tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post5329113762913352819..comments2024-01-20T16:46:43.636+11:00Comments on Kevin Jackson's Theatre Diary: The War Of The RosesGeorge Khuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10220918958933755405noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post-41187167476545816822009-12-15T16:03:55.820+11:002009-12-15T16:03:55.820+11:00I agree with you. I don't see how anyone could...I agree with you. I don't see how anyone could think this was good theatre. It was, as one commentator noted, the Bore of the Roses.<br /><br />The only thing I'd disagree with was your praise of Cate Blanchett's performance. I felt nothing for her Richard II, and I don't think Shakespeare wrote plays about characters he thought the audience wouldn't connect to. <br />Richard has some of Shakespeare's greatest speeches and these come from someone we can respect, while acknowledging their faults.<br /><br />I really admire your aim of calling a spade a spade. So often I have read rave reviews of plays, gone to see them and left at interval because the production was so misguided.<br /><br />Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post-19136337443768912642009-02-15T00:25:00.000+11:002009-02-15T00:25:00.000+11:00Oh dear dear dear...what an abomination. Benedict ...Oh dear dear dear...what an abomination. Benedict what hast thou done! Assholes do vex Meee ! Get thyself hither and touch thyself anon thou canker for twas a wank most foul lo these many hours passed. This was pretentious theatre at it's worst...one was reminded of naughty Boy Reinhardt who also revelled in disempowering actors, often utilising them as mere props to serve his fetish for lovely visuals. The play's the thing Ben and apart from a few diehard wannabees, your production has done nothing to further the appeal or the coffers of the STC. GP be warned! Upstairs in E row, we caught naught of the plot for the first 45 MINUTES or so unaided as we were by your staging of a virtual voice class exercise under an endless golden shower !!?? Poor bloody actors ! They copped fiddly bits in their eyes ears and gobs for 45 frigging minutes! Johnny Gaden went down, then popped back up again. Why? I don't know...he's on third and I don't give a damn! Kate twirled her foot this way and that and us poor bastards in the audience wondered if we were at a play or some sort of soporific poetry reading designed to turn us off the Bard forever. Shame on you Benny go and deconstruct your bathroom if you must but think dynamic if you wish to serve the drama. Actors company you are forgiven for he knows not what he does and you, yea verily e'en the great Cate it seems, are but pawns in this Bore of The Roses.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post-60849340854959206682009-01-23T21:39:00.000+11:002009-01-23T21:39:00.000+11:00I agree Kevin. I keep wondering why Mr Andrews is ...I agree Kevin. I keep wondering why Mr Andrews is indulged so frequently. People seem to make excuses for his work in ways that suggest to me the emperor's new clothes.<BR/><BR/>As you argue his work seems overly intellectualised and while I value the intellectual his version of the intellectual seems to diminish the equally important aspects of humour and emotion - it diminishes the humanity of the work.<BR/><BR/>Consequently his is a limited theatre and I agree with Anon - it is a theatre that builds another brick in the wall of public perception that theatre [and Shakespeare in particular] is hard and boring.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps is Bell and Andrews could co-direct we might get the balance right in this countries exploration of Shakespeare.<BR/><BR/>There was such impressive commitment from all the actors but I thought Luke Mullins especially brought the show to light when his characters came forward.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post-60644593541786115002009-01-22T13:06:00.000+11:002009-01-22T13:06:00.000+11:00If only I had your eloquence Kevin I might put a l...If only I had your eloquence Kevin I might put a lid on the mounting frustration that is the aftermath of my experience of this show!<BR/><BR/>while I acknowledge the efforts of a clever director and writing team as well as the highly competent, sometimes brilliant cast, this is the kind of production that makes me uncare about theatre.<BR/><BR/>the poor lady next to me said unhappily, 'i'm afraid to admit i can't follow this show. I think I like the more traditional productions.' <BR/><BR/>Yet, this was highly conservative contemporary drama, dressed up as radical, and infuriatingly so. It was the production's lack of transparency rather than her lack of comprehension that sullied her experience (and mine)<BR/><BR/>Why not remove all the spoken text and present the script as a series of visual representations (this would have been both more interesting and infinitely more cruel). Of course this would never make it to Sydney Theatre Company's main stage, but all the better, for with a different audience comes different expectations.<BR/><BR/>Being 'anti-audience' is perhaps the worst fault for a director to have. Actors and writers will return, but audiences? <BR/><BR/>Thanks for another insightful post Kevin. I hope that your audience continues to grow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com