tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30908821.post3191543186549071023..comments2023-08-18T07:08:39.676+01:00Comments on Russell's Theatre Reviews: The Taming of the Shrew - Novello Theatre, Friday 13th February 2009Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641946731096944403noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30908821.post-41593257893551642102009-06-19T10:56:47.810+01:002009-06-19T10:56:47.810+01:00As I left at the interval, I really wouldnt know, ...As I left at the interval, I really wouldnt know, would I?Me!https://www.blogger.com/profile/08641946731096944403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30908821.post-17714638101504863112009-06-18T23:59:57.894+01:002009-06-18T23:59:57.894+01:00"Christopher Sly and all reference to the act..."Christopher Sly and all reference to the action of the Induction vanish and are never seen, heard of or referred to again. Would that this had happened this evening."<br /><br />This is slightly misleading, as the play ends referring back to the beginning, where we see Christopher Sly end up with nothing on the street floor while the van pulls away (after all the actors from the play snatch the scenery back up and jump back in it).<br /><br />Just clarifying, I'm not criticising your opinion.<br /><br />SeanUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852367947283164924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30908821.post-39570610085278913262009-02-26T18:30:00.000+00:002009-02-26T18:30:00.000+00:00Wouldn't it be hysterical if it turned out that it...Wouldn't it be hysterical if it turned out that it was the Director posting all these vicious comments? I just read about a show which appeared at the Edinburgh Festival in 2008. This was a "promenade" show dealing with the Holocaust and, ultimately, freedom of expression. Two professional critics refused to play along with the director's wishes just to test out the overall strength of the production. As a result, they were stalked and verbally abused (and in one case actually assaulted by) the director, landing him with a police warning. So much for the idea of freedom of expression. Particularly if you use it to express things that certain other people can't cope with hearing. Ironic, eh?Me!https://www.blogger.com/profile/08641946731096944403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30908821.post-77757792017910257992009-02-21T09:50:00.000+00:002009-02-21T09:50:00.000+00:00The abusive messages continue. Two commenters' IP...The abusive messages continue. Two commenters' IP addresses have been sourced and a complaint is going to the Company Manager of the RSC quoting those comments allegedly left by a member of the cast. <BR/><BR/>I am also going to be migrating the blog shortly to another blogsite where commenters will have to supply their email address prior to leaving a comment. I refuse to be abused on my own blog by idiots who cannot understand that I have a right to hold an opinion that doesnt tally with their own. <BR/><BR/>In the meantime, can I suggest that said commenters direct their spleen towards: <BR/><BR/>www.whatsonstage.com: "I’m not sure every gag has to be laboured so hard and whether the frantic gurning is entirely necessary." <BR/><BR/>FIONA MOUNTFORD for THE EVENING STANDARD, "Stone Age gender politics aside, the rest of this production is a tiresome grind." <BR/><BR/>SARAH HEMMING for THE FINANCIAL TIMES "Unilluminating and overly complicated." <BR/><BR/>DOMINIC MAXWELL for THE TIMES "Conall Morrison’s production, imported from Stratford, seeks to mock more than to explain. His characters cavort around the stage like caffeinated fifth-formers trying to prove that Shakespeare can be fun. <BR/><BR/>www.musicomh.com - "it does leave you wondering that, if Shakespeare's play needs bending to such an extent to render it watchable, is it one still worth performing. The frenetic clowning that here serves as an alternative to the playwright's bewildering intent may not be enough."<BR/><BR/>See? I'm not the only one who didn't like your grubby little show. There are plenty of people who get paid for their opinions ho didn't like it either. <BR/><BR/>Pttttttth!Me!https://www.blogger.com/profile/08641946731096944403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30908821.post-45310806100383795492009-02-19T17:54:00.000+00:002009-02-19T17:54:00.000+00:00This was certainly an appropriate review for Frida...This was certainly an appropriate review for Friday 13th. "Shrew" is much better when turned in to 'Kiss Me Kate'. So much of Shakespeare's problem is he never had a decent musical collaborator.<BR/><BR/>Ironically and Wikipedia-allegedly it's the show that inspired a 7-year-old Ms Gomez to become an actress. It must have been a pretty crap production that toured her native Glasgow in 1978. <BR/><BR/>Disappointed to find La Gomez was not up to snuff. Although I liked her in Green Wing I do recognise she's a strange actress playing a strange character. And of course she's Mrs Jack Davenport which puts her into the Olympic class of strangeness.JohnnyFoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17826323649061407095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30908821.post-50358908222240813152009-02-18T16:35:00.000+00:002009-02-18T16:35:00.000+00:00No further abusive comments will be published. If...No further abusive comments will be published. If you have something constructive to say, say it. <BR/><BR/>If you can't cope with my criticism, then the answer is simple. The door is over there. Please use it, and don't bother coming again. If you can't conduct yourself in a mature fashion, your views are not welcome here. So go abuse someone else.Me!https://www.blogger.com/profile/08641946731096944403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30908821.post-86434828808646299872009-02-18T11:50:00.000+00:002009-02-18T11:50:00.000+00:00Well I'm glad you enjoyed it. I didn't. END OF ST...Well I'm glad you enjoyed it. I didn't. END OF STORY.Me!https://www.blogger.com/profile/08641946731096944403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30908821.post-17456954998687018042009-02-18T11:45:00.000+00:002009-02-18T11:45:00.000+00:00Am not in the cast - just went along last night an...Am not in the cast - just went along last night and had a great time! <BR/><BR/>xNickiNoodleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07537488772271056403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30908821.post-15811505043648017362009-02-18T11:41:00.000+00:002009-02-18T11:41:00.000+00:00No, I just do it for the fun of it. That's what "...No, I just do it for the fun of it. That's what "amateur" means - coming from the latin "amore" - "from the heart". <BR/><BR/>Just because I dont get paid for doing it, doesn't mean that I'm "failed" - I never wanted to act professionally.Me!https://www.blogger.com/profile/08641946731096944403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30908821.post-42394780198308851392009-02-18T11:37:00.000+00:002009-02-18T11:37:00.000+00:00ah, that explains it. you are a failed actor!ah, that explains it. you are a failed actor!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30908821.post-30707089493851852812009-02-18T11:20:00.000+00:002009-02-18T11:20:00.000+00:00Someone else involved in the production, perhaps?W...Someone else involved in the production, perhaps?<BR/><BR/><BR/>Why cannot people understand that the views expressed in my reviews are just my own personal opinions?<BR/><BR/>And as to understanding how diffcult Shakespeare's comedies are to perform - having been in two of them (albeit in amateur productions), I do actually know this.Me!https://www.blogger.com/profile/08641946731096944403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30908821.post-25755584533375181862009-02-18T10:29:00.001+00:002009-02-18T10:29:00.001+00:00I can't believe how utterly naive your review is. ...I can't believe how utterly naive your review is. It completely fails to acknowledge the power of Shakespeare's language and the artful way this was dealt with on the stage. This is a dark and edgy interpretation of The Taming of the Shrew, admittedly not one of Shakespeare's best comedies, and one that tends to be out of fashion nowadays for the 'taming' of Kate. The cast and director tackled these obstacles admirably, leading you from bawdy farce down a distinctly dark and sinister road to a final scene that is truly shocking and unexpected. <BR/><BR/>You are led through Petruchio's systematic destruction of his new wife to somewhere incredibly dark and potent. Without spoiling too much for people who haven't seen it (such as the reviewer...) you are left watching something gruesome, and all the more shocking for the comedy that preceeds it. <BR/><BR/>I thoroughly enjoyed this performance. I was warned by the staff beforehand that it was really 'edgy' and at first laughed this off, thinking that there was no possible way for The Taming to become modern and relevant. They accomplished this bravely and with gusto. I was particularly thrilled with the concept of using language as disguise, suggesting awareness of the power of the vocal performance, so often ignored by actors performing Shakespeare. <BR/><BR/>Michelle Gomez truly threw herself into the role, reflecting a Kate trapped in a world where she doesn't belong, her frustration boiling over into actual violence until she is 'broken' by the man who has vowed to honour and protect her. My only criticism of her performance was her accent - in a production so focussed on dialect as well as dialogue, it was often confusing to hear her speak in broken Scottish. <BR/><BR/>I found Bianca refreshing, if lacking a certain stage presence, and I feel that the colour of her dress, a loud, hot pink, often distracted us from what she was saying. <BR/><BR/>I also particularly enjoyed the role of the huntsman, played by a woman in this version who reminded me of a certain blonde from Dragon's Den... a definate force to be reckoned with. <BR/><BR/>Am going to leave it there for now, although I could go on. In future I would recommend the reviewer at least attempt to understand just how difficult it is to tackle Shakespearian comedy, to embrace innovation and appreciate the standard at which this company handled their task.<BR/><BR/>Adieu<BR/>xNickiNoodleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07537488772271056403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30908821.post-32997643728530653552009-02-17T14:50:00.000+00:002009-02-17T14:50:00.000+00:00ooooh vitriol. Darling, if you are indeed in this ...ooooh vitriol. <BR/><BR/>Darling, if you are indeed in this production, then you should know that its generally considered extremely unprofessional to respond to reviews.<BR/><BR/>Why did we go to see it? Because a) we got cheap preview tickets and b) we didnt know it was going to be so bad. <BR/><BR/>Why did you bother to rehearse it and perform it for over a year? The work, perhaps? Or maybe the artistic integrity? The former has my vote. <BR/><BR/>My understanding of the theatre may be limited - I do only see about 40 shows a year after all, so what do I know? - but even I recognise crap when I see it.Me!https://www.blogger.com/profile/08641946731096944403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30908821.post-1853893195250178432009-02-17T12:59:00.000+00:002009-02-17T12:59:00.000+00:00Hi. I'm in this production.It's interesting to rea...Hi. <BR/>I'm in this production.<BR/>It's interesting to read such a fulsome account of your bilious reaction to half of the show and I'm left wondering not only why you went to see it but why we bothered to rehearse and perform it for over a year. I assume that your life has been an uninterupted succession of worthwhile triumphs but I'm afraid your understanding of the theatre- and it's undeniable shortcomings- is rather more limited. <BR/>I hope things are alright at home- your blog is quite nasty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30908821.post-15998428292842989612009-02-17T11:06:00.000+00:002009-02-17T11:06:00.000+00:00Oooh get you. Look chum - my blog, my opinion. Y...Oooh get you. <BR/><BR/>Look chum - my blog, my opinion. You dont have to agree with anything I write. In fact, it would be extremely boring if everybody did. We're all entitled to our own opinions. <BR/><BR/>But let's not be quite so up our own arse about it, shall we? My opinions on this production are shared by a number of the professional critics, so what I have to say isnt completely without merit. And if the review is written in my own particular style, there ain't nothing you can do about it, chutney. If you don't like my style, the door is over there.Me!https://www.blogger.com/profile/08641946731096944403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30908821.post-73330327588071130122009-02-17T09:50:00.000+00:002009-02-17T09:50:00.000+00:00This review is more interested in its own sensatio...This review is more interested in its own sensation than in a proper critique of the production. Your words are very amusing but quite misleading. I enjoyed this interpretation of the play. Bianca turned in a decent performance. Indeed, the Bianca/Lucentio storyline complemented the particularly cruel relationship of Petruchio and Kate. I didn't like the "modern pay-off" at the end where all characters reverted to their Induction personas and "Kate" had the final say in spurning Sly. It is an interesting play. Worth seeing. To the end.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30908821.post-14194084943307647662009-02-17T01:55:00.000+00:002009-02-17T01:55:00.000+00:00Thanks for the review... I am feeling rather shock...Thanks for the review... I am feeling rather shocked now, but I got these tickets through the A Night Less Ordinary scheme so they are free, so I will still be going but I know I will probably regret that I went even though I will be paying nothing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30908821.post-62087440058385177362009-02-15T00:32:00.000+00:002009-02-15T00:32:00.000+00:00WOW! This was chillier than your previous review o...WOW! This was chillier than your previous review of the snow day in London! I was definitely having a better time at the Southwark Playhouse's <A HREF="http://webcowgirl.wordpress.com/2009/02/14/review-a-midsummer-nights-dream-southwark-playhouse/" REL="nofollow">Midsummer</A>! To be honest, the resumes of the actors in this show looked way too good for the venue - they'd really been around the block! But that's fine for me, when it comes to actors, I prefer mine aged to fresh any day of the week. Let them hone their skills elsewhere - I want to watch <I>good</I> acting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com