24 replies to this topic

[Mistress Quickly]

I've only seen her in two plays, namely Hay Fever and Merry Wives - The Musical but I just adore her. A truly amazing actress, and I'm really glad that I've finally discovered her for me.    Took me long enough anyway. *g*

Any more fans around?

[World Traveler]

I've been a fan since my mother introduced me to As Time Goes By several years ago.  I've since been fortunate enough to see her on stage three times, first in All's Well That Ends Well and then the two you mentioned -- I saw Merry Wives the weekend before last.  I very much enjoyed her performance in all three.

[Marius]

Ive been a fan since As time Goes By, only seen her in HayFever and Alls Well. She is brilliant and has such presence.

[Mistress Quickly]

I just love ATGB. *g* Great show and pity that it's over. But who knows, there might be more specials.  

What did you think of Merry Wives? No idea why critics were so harsh about it. I read quite a lot of rather nasty reviews, and I don't really see why.

[World Traveler]

I very much enjoyed Merry Wives.  I have never seen the original play performed, so it was a fun way for me to be "introduced" to the work .  Simon Callow was a hoot as Falstaff -- the whole cast, I thought, was great.  My favorite though, was Fenton, played by Martin Crewes.  I had been "introduced" to Martin when I saw The Woman in White, and very much enjoyed his work in that show, so I was pleased to get the chance to see him onstage again.

As for As Time Goes By, I'm slowly building my collection of DVDs, so I can catch up on those episodes I've missed.

[Blue]

I never got to see Merry Wives and probaly wont know. It got a bit of a roasting by the critics but most people I've talked to who have seen it said that they really emjoyed it.

[Cat]

I very much enjoyed Merry Wives.  I have never seen the original play performed, so it was a fun way for me to be "introduced" to the work .  Simon Callow was a hoot as Falstaff -- the whole cast, I thought, was great.  My favorite though, was Fenton, played by Martin Crewes.  I had been "introduced" to Martin when I saw The Woman in White, and very much enjoyed his work in that show, so I was pleased to get the chance to see him onstage again.

I agree totally with your comments - it was a great show.  

[Jan Brock]

I think J.Dench is overrated - the received wisdom is that she is a "great" stage actress but I have never seen the evidence to justify this - in just about every role she has played I can think of someone who I have seen who was better, and in some roles (Cleopatra) there are plenty.

[Haz]

I think J.Dench is overrated - the received wisdom is that she is a "great" stage actress but I have never seen the evidence to justify this - in just about every role she has played I can think of someone who I have seen who was better, and in some roles (Cleopatra) there are plenty.

But surely, even if that is the case, it is the better actress who is second 'best' in 10 roles, than who is best in one but makes no mark in any other roles. In my eyes, the mark of a great actress/actor is diversity, variety, passion and dedication.. you certainly can't show the first two just by being great at one role.