![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
grondficJust for a change, I’m about to review a play I haven’t yet seen. We’re booked in a couple of weeks (RMT/ASLEF willing). So here goes, with ....
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Shakespeare’s Globe)
As you may know, I’m always up for a good Dream. I thought I’d seen it all at the Bridge, when the roles of Oberon and Titania were swapped so that He got to sleep with the transformed Bottom, and She ran the show in the forest (https://grondfic.livejournal.com/277859.html https://grondfic.livejournal.com/278384.html)
Before that, Russell T Davis’ tv effort, featuring a tyrannical Theseus, some highly intimidating fairies, and Matt Lucas as Bottom highlighted some of the darker motifs in the play.
This being the Globe, and the role of Puck being played by Artistic Director Michelle Terry (yeah, I know! She’s done this before), we can expect this production to display (a) a wide diversity in casting and (b) a largely Puck-centric bias. And – just on glancing at early reviews, and cast-list; so it transpires.
So, let’s look at the cast. (I'll leave the reviews until after the play!)
This cast is predominantly female-identifying, including all the Mechanicals. Isobel Thom, who plays Helena is nonbinary, and was last seen at the Globe playing the title role in I, Joan (https://grondfic.livejournal.com/299206.html). Francesca Mills, who plays Hermia, was last seen at the Globe in Two Noble Kinsman (https://grondfic.livejournal.com/262799.html) and has dwarfism – which bids fair to make the ‘quarrel scene’ extremely dark and problematic.
Further – the roles of Hippolyta and Titania are played by two separate actors (Anne Odeke and Marianne Oldham respectively). So lucky Jack Laskey, playing both Theseus and Oberon gets two leading ladiesto forcibly marry in one case; and to cast a sneaky spell upon in order to put her in her place in the other.
So, I guess, it’s going to be another new and possibly exciting experience of Shakespeare’s most popular play. Bring it on!
(Note to Micks Lynch (RMT) and Whelan (ASLEF)– I’ve calculated VERY carefully when booking this theatre visit, that we’re within the Sacred Fortnight’s Grace time that you give us between strike days. PLEASE don’t prove me wrong, and I’ll continue to support your efforts to get justice for your members!)
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Shakespeare’s Globe)
As you may know, I’m always up for a good Dream. I thought I’d seen it all at the Bridge, when the roles of Oberon and Titania were swapped so that He got to sleep with the transformed Bottom, and She ran the show in the forest (https://grondfic.livejournal.com/277859.html https://grondfic.livejournal.com/278384.html)
Before that, Russell T Davis’ tv effort, featuring a tyrannical Theseus, some highly intimidating fairies, and Matt Lucas as Bottom highlighted some of the darker motifs in the play.
This being the Globe, and the role of Puck being played by Artistic Director Michelle Terry (yeah, I know! She’s done this before), we can expect this production to display (a) a wide diversity in casting and (b) a largely Puck-centric bias. And – just on glancing at early reviews, and cast-list; so it transpires.
So, let’s look at the cast. (I'll leave the reviews until after the play!)
This cast is predominantly female-identifying, including all the Mechanicals. Isobel Thom, who plays Helena is nonbinary, and was last seen at the Globe playing the title role in I, Joan (https://grondfic.livejournal.com/299206.html). Francesca Mills, who plays Hermia, was last seen at the Globe in Two Noble Kinsman (https://grondfic.livejournal.com/262799.html) and has dwarfism – which bids fair to make the ‘quarrel scene’ extremely dark and problematic.
Further – the roles of Hippolyta and Titania are played by two separate actors (Anne Odeke and Marianne Oldham respectively). So lucky Jack Laskey, playing both Theseus and Oberon gets two leading ladies
So, I guess, it’s going to be another new and possibly exciting experience of Shakespeare’s most popular play. Bring it on!
(Note to Micks Lynch (RMT) and Whelan (ASLEF)– I’ve calculated VERY carefully when booking this theatre visit, that we’re within the Sacred Fortnight’s Grace time that you give us between strike days. PLEASE don’t prove me wrong, and I’ll continue to support your efforts to get justice for your members!)
