end of 2008, I have to say that it’s a relief and a pleasure to begin 2009 in the company of Propeller and their thoroughly interesting Merchant of Venice. It’s been a couple of years since I was wowed by their Shrew in Stratford, and happily Edward Hall …
January
January 28, 2009
Not only is January an inherently miserable month because of the weather and the fact that it involves returning to normal life after Christmas, but my schedule has been depressingly theatre-free this month, hence the quietness on the blog. Sorry! This weekend, though, I’m back to it with a vengeance. Expect, over February and March, …
Much Ado in Coventry
January 19, 2009
WUDS are doing another production of Much Ado about Nothing this term. I say another; only people who’ve been at Warwick four or five years will remember the last one, which was performed in the Arts Centre studio. I remember that production for the prominence it gave to Margaret, whose dilemma regarding the plot to …
Top Ten of 2008
December 31, 2008
Happy new year! As 2009 dawns, here’s a look back at my theatregoing in 2008, via my top ten productions. Without further ado: 10. The Merry Wives of Windsor (Shakespeare’s Globe, August) A close call between this and the Globe’s other standout production, Timon of Athens. While the inventive Timon flagged in its second act, …
2009
December 16, 2008
To offset the rather negative tone of the last few posts, I thought I’d just post some of the things I’m really looking forward to next year, partly to remind myself but also so I can officially start getting excited about the new year! Coming up: All’s Well that Ends Well: directed by Marianne Elliott …
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