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Actors Shakespeare Project: Cymbeline
Feb. 13th, 2011 02:29 pmYesterday Alexx and I did a double bill of "Cymbeline" in the afternoon and "The Lady's Not for Burning" in the evening, so I am feeling more than a little wiped, which is why I will merely give the link to Alexx's review
http://alexx-kay.livejournal.com/300016.html
of "Cymbeline" and add a few words of my own.
1. Go see this production! Seriously.
2. Once upon a time I read this play and my memories of it were that it was gothic, muddled, and too complicated to keep track of even while reading it. I didn't have much hope that the performance was going tob e very lively. Still, ASP is worth seeing no matter which play they are doing, so I went and found that, even with Shakespeare, sometimes the movie can be better than the book.
3. THe play has over a dozen characters who are absolutely vital tot he story, and the company only had seven actors. Also, they had no costumes, no sets, no special lighting or sound design, and really, no stage, other than a bit of cleared floor space surrounded by chairs. Not only did the company succeed in creating a magical performance, it was absolutely clear to me who everyone was at any given moment, despite the fact that most of the characters have an alter ego and all the actors played multiple parts. The tactic of having the actors announce the beginning of eachnew scene, along with it's setting, provided an easy way to make the play accessible to me, as a blind viewer, and to all the sighted viewers also. The sound effects, created by the actors using simple percussion insruments and cheap electronics--plus a now-infamous slide whistle--was brilliant. If you tnk having only half a dozen actors and almost no budget means you can't do great theatre, go see this production and be astounded.
4. "Cymbeline" is kind of confusing to categorize: I've seen it grouped witht he tragedies, the comedies, and the romances. I announced to my companions before the play began that it was a comedy (mostly because I was in themood for a comedy) and they both looked at me with much doubt. I am smugly pleased to state, however, that this production definitively demonstrated that "Cymbeline" can successly be produced as a comedy, and the final scene will leave you laughing. This is definitely the good parts version.
http://alexx-kay.livejournal.com/300016.html
of "Cymbeline" and add a few words of my own.
1. Go see this production! Seriously.
2. Once upon a time I read this play and my memories of it were that it was gothic, muddled, and too complicated to keep track of even while reading it. I didn't have much hope that the performance was going tob e very lively. Still, ASP is worth seeing no matter which play they are doing, so I went and found that, even with Shakespeare, sometimes the movie can be better than the book.
3. THe play has over a dozen characters who are absolutely vital tot he story, and the company only had seven actors. Also, they had no costumes, no sets, no special lighting or sound design, and really, no stage, other than a bit of cleared floor space surrounded by chairs. Not only did the company succeed in creating a magical performance, it was absolutely clear to me who everyone was at any given moment, despite the fact that most of the characters have an alter ego and all the actors played multiple parts. The tactic of having the actors announce the beginning of eachnew scene, along with it's setting, provided an easy way to make the play accessible to me, as a blind viewer, and to all the sighted viewers also. The sound effects, created by the actors using simple percussion insruments and cheap electronics--plus a now-infamous slide whistle--was brilliant. If you tnk having only half a dozen actors and almost no budget means you can't do great theatre, go see this production and be astounded.
4. "Cymbeline" is kind of confusing to categorize: I've seen it grouped witht he tragedies, the comedies, and the romances. I announced to my companions before the play began that it was a comedy (mostly because I was in themood for a comedy) and they both looked at me with much doubt. I am smugly pleased to state, however, that this production definitively demonstrated that "Cymbeline" can successly be produced as a comedy, and the final scene will leave you laughing. This is definitely the good parts version.
