Then there was The Tempest (London april 2013 part 3)

I'm not a huge Shakespeare fan, probably because I don't watch it enough so I may get there eventually... but even at this stage I do love seeing Shakespeare at the Shakespeare Globe in London, it's just got that special something.

Pleasant evening at the Globe, The Tempest was interesting from start to end, funny, touching, highly recommended production!

Kudos to Roger Allen (Prospero) and Colin Morgan (Ariel) for capturing my rapt attention throughout the play... actually the whole cast was great, James Garnon (Caliban) should get special mention for that must have been an exhausting part (as was Ariel) but somehow he never really got my sympathy.

Prospero (Roger Allen), photo Marc Brenner

Ariel (Colin Morgan), photo Marc Brenner

from the official website:

'WE ARE SUCH STUFF AS DREAMS ARE MADE ON.'

Prospero, Duke of Milan, usurped and exiled by his own brother, holds sway over an enchanted island. He is comforted by his daughter Miranda and served by his spirit Ariel and his deformed slave Caliban. When Prospero raises a storm to wreck this perfidious brother and his confederates on the island, his long contemplated revenge at last seems within reach.

Imbued with a spirit of magic and the supernatural, The Tempest is Shakespeare’s late great masterpiece of forgiveness, generosity and enlightenment.

Jeremy Herrin’s previous work for Shakespeare’s Globe includes 2011’s much loved Much Ado About Nothing.

Roger Allam won the Olivier Award for best actor for his role as Falstaff in Henry IV parts 1 & 2 at the Globe in 2010. Other recent credits include The Thick of It (BBC) and Tamara Drewe (Film).

Colin Morgan is best known for playing Merlin in the long running BBC series Merlin.

This production will employ Renaissance costumes and staging.

THE TEMPEST

23 April - 18 August

By William Shakespeare

Running time: 3 hours (approx) including interval
CREATIVES

Directed by
Jeremy Herrin

Designed by
Max Jones

Music by
Stephen Warbeck
CAST

Roger Allam
Prospero

Jason Baughan
Antonio

Jessie Buckley
Miranda

Sam Cox
Stephano

Pip Donaghy
Gonzalo

Trevor Fox
Trinculo

Peter Hamilton Dyer
Alonso

James Garnon
Caliban

Joshua James
Ferdinand

William Mannering
Sebastian

Colin Morgan
Ariel

Matthew Raymond
Boatswain/Adrian

Sarah Sweeney
Iris

Amanda Wilkin
Ceres

London Oct 2012

Oh boy,  fall 2012 London, spoiled for choice on what to see and so little time!

Ended up seeing an oldie, long running show "The Woman in Black", very nice, this is supposed to be a scary thriller kind of play, and it was on it's own, but the bunch of school kids sitting in the rows before me gave an extra special dimension... who would have thought that teenagers these days scare so easily, the shrieking and gasping at every scary scene or sound made the whole evening almost a comedy. Love you kids!

Twelfth Night

Next up my reason for coming to london on this trip: "Twelfth Night" at the Globe.  So glad I decided to make this trip. This all male production was hilarious! such an excellent cast, great use of the unique space that the Globe offers. This production, if a little on the funny side, must be one of the definitive productions of Twelfth Night ever (more in a dedicated post later).

Not quite recovered from  the "Twelfth Night" matinee it was a short walk to the National, press night for 'Scenes from an Execution'. Never had the opportunity before to attend a press night at the National, it comes with a certain atmosphere. I thought this was a good production, first act could have benefited from a little more editing, but the second act was great. Some technical difficulties with the set righ before the end. I felt so bad for the cast for this to happen on press night, but the audience was supportive and the Cast handled the mishaps with style. 

 B56 Middle Gallery,
East Tower Bay M Restricted View 

One more day left, packed with Shakespeare. Matinee performance of 'The Taming of the Shrew" got to say my seat with restricted view, was quite restricted but very much doable. Taming is a play that comes with some trepidation, feminist issues and all that but there are interesting theories about that, will try to elaborate on that in a dedicated post later.

On with the finale of this trip, another Globe visit, "Richard III". OMG so good! same cast (sans Stephen Fry) as "Twelfth Night" I can't get over how good this cast is in these plays that are performed in repertory. Certainly the special atmosphere at the Globe adds to the experience. I am very happy I was able to change my courtyard (standing) ticket for a seat. It rained almost the entire performance, and the Globe being half open air, poor groundlings... (more later)

Richard III