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jemck at 09:57am on 18/06/2007
jemck at 09:57am on 18/06/2007A very good weekend was had by all hereabouts. Saturday was a trip to Stratford upon Avon to see the Royal Shakespeare Company's current MacBeth.
Not sure what LJ local custom and practise is, as regards theatre and 'spoilers'. I mean, everyone knows the plot, right? How it ends? But I don't want to take the gloss off this particular production for anyone who's going to see it. OK, I'll limit myself to just a few remarks.
Excellent, energetic acting throughout, and very good use made of the Swan Theatre's thrust-stage, with everyone-sitting-all-around layout - lots of entrances and exits from all sides and all levels. Compelling and dangerous MacBeth from Patrick O'Kane, right from the outset and even more so when the cracks start to show. Lady MacBeth's resolve - hard as cast iron - and ultimately as brittle - very well done. Ferociously bearded and Scots MacDuff by Brian Doherty. All supported by the rest of the company giving it plenty.
Especially the Witches. Bear in mind the text opens with descriptions of the on-going warfare where MacBeth has made his name as a captain and commander. This production opens with a dumb-show, well, bearing in mind the drums are deafening, of battle and the associated slaughter of innocent, powerless women and children by MacBeth and his men. Cue the witches...
So, a production that speaks to our times while sticking comprehensively to the text - just what I like. Not sure if it's going to be elder son's set text for GCSE - it's one of the options so fingers crossed. The lads really enjoyed it - hey, fighting, witches and ghosts! Both now want full-length battered leather coats and the very macho heavy buckled boots that featured in the costuming. Not so much the kilts.
And the universe was busy organising added bonuses for us all. We had arranged to be meeting pals for the day and the play, their son's my godson, our eldest is their's. And then, as we were gathering on the steps of the theatre, we encountered my other godson and associated family - quite by chance! This was really excellent as they live in Lincolnshire and as is the current way of life for us all, we haven't seen each other in really far too long.
So we had a drink and a chat after the play before we went our separate ways - us and first set of pals having booked to eat at the Thai Boathouse. Which was fortunately not underwater, though much of the park around the river was and places like Cox's Yard had swans and geese paddling happily around the tables. Don't think I've ever seen the river so high there.
Then home for Doctor Who as duly recorded. Excellent!
Sunday being Father's Day, we watched Hot Fuzz on DVD - this being what the boys insisted we buy husband by way of a pressie. No self-interest there, noooo...
And that has to be one of the best things I've seen this year. Inspired in concept with execution to match from both cast and writers. While managing that extremely difficult trick of making fun of a genre/tradition without resorting to cheap shots or snidery. The last film I can think of that managed that so well was Galaxy Quest. Anyway, Hot Fuzz is utterly hilarious at the same time as actually being pretty much still a proper thriller/action movie.
If a bit disconcerting for those of us who do live in the Cotswolds...
Not sure what LJ local custom and practise is, as regards theatre and 'spoilers'. I mean, everyone knows the plot, right? How it ends? But I don't want to take the gloss off this particular production for anyone who's going to see it. OK, I'll limit myself to just a few remarks.
Excellent, energetic acting throughout, and very good use made of the Swan Theatre's thrust-stage, with everyone-sitting-all-around layout - lots of entrances and exits from all sides and all levels. Compelling and dangerous MacBeth from Patrick O'Kane, right from the outset and even more so when the cracks start to show. Lady MacBeth's resolve - hard as cast iron - and ultimately as brittle - very well done. Ferociously bearded and Scots MacDuff by Brian Doherty. All supported by the rest of the company giving it plenty.
Especially the Witches. Bear in mind the text opens with descriptions of the on-going warfare where MacBeth has made his name as a captain and commander. This production opens with a dumb-show, well, bearing in mind the drums are deafening, of battle and the associated slaughter of innocent, powerless women and children by MacBeth and his men. Cue the witches...
So, a production that speaks to our times while sticking comprehensively to the text - just what I like. Not sure if it's going to be elder son's set text for GCSE - it's one of the options so fingers crossed. The lads really enjoyed it - hey, fighting, witches and ghosts! Both now want full-length battered leather coats and the very macho heavy buckled boots that featured in the costuming. Not so much the kilts.
And the universe was busy organising added bonuses for us all. We had arranged to be meeting pals for the day and the play, their son's my godson, our eldest is their's. And then, as we were gathering on the steps of the theatre, we encountered my other godson and associated family - quite by chance! This was really excellent as they live in Lincolnshire and as is the current way of life for us all, we haven't seen each other in really far too long.
So we had a drink and a chat after the play before we went our separate ways - us and first set of pals having booked to eat at the Thai Boathouse. Which was fortunately not underwater, though much of the park around the river was and places like Cox's Yard had swans and geese paddling happily around the tables. Don't think I've ever seen the river so high there.
Then home for Doctor Who as duly recorded. Excellent!
Sunday being Father's Day, we watched Hot Fuzz on DVD - this being what the boys insisted we buy husband by way of a pressie. No self-interest there, noooo...
And that has to be one of the best things I've seen this year. Inspired in concept with execution to match from both cast and writers. While managing that extremely difficult trick of making fun of a genre/tradition without resorting to cheap shots or snidery. The last film I can think of that managed that so well was Galaxy Quest. Anyway, Hot Fuzz is utterly hilarious at the same time as actually being pretty much still a proper thriller/action movie.
If a bit disconcerting for those of us who do live in the Cotswolds...
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