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Post by kathryn on Apr 24, 2016 10:19:48 GMT
I skipped most of the singy-dancy bits (though I admit I was captivated by Othello and Desdemona) but when we actually got actors doing Shakey I thought it was fab. Loved the 'To Be or Not To Be' skit, though I'm not sure if the wider audience watching on telly will have picked up on all the jokes. I might book to see Hamlet again now. Always good to see La Dench and McKellan do their stuff, and I thought the Macbeth segment was outstanding - and I'm not normally a fan of that play.
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Post by theatremadness on Apr 24, 2016 10:49:28 GMT
I'm laughing so hard at this thread. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad people enjoyed it, and we all like different things. But personally, I saw this on TV and I thought it was terrible. It was like 'let's prove Shakespeare's relevant and accessible' 101. I know you said (slightly patronisingly) that you're glad people enjoyed this, but I certainly do not like my opinions to be laughed at and to be made to feel like some common pleb just because I enjoyed this celebration that was - in your opinion (like I know you stated) - accessible Shakespeare 101. My enjoyment and understanding of Shakespeare grows each time I challenge myself to go see one of his plays, and last night hugely added to plays I'd like to see in full now....but maybe I should just stick to musicals!!  I'm in no way saying that's at all what you intended to put across, and maybe you may think this is just an overreaction, but that's just how it read to me. I just don't necessarily enjoy having my opinions looked down upon if the only reason I must've enjoyed this is because I didn't understand or it went over my head. Anyhow, the comments on twitter last night were all 99.9% positive with many saying that this is what they want more of on their telly that's worth paying the licence for! So I will happily join my groundlings and hope that another sort of theatrical celebration like this is not too far away from prime-time Saturday night BBC!  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2016 11:06:39 GMT
I wasn't being patronising.
I was laughing because it made me realise just how much opinions can diverge over one simple two and a half hour show! Genuinely. That's all. It's why I used the phrase 'Don't get me wrong', in fact. Then I stated my own opinion, after clearly saying everyone else is entitled to theirs. I fully expected to be shot down as an old fuddy-duddy (though in truth I'm neither). However, the fact that a couple of people have posted after me making much the same points sort of proves I'm not alone.
At no point did I say anybody didn't understand it/things went over their head. I just suggested that it felt like a missed opportunity, with too much 'this is vaguely Shakespeare related but everyone will think it's more fun than Shakespeare, so let's bung that on'. They didn't seem to take into account that there was also an audience who might just enjoy hearing some great scenes from plays performed by great actors over a period of more than 2-3 minutes. So it felt a bit unbalanced in that sense.
And if you think Twitter was 99.9% positive, you must have been following a different feed than me. I had several conversations with people last night who thought it was just as bad as I did, and I saw a lot of likes/RTs of critical tweets - my own and others!
Prime-time Saturday night BBC is welcome to put on another show like this. I just won't be watching. You might. Both of these situations are completely acceptable. :-)
I'll just hang on for The Hollow Crown II (which if you ask me, is what they should just have started last night.)
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Post by theatremadness on Apr 24, 2016 11:31:34 GMT
That's fair - I was wondering as I was writing whether I'd got the wrong end of the stick but thought I'd better put a word in just in case I hadn't! I was just the "I'm laughing so hard at this thread" that got me wondering. I understand completely it was your personal opinion and you had accepted those who had enjoyed, and also that others had felt underwhelmed too - it was just the phrasing of being "laughed at" that stuck out at me, which you've now cleared up as laughing at how much opinions can differ!  I understand you may have felt the evening unbalanced but I did genuinely think that there were some great scenes performed by great actors - even if the were only short. And I guess the crossing of genres was trying to prove that this 452 year old man had inspired *all* of these things, not just the plays still performed today. Regards to twitter, I checked the #RSCLive hashtag a few times throughout and then at the end and did see that positive reaction so I obviously did just miss the online criticism, thought I don't know what people are saying about it today (if anything). I wonder what the viewing figures will be and what the actual general consensus of the evening is. Will get prepared to get stuck into The Hollow Crown! |
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Post by foxa on Apr 24, 2016 11:53:57 GMT
Yes, I took Jean's posting as she says - laughing that we receive the same thing so differently. My opinion was closer to Jean's on this one - there were a couple of highlights (Kinnear as much mentioned) but some parts that seemed squirm-makingly bad (that was truly the worst rendition of 'Brush of Your Shakespeare' I have ever seen, including the one done by two of my secondary school teachers at an end of year assembly.) I enjoyed the Complete Walk more as a celebration BUT - I think it's great that the RSC were ambitious and inclusive. A lot of people took part (some of whom might have been grateful for a little more rehearsal.) There were some very funny tweets about Joseph Fiennes' contribution ('Why won't they let Joseph Fiennes in the building?' 'Joseph Fiennes - still walking.' ) I sincerely hope people DID enjoy the show as there was a lot of talent on display and we want people to go to the theatre.
And yes - on to The Hollow Crown!
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Post by kathryn on Apr 24, 2016 12:43:32 GMT
This was the RSC doing Saturday-night variety telly, so naturally it was hit and miss, and different people will have enjoyed different bits. Nowt wrong with that - it's a 'broad church', as the man said.
I was following the Twitter hashtag and it was positive on the whole - the consensus was that it got better as it went on, everyone seemed to enjoy Dench and Al Murray and the Hamlets skit.
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Post by moelhywel on Apr 24, 2016 12:55:41 GMT
I was one of those who enjoyed this programme,with a few caveats (I also thought the West Side Story wasn't particularly well performed) but this was intended to be a celebration of Shakespeare and the fact that it was shown on BBC2 and not BBC4 is something to be welcomed given the paucity of arts programmes on mainstream TV. If this encourages anyone to go to the theatre to see Shakespeare or any other form of theatre then we should all be pleased.
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Post by theatremadness on Apr 24, 2016 12:56:32 GMT
Yes, I took Jean's posting as she says - laughing that we receive the same thing so differently. In which case, my mind must've been in overdrive - my apologies to Jean! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2016 13:16:52 GMT
Phew, I'm glad we're all OK!  ? I've been condescended to a few times on various threads here over the years and you're absolutely right theatremadness, it is insulting. I can be forthright in my opinions at times but I sincerely hope never derogatory! And yes, I'd agree Twitter got more positive as the night went on and they rolled out the 'big guns' we'd been waiting for (I was starting to think Allam and Mirren had gone home early). |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2016 13:17:44 GMT
Well...we're OK, but apparently my smileys aren't. Sorry about those question marks!
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Post by crabtree on Apr 24, 2016 13:36:36 GMT
sadly, we'll brush over the opening with west side story.......very ragged. But from the non-play pieces I loved the Berlioz duet, and David Bintley's Othello duet. some of the projections were beautiful and apt, and the stage pictures for Titania/Bottom were wonderful. Great image of Cleopatra and her ladies. So much to enjoy, and I was rather overwhelmed by the scale of just what Shakespeare is, and how much he has been a daily important part of my life. It all started, for me, by seeing The Wars of the Roses, aged 9, ironically on the celebrations for his birth. And yes the Horrible Histories were fun. Just west Side Story and the jazz band fell flat.
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Post by kathryn on Apr 24, 2016 14:02:54 GMT
Phew, I'm glad we're all OK! ? I've been condescended to a few times on various threads here over the years Look how well we've settled in to our own theatre board - we're starting to forget that we were ever anywhere else! :-) |
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Post by lynette on Apr 24, 2016 14:20:21 GMT
The jazz band was seated way back in the orchestra seats so I think lost impact seeing they were youngsters. The close ups on the telly I think reveal the lack of contact with the audience. Watching the tv I can see that some items lost immediacy such as the dancers who were terrific spesh the guy with the rapper. This kind of tv live is really hard to pull off. But an experiment worth repeating.
I'm just wondering if Greg Doran woke up this morning thinking this is one he won't have to do again. Hope he left has notes for the person in charge in 2064 birth and 2066 death!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2016 14:46:18 GMT
And yes - on to The Hollow Crown! Series One of The Hollow Crown is repeated on BBC4 this week, Monday to Thursday, starting Monday at 11.00pm. |
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Post by crabtree on Apr 24, 2016 22:09:05 GMT
Perhaps this should have been called 'The infinite variety show'
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Post by alexandra on Apr 25, 2016 9:51:13 GMT
It wasn't about showing how relevant and accessible Shakespeare is, it was (I thought) about showing how his influence has pervaded every aspect of our culture. Point worth making. Other than that it was a bit of a jolly.
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Post by theatremadness on Apr 26, 2016 13:45:04 GMT
Will be released on DVD soon for those interested! |
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Post by theatremadness on Apr 26, 2016 13:50:21 GMT
Phew, I'm glad we're all OK! ? I've been condescended to a few times on various threads here over the years and you're absolutely right theatremadness, it is insulting. I can be forthright in my opinions at times but I sincerely hope never derogatory! And yes, I'd agree Twitter got more positive as the night went on and they rolled out the 'big guns' we'd been waiting for (I was starting to think Allam and Mirren had gone home early). Oh absolutely!! I blame the internet for not being able to convey tone and context!!  But at least it will teach me not to jump to conclusions before asking any questions!! haha |
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Post by maggiem on Apr 27, 2016 11:20:44 GMT
I really enjoyed it.
They pulled off a few good surprises. Judi Dench and Al Murray doing AMD, and of course, the wonderful "To Be, Or Not To Be" sketch. "Princes to act" eh? (wrong play, I know, but I couldn't resist!)
I loved Rory Kinnear's Macbeth, and would pay to see the full version whichever theatre puts it on!
Ian McKellen's Thomas More speech.... Once I realised the subject matter, I thought 'wait for the Daily Mail'. The Mail on Sunday beat them to it, with the usual accusations of Leftie bias! Hee hee..... so predictable.
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Post by lynette on Apr 27, 2016 16:56:22 GMT
Well if we are to believe scholarship, this play Sir Thoma More is written partly in Shakespeare's own hand! So we can perhaps assume he must have approved of the sentiments expressed in the speech even if someone else dictated it. Banishment and exile very frightening then as now. So whatever The Daily Mail says, there it is.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2016 19:45:37 GMT
What? An author doesn't automatically share the viewpoints of a character they've written for, that's the strangest idea I've ever heard.
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