Post by Lorannah on Aug 6, 2010 23:34:00 GMT
Whilst I was in Stratford for As You Like It, I stayed to catch Winter's Tale, this was a rather complicated decision which involved me rushing for the train after the show and getting back to London at 2am - lets just say work that day wasn't fun, but it was definitely worth it.
This one has definitely grown on me, the first time I saw it I thought the production and performances were great but I didn't like the play itself very much. The story itself will probably never speak to me in the way that many of the others do but I love this production so much I could see it again and again.
The design is beautiful and I love the way the pages bring in the fairytale nature of the story - plus the bear is just incredible. Also the way the end of the first half (so awesomely cool) builds the set for the rest of the play is really clever. There seemed to have been some minor changes to the set but only in the sense of making it easier to set up.
Overall I wasn't as aware of changes with this production as with As You Like It, but it's been a lot longer since I saw it. It'll be interesting to see if the next Newcastle season and London will bring further changes to any of the shows.
I also found this one somewhat slow in the first half (this seems to be common, I felt the same about the last Twelth Night - too much set up all round) - but probably that's because I love Bohemia so much, I was just eager to get there. I really enjoy the multitude of ways they highlight the contrast between cold, upright Sicilia and warm, colourful Bohemia but it does leave me loving one above the other. Though the gentle magical warmth of the final scenes with Hermione's return have their own magic.
The performances are of course all great - Noma in particular is stunning, though it feels a little unfair to pick anybody out.
So yes - love it - will see it a few more times before the end and if I had to describe it in one word it would be 'enchanting'.
This one has definitely grown on me, the first time I saw it I thought the production and performances were great but I didn't like the play itself very much. The story itself will probably never speak to me in the way that many of the others do but I love this production so much I could see it again and again.
The design is beautiful and I love the way the pages bring in the fairytale nature of the story - plus the bear is just incredible. Also the way the end of the first half (so awesomely cool) builds the set for the rest of the play is really clever. There seemed to have been some minor changes to the set but only in the sense of making it easier to set up.
Overall I wasn't as aware of changes with this production as with As You Like It, but it's been a lot longer since I saw it. It'll be interesting to see if the next Newcastle season and London will bring further changes to any of the shows.
I also found this one somewhat slow in the first half (this seems to be common, I felt the same about the last Twelth Night - too much set up all round) - but probably that's because I love Bohemia so much, I was just eager to get there. I really enjoy the multitude of ways they highlight the contrast between cold, upright Sicilia and warm, colourful Bohemia but it does leave me loving one above the other. Though the gentle magical warmth of the final scenes with Hermione's return have their own magic.
The performances are of course all great - Noma in particular is stunning, though it feels a little unfair to pick anybody out.
So yes - love it - will see it a few more times before the end and if I had to describe it in one word it would be 'enchanting'.