RSC 2019

Ah the glorious Steven Pimlott production. Still my favourite

Mine is the late 80s RSC version at the Barbican directed by Nicholas Hytner with Roger Allam as the Duke, John Shrapnel as Angelo, Josette Simon as Isabella and a brilliantly funny Alex Jennings as Lucio.  I'd happily see Hytner do a Shakespeare a year for the next few years at the Bridge - especially as my daughters are entering the age at which they'd really enjoy them.

2011 Roxanna Silbert production for me with Paul Chahidi as Lucio, Jodie McNee as Isabella, Jamie Ballard as Angelo and Raymond Coulthard, with his magic card tricks, as the duke

There was a fine production of Venice Preserv'd at the National in 1984, with Ian McKellen, Michael Pennington, and Jane Lapotaire, directed by Peter Gill. The scenes between Hugh Paddick (Antonio) and Stephanie Beacham (Aquilina) were quite amusing. 

In those more youthful days, I would often go to plays at the NT that I had never heard of, if I liked the cast. I had never heard of Venice Preserv'd and was quite excited by it. My job is sort of theater-related, and years later, I tried to work the play (unsuccessfully) into a project I was working on. Other plays I saw at the NT that I had never heard of but that thoroughly impressed me were Lorenzaccio, Martine, and The Mayor of Zalamea. I'll never forget the curtain going up on Martine: Wendy Morgan in the wheat field, with the most wonderful golden lighting.

Venice Preserv’d - loved it. just what the RSC should be doing, as you say leafan. Can be described by that awful epithet ‘relevant’ without having it shoved down your throat. Great set, great music and well, the acting would have made Otway proud. The programme says he wrote the part of Belvidera for Mrs Barry one of the first actresses on the English stage. Well, Jodie McNee can give her a run for her money.
I am not one for violence (much 😁😁 ) but here it was really well done. Never seen better deaths than how they did them at the end. Much better than Titus Andronicus in regard to blood and so on to be honest but of course we are well post Shakespeare and the Civil War not far past in their minds. I think here the direction had that in mind. This was drama with hardly any redemption if any. The death of the friends offset by the horror of the death of Belvidera. Really good stuff.

It was half empty which was such a shame. I know Monday not a good day but apparently it hasn’t sold well. The reviews killed it I fear. With The Provoked Wife, a great double. I fear the empty seats might strike the management too chilly for further similar programming.

Hard sell in Stratford. There’s an audience in London but of course there isn’t a suitable theatre for a transfer and they regard the London audience as a cash cow only so we only get their big dull Shakespeares (ironically at massive discounts).

Why such a hard sell in Stratford? Lots of the ‘elite’ in the Midlands, you know.  I and I’m sure, you too , have been at plays with full houses when the play is obscure and ‘difficult’. I think it is more a case of ‘no sell’. I don't see a lot of real publicity out there, lots of printed pamphlets but where are they circulated and more needed on t’internet’ and frankly on the television. Those morning and late afternoon local magazine type progs could get the word out. And schools of course. They like the mainstream on the GCSE syllabus but this play in particular would be brilliant for A level guys - the post Willie refs were unending. I see it as a perception problem. 

Yes, Arcola perfect for TheOtherPlace stuff.

Just seen Measure for Measure, the strongest of this season’s Shakespeares I think. Lovely setting in Vienna’s Belle Époque, pared back set, good use of sound and lighting, all what you would expect from GD. His interpretation of Isabella and the Duke at the end is in line with most of the productions I have ever seen. Useful that Shakespeare gives her no words at that end, such an eloquent character becomes quite dumb. Lucius clever interpretation, a flaneur, devoid of any morals at all in a story where you are hard pressed to find your way, find firm ground amid the deception.
This is today’s play, not only for the sexual theme but for the theme of justice and good governance. Bernadine is probably one of my favourite characters in all of Shakespeare. We are told he is a murderer, has served nine years ( which today would have him released I expect) and he simply defies authority, refuses to be executed.

Oh, and one thing I noticed - the programmes no longer have a list of all the plays, with the ones they've done greyed out. Interesting.

I found Measure For Measure the most moving thing I've seen in a while - it will stay with me and gives quite a bit to think about after. Definitely my favourite of the RSC productions I've seen this year.