I've seen five productions of LLL now and am becoming quite fond of it. The keys to enjoying it seem to be if the actors manage the language well (slowly enough so we can catch everything, but with the required relish), if the farcical attitude is emphasized, and if the women can be brought to the forefront as much as the men, who have more lines and aren't as inherently funny. This version hits all those marks splendidly. Every character was cherished by the director and beautifully performed by the actor. Berowne was acted as more of a pompous ass than in other productions, right from the beginning, without making him unlikable. Holofernes was the best that I've seen; his physicality and overacting made him lovable. Moth was perfect as a not too-too young boy. The Russians scene was excellent, on a par with what is still my favorite, the Jeremy Brett version back in 1975.
My only quibble was with the Worthies section, where the director apparently decided not to mention the four suitors' descent into cruelty: all of the audience comments were cut, including the entire Judas scene. This of course is one of the problems with the play itself, and I can understand thinking that the story might work better without it. But one other change did upset me: the "Daisies pied" song was changed, with some wording cut and new lines added. The song was very well done, but still, such a classic deserves to be heard as it was meant to be.
Those two quibbles, though, were balanced by a strong emphasis on the closing scene where the ladies talk sense into the men. Drawing out this scene, which was done almost unnoticeably, helped to cushion the shock of the abrupt tonal change of the king's death.
This was a terrific production, making me laugh out loud in some places, and happy to applaud along with the audience after several scenes and songs. Well cast, well directed, and well performed - a triumph!
My only quibble was with the Worthies section, where the director apparently decided not to mention the four suitors' descent into cruelty: all of the audience comments were cut, including the entire Judas scene. This of course is one of the problems with the play itself, and I can understand thinking that the story might work better without it. But one other change did upset me: the "Daisies pied" song was changed, with some wording cut and new lines added. The song was very well done, but still, such a classic deserves to be heard as it was meant to be.
Those two quibbles, though, were balanced by a strong emphasis on the closing scene where the ladies talk sense into the men. Drawing out this scene, which was done almost unnoticeably, helped to cushion the shock of the abrupt tonal change of the king's death.
This was a terrific production, making me laugh out loud in some places, and happy to applaud along with the audience after several scenes and songs. Well cast, well directed, and well performed - a triumph!
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