(no subject)
So Thursday was the third of my Globe to Globe plays and I've said this elsewhere already but I suspect it's the one and only time I'll ever see cardboard & tinfoil swords in a play at the Globe!
Cymbeline- South Sudan Theatre Company @ The Globe
Cymbeline is one of those very silly plays- in fact the number of revelations there were in the final scene I think might be a record! And I have to admit it's not one I've ever rushed to see in english but obviously the South Sudan Theatre Company was the big draw. This was their first time performing outside South Sudan but given how new the country is that's very unsurprising.
And yes it was rough around the edges- those cardboard swords and some very awkward movements in the battle scenes and quite a lot of speaking over each others lines but, contrary to some rather stupid reviews I've seen, those are all things that were incredibly easy to forgive because the enthusiasm of the company and the skill of some of them individual actors was so good.
Imogen was wonderful in the central role, though I do fear she had rather more chemistry with Iachimo than with her husband *g* My favourites were probably Pisanio, the servant sent to Imogen by Posthumous, who did a good line in cringing but sneaky disobedience and the Queen who was gloriously evil and self centred and muttered under her breath at the idiocy of everyone around her a lot.
And then when they finished they broke into the National Anthem (theirs not ours) and this amazing dance.
Yes I'd have liked it to be a more political play but actually? Just the fact that the theatre company exists and could be part of this festival was 1) political 2) hugely important and 3) everything that is best about the Arts.
Othello tomorrow but I still maintain Hip Hop isn't a language!
Cymbeline- South Sudan Theatre Company @ The Globe
Cymbeline is one of those very silly plays- in fact the number of revelations there were in the final scene I think might be a record! And I have to admit it's not one I've ever rushed to see in english but obviously the South Sudan Theatre Company was the big draw. This was their first time performing outside South Sudan but given how new the country is that's very unsurprising.
And yes it was rough around the edges- those cardboard swords and some very awkward movements in the battle scenes and quite a lot of speaking over each others lines but, contrary to some rather stupid reviews I've seen, those are all things that were incredibly easy to forgive because the enthusiasm of the company and the skill of some of them individual actors was so good.
Imogen was wonderful in the central role, though I do fear she had rather more chemistry with Iachimo than with her husband *g* My favourites were probably Pisanio, the servant sent to Imogen by Posthumous, who did a good line in cringing but sneaky disobedience and the Queen who was gloriously evil and self centred and muttered under her breath at the idiocy of everyone around her a lot.
And then when they finished they broke into the National Anthem (theirs not ours) and this amazing dance.
Yes I'd have liked it to be a more political play but actually? Just the fact that the theatre company exists and could be part of this festival was 1) political 2) hugely important and 3) everything that is best about the Arts.
Othello tomorrow but I still maintain Hip Hop isn't a language!