14 replies to this topic

[Jan Brock]

I don't see a thread for this - has anyone else seen it ? A very good and interesting production, best since Greg Doran's. The only negatives are that it could have been a bit funnier and it was a very dull set as a result of it originating on the RST thrust stage (a big back wall with lots of doors and windows is already a cliche). Lucy Bailey is a very good director of Shakespeare, I hope she survives into the new Doran artistic team.

[dude-1981]

I really didn't like it much at all.  Just seemed really flat, like everyone was trying too hard.  Not funny at all, painfully long and I'm not sure I could say Lisa Dillon has been any cop in the 3 or 4 things I've seen her in.  I much prefered the version from late last year at the Southwark Playhouse.  Worst Shakespeare I saw all week.

[Latecomer]

Saw it on the thrust stage at Stratford and loved it. For me they didn't quite nail the ending but otherwise I thought it was fabulous. I liked the chemistry between Lisa Dillon and her man.

[xanderl]

I thought it was great. Not sure how the giant bed would translate to a normal stage

[Jan Brock]

xanderl, on 25 March 2012 - 09:49 AM, said:

I thought it was great. Not sure how the giant bed would translate to a normal stage

They just stuck it on the normal stage - not ideal.

[xanderl]

This production got my 2011 award for "most disappointing nudity following a warning sign"

[Honoured Guest]

Jan Brock, on 25 March 2012 - 07:13 AM, said:

...it was a very dull set as a result of it originating on the RST thrust stage (a big back wall with lots of doors and windows is already a cliche).

I get your point, but that's a perennial issue with touring theatre. Any set design works better in some theatres than in others. Looking at it the other way round, an original RST production design is now much more compromised in its RST home if it's designed for touring. For example, I understand that Macbeth was fully designed and directed for the RST alone whereas The Merchant of Venice was designed and directed with a West End transfer in mind, although it never happened.

[Honoured Guest]

xanderl, on 25 March 2012 - 11:24 AM, said:

This production got my 2011 award for "most disappointing nudity following a warning sign"

Obviously, this notification was made with young children in mind, not ageing sleazebags.

And I'm not  surprised it disappointed you in 2011 when the first preview was in January this year.

[xanderl]

How dare you call me ageing!

[Jan Brock]

This was like on old-style RSC production, even including on-stage urination.