5 replies to this topic

[Lynette]

I am really amazed to read that the stick that Frances Barber was using in the performance last Sat was because of a real injury. She was brilliant, menacing and real, vulnerable when cursed and with a 'back story' you could almost touch. Keep the stick, girl. Seriously, I wish her well as her performance under what I know realise were painful circumstances was superb and so look forward to her being 100%.

[Duncan]

*Channels Richard Whiteley*

Huh huh! Well it's sad to hear that Frances Barber had such a close shave with injury. Huh huh! Here's hoping she sticks with it because that leg's Goneril-ly hurt. Huh huh! Over to you Carol...

[coated peanuts]

They replaced her with Melanie Jessop, who was very good. She has a most excellent sneer and I wouldn't have noticed that she is an understudy if I hadn't been told.

[Alexandra]

"vulnerable when cursed"

Lynette, Frances Barber said in an interview on the Radio 4 site that I mentioned in the other thread that the first time McKellen cursed her in rehearsals she burst into tears, and then thought all right, why shouldn't Goneril be upset?

[Edagar]

I saw Melanie Jessop this week, and totally agree - she made a fantastic Goneril.  I hope she gets bigger and better parts from now on, and really looking forward to her in The Seagull.

[Lynette]

yes, Alexandra, what I was thinking that as she is bit older she maybe had not had children and her father, insensitive as ever, was cursing her last chance so to speak...a bit psychobabble but it worked for me. Good luck to the understudy but I hope FB gets back.