Another televised production from the National Theatre in London. A very frivolous play, but great fun and well worth watching. Sometimes it is nice to see a set of unfamiliar actors, although several of this cast are quite familiar faces from British television. And Michele Terry, who played Grace is familiar from the National Theatre production of All's Well That Ends Well, last fall.
Spectacular performances from Simon Russell Beale as Sir Harcourt Courtly (Brian Bedford's role in the Stratford production) amd Fiona Shaw as Lady Gay Spanker (Seana McKenna). richard Briers was charming as Adolphus Spanker and Matt Cross was a terrific Richard Dazzle.
Lots of fun - scenery was chewed.
ReplyDeleteI think Michele Terry is great, I am sure we'll see a lot more of her.
I preferred Seana McKenna moe sexy, less horsey, take on Lady Spanker, but Fiona Shaw's approach fitted well with this version.
Matt Cross was also great, in a role I barely remember from Stratford.
The National Theatre is getting more comfortable with the cameras, although sometimes they are getting too close, but the actors still need to remember they are wearing mics, two were thumped in exuberant gestures in this play!