Mary Stuart
Last night we trouped off to the theater with scarlettina and davidlevine (after a fine Mexican feast at Pesos) to see ACT's production of Mary Stuart by Schiller. The play (upon which the opera Maria Stuarta is based) is an historical interpretation of events loosely based upon the Babington plot. Schiller's goal was the exploration of power and political passion.
It's important to remember that the play is not historically accurate. I thought that this fact was helped by the presentation of all the characters except the queens appearing in modern dress. The minimalist staging was also, I felt, quite effective.
Both queens were well played, although if I had a qualm, I'd have preferred to see the actresses switched (which I suspect that they could easily have done). The actress who played Elizabeth was noticeably younger than the actress who played Mary, and it would have made it easier for me to swallow Mary as a femme fatale (which she was known as) to have them played, as they were in life, with Mary the younger of the two.
It's a vigorous piece with a lot of emotional energy, as one would expect with a play dealing with Mary Stuart's last days. The conniving, backstabbing, and double dealing reveals how difficult it is to find an honest man in politics, and how dangerous the pull of influence.
The play is long -- near three hours. However, if you're in Seattle this is well worth the time. Many of the political commentaries are as true today as they ever were.
It's important to remember that the play is not historically accurate. I thought that this fact was helped by the presentation of all the characters except the queens appearing in modern dress. The minimalist staging was also, I felt, quite effective.
Both queens were well played, although if I had a qualm, I'd have preferred to see the actresses switched (which I suspect that they could easily have done). The actress who played Elizabeth was noticeably younger than the actress who played Mary, and it would have made it easier for me to swallow Mary as a femme fatale (which she was known as) to have them played, as they were in life, with Mary the younger of the two.
It's a vigorous piece with a lot of emotional energy, as one would expect with a play dealing with Mary Stuart's last days. The conniving, backstabbing, and double dealing reveals how difficult it is to find an honest man in politics, and how dangerous the pull of influence.
The play is long -- near three hours. However, if you're in Seattle this is well worth the time. Many of the political commentaries are as true today as they ever were.