Comus

[dani]

Has anyone seen this? I am considering going, but will wait to see some reviews, and wonder if any forum members have been yet.

[Deleted]

I'm going at the weekend. I've heard some positive reactions so far, but also I think Lucy Bailey might have done some CONTROVERSIAL things with the theatre 'cos I've seen some seriously ruffled feathers too.

[Deleted]

There's a slightly mixed review here - www.renaissancehub.net/single-post/2016/10/31/Review-Comus-A-masque-in-honour-of-Chastity-by-John-Milton-dir-Lucy-Bailey-the-Sam-Wanamaker-Playhouse-London

[dani]

Thank you. That review is not encouraging, so I think I'll wait for other comment before booking.

[addictedtotheatre]

Saw this last night. It's entertaining, and uses the theatre space very well. If you haven't been to the Wanamaker before its a good introduction to this unique venue.

[Deleted]

Lucy Bailey is a guest on this morning's Start the Week and lucidly explains her production of Comus:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b081ld2r
from about nine minutes in (immediately following the item about a Victorian Archbishop of Canterbury and his bisexual wife and their six queer Edwardian children, which is also worth a listen).

I have seen Comus in the SWP and I failed to notice many of the fundamental features she explains this morning. Yet another example of why it's usually a waste of my time and effort to attend classical theatre. It's often much too obscure.

Although the costumes were nice and the dancing was mildly pleasing. And Rob Callender is a bit of a tease. And it's worth going to see one show in the SWP, just to see the theatre in action.

[Deleted]

Thought this was pretty good. You get a 10 minute new bit at the start about the family performing the masque (based on the family who first performed it). Then it's a pretty straightforward performance of Comus with occasional bits where the characters break out of their Comus role into their role from the framing device. Also there's a modern intervention to the text at the end

Worked well in getting across how and why a masque was performed. I think what the review I linked to above was objecting to was playing some of it for laughs - but tbh not sure how else you could have two young men singing the virtues of chastity other than for laughs. Also various bits with "demons" impersonating rocks / trees groping the characters who aren't aware of them.

Note for purists - some use of modern sound effects and electric lighting. Which felt pointless - I don't think anything there couldn't have been done with the normal SWP setup

If you're in the pit - loads of smoke pumped out in your face. If you're sensitive to that might want to try and move your seat

Short running time (90 minutes straight through)

[Deleted]

Nov 12, 2016 18:23:30 GMT @xanderl said:

Short running time (90 minutes straight through)

but I was bored after about an hour. This felt to me a bit pointless unless you're fascinated by centuries-old masques.

[Deleted]

I guess the clue was in the title

Sorry you lacked the intellectual horsepower to cope