I know how much my reviews on Shakespeare plays are enjoyed by all so here’s another one.
Just back from Cymbeline at the RSC. It’s the last play Shakespeare wrote and is the last one to be directed by Gregory Doran, who was artistic director of the RSC for ten years.
Cymbeline is a bonkers play. I knew nothing about it before a quick look on wiki this afternoon. It’s very long (over 3 hours) and is almost like a greatest hits compilation - has bits of Romeo and Juliet (fake death of heroine), Twelfth Night (cross dressing), King Lear (bonkers King), Macbeth (evil Queen) and I’m sure others chucked in. All set in Wales and Rome. The last act is truly nuts where Jupiter has to descend from the heavens to try and provide a way for the whole thing to be finished. Honestly not Will’s greatest effort, probably why it’s not put on as often as many others.
But this is a great production. Everybody seemed to be having great fun with it, lots of laughs. All the performances were good and assured - could see the difference in level of direction from the other plays we’ve seen recently (and enjoyed) - this was a step above. Direction and performances like this make the complexity of the language a non issue, convoluted plot was easy to follow. I wish I had the chance to have seen Doran’s treatment of one of the great plays, particularly one featuring his late husband Antony Sher. Too late now. Great set design and traditionalists will appreciate everyone wore period costume - ranging from Renaissance clobber, to Roman armour and blue faced British warriors, no women in men’s roles.
All in all a hoot. But again, not one I’d recommend as a first Shakespeare experience.
