[Jenny_tyr]

I just got home after a very miserable night at the theatre (don't even ask), and after the great topic that MaxCady introduced, about what Shakespeare productions we most look forward to in 2008, I thought that it might be an interesting idea to ask what would be our fantasy casting for Shakespeare, if we had a say in it. So here's my top 5 dream casting:

1. I would love to see a production of "Antony and Cleopatra" with a younger cast, and most especially Kate Fleetwood as Cleopatra and William Houston as Antony.

2. Sam Crane as Romeo would be very high on my list, and especially with Laura Rees as Juliet.

3. Anton Lesser as either Lear or Titus Andronicus, either one should be very good in my opinion.

4. Tom Mannion as Macbeth or why not Timon of Athens? He's one of my favourites, and I'd love to see him in almost anything.

5. William Houston as Hamlet, I had such high hopes when the buzz of the upcoming RSC Hamlet first started, but then they cast David Tennant, who will probably be fine, but I'd love to see Houston doing it some day.

Anyone else have a dream cast that they'd like to see?

//Jenny

[Lynette]

I'd like to see Anton Lesser in anything - where is he?

[Alexandra]

Rehearsing The Vertical Hour, presumably.

[armadillo]

I think it will be a long time before anyone does a Troilus and Cressida with a cast to better the Sam Mendes production of 1990

[Lynette]

O goodo, I'll be seeing Anton Lesser then soon. Thanks for reminding me.
Talking about casting - I saw Victoria Hamilton in the Lark Rise on the telly last night in a silly little part. What is going on ? She should be on the stage doing her stuff. I really liked her work.

[Polly1]

5. William Houston as Hamlet, I had such high hopes when the buzz of the upcoming RSC Hamlet first started, but then they cast David Tennant, who will probably be fine, but I'd love to see Houston doing it some day.

//Jenny
[/quote]

You may already know this, Jenny, but some years ago, William Houston took the title role in a 'film' version of Hamlet - a friend of mine was one of many who paid to be extras/have minor parts in it. It was heavily cut of course and a lot of it looked very amateurish but it might be the closest you'll ever get to your wish!

[Jenny_tyr]

Thanks Polly, I've got that one on DVD, and it's one of the most oddly infuriating viewing experiences ever, even though I like certain aspects of it. "Low-budget" would probably be an exaggeration, more like "no-budget", the text is "edited" according to the 'slash and burn and take no prisoners'-policy, the sets are practically non-existent and some of the acting is very poor indeed, for instance the guy who plays Laertes, who is so unbelievably dreadful that you instantly hit the fastforward button so that you don't actually have to hear him. But in spite of all that, the production has some redeeming qualities, such as Gareth Thomas as a very good Claudius, and of course William Houston as an excellent Hamlet, even though he is hampered by the badly cut text that he has to work with. That flawed production is one of the main reasons why I would be intrigued to see Houston deliver the full text on stage.

//Jenny