If you've read any of my reviews of RSC shows, you know they're hit or miss with me. I don't love Gregory Doran's (RSC Artistic Director) style or choices when it comes to directing. But what I've seen from the RSC that Doran hasn't directed personally I have loved. So I'm often unsure of how I'll feel about an RSC production.
Here's a quick little refresher from my London blog. Two different shows at the RSC, two very different reviews...
Shakespeare's "Merry Wives of Windsor"(Royal Shakespeare Company,
Stratford-upon-Avon) -- This show was absolutely fabulous. I loved every
second of it. The production was updated, set in November 2012, and for
the first time ever I found myself relating to characters in
Shakespeare.
"The Orphan of Zhao" (Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon) --
Not good. Just kind of ridiculous actually. There was no sense of
respect for the Chinese culture and the ritual that is Chinese theatre.
The set was interesting and some of the effects were good. One actor was
great.
The RSC itself has a certain feel to it. It's a feeling that you don't get on Broadway usually. But during the six hours I spent in the Winter Garden Theatre last week, I truly felt that classic RSC feeling. Ringing cell phones, patrons texting, and old men snoring aside, I felt transported to England.
I saw Part I on a Thursday night at 7:00 pm. After a busy day at work I expected to be trying hard to stay awake, but not once did I yawn or start to drift. Part II I saw on closing night - the Sunday after July 4th - at 6:30 pm. The company had done Part I earlier that day, so by the time the cast gave their final bow around 9:15 pm, Ben Miles (Thomas Cromwell) had been onstage for nearly six hours. The energy in the theater was amazing during the final performance and the cast seemed truly grateful looking out on an immediate standing ovation.
Where to begin with the acting. Well, I can tell you that it was some of the best acting I've seen onstage. Ben Miles was exquisite. His performance was full of nuance and passion. He lived and breathed Thomas Cromwell. He barely left the stage (if at all) and he just gave everything to his scene partners. I would be interested to know what his fellow actors have to say about being onstage with him, because he seems like a very giving actor and a great scene partner.
Ben Miles was the standout and absolutely deserving of his Tony nomination. The other two nominated actors, Lydia Leonard (Anne Boleyn) and Nathaniel Parker (King Henry VIII) were outstanding. The supporting cast was fabulous AND there were some extremely attractive men, which never hurts.
Wolf Hall Parts I and II, my good people, is good theater. I would pick a show like Wolf Hall over a classically done production of Shakespeare. I would've loved to see this show at the RSC or on the West End. I'm pretty sure the NY Times reviewer (don't remember if it was Brantley or Isherwood) used the word "boring" in his review. I wasn't bored. I was enthralled.
