Reader Reviews
Being Shakespeare (Trafalgar Studios (previously the Whitehall), West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Third attempt at posting!!!! 24 hours after watching Patrick Stewart's mean-spirited portrayal of Shakespeare in the tedious Bingo, Simon Callow provides the perfect antidote with the return of his one-man show. Jonathan Bate's text is based around the seven ages of man speech from As You Like It, taking us through Shakespeare's life illuminated with excerpts from some of the plays, which show just how much one influenced the other. It also demolishes the snobbish absurdity that a grammar school boy from a small market town could not possibly be the author of works of such genius. Callow is a hugely engaging narrator and, with less bombast than he can be prone to, superbly delivers the speeches in character, ranging from Henry V and Orlando to Juliet and Rosalind; surely one day he is destined to be a great Falstaff. His superb affection and feel for the subject suggests that his true talent might lie on the other side of the footlights. Here's a thought - it might be unfair on Greg Doran, but why not Simon Callow as the next Artistic Director of the RSC? - David Baxter | 09 Mar 12 |
| An excellent Spakespeare history lesson told by a very charismatic storyteller, but not really a full theatrical experience. Too brief going nowhere. - Steve | 31 Jul 11 |
