Post by duncan on Feb 13, 2016 11:44:38 GMT
Hoots mon, threre is a moose loose aboot this hoose.
The National Theatre of Scotland is restaging its 2014 King James trilogy in Edinburgh this week before a tour of our colonies (NZ, Aus, England) and more dates back home.
James I - James has been held prisoner in England for 18 years, he is returned to a Scotland he barely knows and nobles who are not enamored with his return. With only the support of his wife can he stay alive long enough to reign?
Corking stuff, the best of the trilogy - very Scots as to be expected but open enough for those who dont speak the language to understand whats going on whilst probably missing some of the more Scots gags. The performances are aimed just right, hurrah for Inverdarroch, and the only downside is a the giant sword sticking out of the stage is a very obvious shorthand that could probably have been removed.
James II - With James I dead, his 6 year old son is the new King but powerful families want to mold the young king in their own image. Can James stand on his own feet and if he does can he even trust his oldest friend, William?
A small step down in quality from I - basing the majority of the first half around the boy king and then playing it again as a nightmare doesn’t quite work (and the casting joke at the end doesn’t work if it’s the understudy that’s on) but its enjoyable enough without ever reaching the heights of the first play. On reflection its the last 15 minutes or so that I have most issue with as James and William effectively change character for no apparent reason - James becomes the King he needs to be but its totally out of character from what we have seen before and William suddenly goes from abused by his father comedy sidekick to OTT ranting nutter. You just dont believe that the 2 characters in the last 15 minutes are the same ones we've spent the previous 1h45 with.
Making the birthmark a map of Scotland though, sheesh!
James III - James III is more interested in the pleasures that come from being King rather than actually being the King that the nation needs. When even his loyal Queen comes to stand against him, can he repent and become the King they want?
Went for the onstage seating for this one - who knew you could see so much of the audience from on stage!! As I got a front row seat I was trampled on by both the King and his son.
This is an odd one - its the most female of the trilogy, which isnt a bad thing, but thanks to a wonderfully charismatic performance James comes across as a far more interesting and fun character than anyone else in the play and you cant help but think that the Queen and Lords are just a miserable bunch of old gits who want to spoil the party.
It also contains some exceptionally gratuitous male and female nudity - the bum flashing from the Kings male lover I think is only viewed by those on stage and the same with the Queens breasts making an appearance (which I think would only be viewable to those sat in the left side of the stage as I was) but the last 10 minutes give us King James IV in his full glory and its not needed. None of it!!
Maybe I'm too prudish for modern theatre. Alongside the unnecessary nudity the language is a lot more fruity than it needs to be - Henry V cant open his mouth without saying "f***" and we get at least one C word, which I cant help but think will stop these plays from becoming a Scottish Shakey and being taught in schools in years to come.
As a trilogy its all very exciting, never dull and you dont have to know anything about Scottish history to follow whats going on (or indeed see them in the right order or see all of them).
Overall I'd mark them as 9,7,8 out of 10.
The National Theatre of Scotland is restaging its 2014 King James trilogy in Edinburgh this week before a tour of our colonies (NZ, Aus, England) and more dates back home.
James I - James has been held prisoner in England for 18 years, he is returned to a Scotland he barely knows and nobles who are not enamored with his return. With only the support of his wife can he stay alive long enough to reign?
Corking stuff, the best of the trilogy - very Scots as to be expected but open enough for those who dont speak the language to understand whats going on whilst probably missing some of the more Scots gags. The performances are aimed just right, hurrah for Inverdarroch, and the only downside is a the giant sword sticking out of the stage is a very obvious shorthand that could probably have been removed.
James II - With James I dead, his 6 year old son is the new King but powerful families want to mold the young king in their own image. Can James stand on his own feet and if he does can he even trust his oldest friend, William?
A small step down in quality from I - basing the majority of the first half around the boy king and then playing it again as a nightmare doesn’t quite work (and the casting joke at the end doesn’t work if it’s the understudy that’s on) but its enjoyable enough without ever reaching the heights of the first play. On reflection its the last 15 minutes or so that I have most issue with as James and William effectively change character for no apparent reason - James becomes the King he needs to be but its totally out of character from what we have seen before and William suddenly goes from abused by his father comedy sidekick to OTT ranting nutter. You just dont believe that the 2 characters in the last 15 minutes are the same ones we've spent the previous 1h45 with.
Making the birthmark a map of Scotland though, sheesh!
James III - James III is more interested in the pleasures that come from being King rather than actually being the King that the nation needs. When even his loyal Queen comes to stand against him, can he repent and become the King they want?
Went for the onstage seating for this one - who knew you could see so much of the audience from on stage!! As I got a front row seat I was trampled on by both the King and his son.
This is an odd one - its the most female of the trilogy, which isnt a bad thing, but thanks to a wonderfully charismatic performance James comes across as a far more interesting and fun character than anyone else in the play and you cant help but think that the Queen and Lords are just a miserable bunch of old gits who want to spoil the party.It also contains some exceptionally gratuitous male and female nudity - the bum flashing from the Kings male lover I think is only viewed by those on stage and the same with the Queens breasts making an appearance (which I think would only be viewable to those sat in the left side of the stage as I was) but the last 10 minutes give us King James IV in his full glory and its not needed. None of it!!
Maybe I'm too prudish for modern theatre. Alongside the unnecessary nudity the language is a lot more fruity than it needs to be - Henry V cant open his mouth without saying "f***" and we get at least one C word, which I cant help but think will stop these plays from becoming a Scottish Shakey and being taught in schools in years to come.
As a trilogy its all very exciting, never dull and you dont have to know anything about Scottish history to follow whats going on (or indeed see them in the right order or see all of them).
Overall I'd mark them as 9,7,8 out of 10.
