just so it's not always doom and gloom
Some info on the upcoming BBC second tetralogy production (warning: contains stupid comments about female authors)
The BBC reveals today that Patrick Stewart, David Morrissey, Rory Kinnear, Lindsay Duncan, David Suchet and James Purefoy are to appear together in the first of a run of four big-budget Shakespeare plays to be made for television by Sam Mendes's production company to celebrate the Cultural Olympiad.
With filming for Richard II, starring Ben Whishaw, starting on location at Pembroke Castle and St David's Cathedral in Wales next month, the BBC and Mendes's Neal Street Productions are joining a long line-up of major arts organisations who have chosen to wave a Shakespearean banner in the warm-up to the Games.
There are also articles here and here.
Okay, so! We know that Ben Whishaw is Richard -- I am willing to give him a chance, but it is a bit ironic that this is the only bit of casting that doesn't FILL ME WITH SQUEE. *facepalm* Anyway, Rory Kinnear is Bolingbroke. She's not mentioned in this article, but I've read elsewhere that Clémence Poésy is playing Queen Isabel (yay someone actually French!)
So what about the rest of these people?
I think Patrick Stewart pretty much has to be playing John of Gaunt, because seriously who else would he be? (I mean, yes, there are other parts in the play that he could plausibly do, but Gaunt is the one where you cast a star.) And if that is the case then ZOMGSQUEE. PAAAAAAAAAAAATRICK STEEEEEEEEEEEEWART. Lindsay Duncan obviously has to be playing one of the duchesses, because they are the only women in the play, but I couldn't venture a guess as to which one. (ETA: Her cv says Duchess of York -- thanks to fuunsaiki for the tip!) David Suchet -- well, if I were being asked what I'd do given a production of Richard II and these actors, I'd cast him as York, but who knows. No idea about David Morrissey or James Purefoy though. What do you guys think?
The BBC reveals today that Patrick Stewart, David Morrissey, Rory Kinnear, Lindsay Duncan, David Suchet and James Purefoy are to appear together in the first of a run of four big-budget Shakespeare plays to be made for television by Sam Mendes's production company to celebrate the Cultural Olympiad.
With filming for Richard II, starring Ben Whishaw, starting on location at Pembroke Castle and St David's Cathedral in Wales next month, the BBC and Mendes's Neal Street Productions are joining a long line-up of major arts organisations who have chosen to wave a Shakespearean banner in the warm-up to the Games.
There are also articles here and here.
Okay, so! We know that Ben Whishaw is Richard -- I am willing to give him a chance, but it is a bit ironic that this is the only bit of casting that doesn't FILL ME WITH SQUEE. *facepalm* Anyway, Rory Kinnear is Bolingbroke. She's not mentioned in this article, but I've read elsewhere that Clémence Poésy is playing Queen Isabel (yay someone actually French!)
So what about the rest of these people?
I think Patrick Stewart pretty much has to be playing John of Gaunt, because seriously who else would he be? (I mean, yes, there are other parts in the play that he could plausibly do, but Gaunt is the one where you cast a star.) And if that is the case then ZOMGSQUEE. PAAAAAAAAAAAATRICK STEEEEEEEEEEEEWART. Lindsay Duncan obviously has to be playing one of the duchesses, because they are the only women in the play, but I couldn't venture a guess as to which one. (ETA: Her cv says Duchess of York -- thanks to fuunsaiki for the tip!) David Suchet -- well, if I were being asked what I'd do given a production of Richard II and these actors, I'd cast him as York, but who knows. No idea about David Morrissey or James Purefoy though. What do you guys think?