Casting Picspam - Comedy of Errors

[Queen Mab]

Here at Rude Mechanicals we are keen to involve our members in various activities which we hope will get you sharing ideas and having a little fun with it.

What we're going to do is what's known on t'internet as a "picspam". A picspam is a collection of images illustrating an idea around a person, tv show, film, play, book, whatever. They often include the author's comments on said photos, why they chose them etc. They can be done in many different ways, they can be edited or not (depending on skill/energy level of the author) and be about many different things. Often a "prompt" is used to define what the picspam will be about.

Your prompt is this: I want you to cast the principle actors in a fantasy production of Comedy of Errors. Depending on how well you know the play, you can cast as many as you like. Who would you pick to play the twins Antipholus? What about the two Dromios?

To give you an example, our member Shelikeswaves recently created this picspam for Midsummer Night's Dream. community.livejournal.com/picspammy/1684537.html (I realllly like her idea of Aidan Turner as Lysander! But then, I'd like him as anything, really).

You could even use dead folk... wouldn't Heath Ledger have been good in Shakespeare? Try to use pictures which illustrate why you have chosen them for that particular part though, no good saying Heath would make a good Antipholus and then using a photo from Batman.

So.... cast away, my pretties.

[Lorannah]

Ok, well I hope you've all been casting hard - because I'm ready to share mine. Hope you like them:

THE ANTIPHOLUSES



Edward Bennett was the first person I cast - partly because I walked into the Duck to find him unexpectedly there and realised he'd be an awesome Antipholus. And given that I reckon him and Benedict Cumberbatch could easily pull off twins (they're even the same heights, give or take half an inch), plus I'd love to see him doing Shakespeare. And I thought Ed would be great at the bafflement and Benedict would be ace at the slightly mad rage, hence their respective cities.

THE DROMIOS



So, before I'd mentally cast anyone - I'd decided that I wanted my Dromios to be taller than their masters. I've always loved the way that despite being servants they berate their masters, mock them and generally behave as if they're equals - and I wanted to highlight that. Height seemed to be a good place to start for that. Plus I nearly always think of the Dromios as small, so it was a good chance to challenge my perceptions. Of course then I went and cast Antipholuses who were 6'1 and decided I was probably screwed.

Thankfully whilst thinking of ridiculously tall (6'3) actors who I associate with mocking, Oliver Chris who I mostly know through his comedy work sprang to mind and fell in love with the idea (he's even said in interviews that he'd love to work with the RSC). I pretty much picked Tom Mison because he was the only person I could think of who might pull off looking like Oli, even if he is a little too young, a little too handsome and a little too short (that's what heeled shoes are for). But I like his work too and I thought he'd be great for garnering sympathy as Dromio of Ephesus.

THE SISTERS



As you might have guessed from my Dromios, I quite like it when the Antipholuses come off worse in an argument - so I wanted someone particularly fierce for Adriana - Naomie Harris seemed to fit the bill. And given that I love Freema Agyeman and think they could sort of look like sisters, I had to cast her as Luciana.

THE PARENTS



I love Peter O'Toole and would love to see him, health permitting, back on the stage and back doing Shakespeare. And based on his younger self I could definitely see him fathering my two Antipholuses. Felicity Kendal is a little too young for him, but who cares, I thought she'd make a great Abbess.

THE COURTESAN AND THE DUKE



I have no idea why or when Dean Lennox Kelly got stuck in my head as the Duke - no idea at all - but Gina Bellman was chosen pretty much solely because I still love her as Jayne in Coupling and would love her to bring a bit of that saucy, off-beat insanity to the Courtesan. I'm also worried that I now sort of ship the Duke/the Courtesan.

THE MERCHANTS



Anthony O'Donnell was so good in Bridge Project stuff (particularly The Tempest) that I had to cast him. I love the idea of him duelling. Plus I didn't have enough Welsh people in this. Adam James, in contrast, is not really right for Angelo but I was stuck for ideas and he was great last night in Blood and Gifts. Plus I think him and Anthony would be a fun double act.


OK, hope you liked some of my choices. Where are all yours???

P.S. Sorry for the appaling photos was struggling to find any suitable.

[Queen Mab]

^ EDWARD!

Antipholuses



Antipholus of Syracuse - Rob Brydon
Antipholus of Ephesus - Ben Miller

Now, I'm not the first one to pair these two together regarding their looks, but apart from an appearence on QI I don't think they've ever acted together. I'd love to see Ben doing Shakespeare, and I think Rob would be great doing the slightly blustery WTF needed for Anti. of Syracuse.

Dromios


Dromio of Syracuse - Colin Morgan
Dromio of Ephesus - Harry Lloyd

I've screwed with the ages somewhat here, but who cares when it means I can have the deliciousness of Colin Morgan & Harry Lloyd? Colin would be wonderful in the "Nell" scenes, and I can see Harry doing great indignation at being beaten by Antipholus! They're dark and gangly enough to get away with being twins, plus I can't stop staring at that picture of Colin and his Adam's apple.

The Parents



Aegeon - Bruce Robinson
Aemilia - Pauline Collins

Ok so my Aegeon is only 9 years older than my Antipholuses, but I don't care, this is my picspam alright! I've loved Bruce Robinson since seeing him in Still Crazy as a very damaged old rocker. He was my pick for Sirius Black before they picked Gary Oldman (who admittedly does it so well) because he has a way of appearing very sad and broken, while still retaining a lot of dignity. I think he'd be great as Aegeon, especially in the prison scenes.

I can't find a recent photo of Pauline, apart from this Doctor Who one, so just imagine her with different head gear. She's a lot older than Bruce, but I dont think she looks it particularily.

The Sisters

Adriana
Luciana

The Merchants

Balthasar
Angelo

The Girls



The Courtesan
Nell - Jennie McAlpine

I know Nell technically has no lines or scenes, but I just had to have Jennie do it. I can totally see poor Colin being terrified of her buxom delightfullness.

Duke Solinus

BRB!

[Lorannah]

Was going to wait until you finished this, but have got to say - love your choices so far. Particularly dying now to see Colin Morgan and Harry Lloyd work together, especially if it was onstage.

Anyone else planning to post? Need any help with posting photos?

[Fluellen]

I've just about worked out who I'm casting in mine, so my post should follow in the next day or two. My cast seems absurdly young in comparison with the other posted ones! XD

It's been difficult though! I hereby request the next casting picspam is either something absurdly obvious - where almost everyone has already worked out their dream cast just by virtue of it existing - or something that hasn't been produced by the RSC, Globe, Old Vic, National, or Donmar for the last three years. I know that would probably make it something like Hamlet or King John, but for anything inbetween, it's absurdly tricky to come up with a whole new cast when you've got productions fresh in your memory.

[Lorannah]

Oct 11, 2010 11:20:59 GMT Fluellen said:

I've just about worked out who I'm casting in mine, so my post should follow in the next day or two. My cast seems absurdly young in comparison with the other posted ones! XD

It's been difficult though! I hereby request the next casting picspam is either something absurdly obvious - where almost everyone has already worked out their dream cast just by virtue of it existing - or something that hasn't been produced by the RSC, Globe, Old Vic, National, or Donmar for the last three years. I know that would probably make it something like Hamlet or King John, but for anything inbetween, it's absurdly tricky to come up with a whole new cast when you've got productions fresh in your memory.

Yay. More picspams. And I think younger is absolutely valid for this play. It's quite a youthful one really.

Maybe we should take suggestions on what play to cast next. Any suggestions anyone?

[Fluellen]

Right! Let's get posting! I checked out the text, and discovered there was no real reason why I couldn't cast fairly young. I also decided on some quite literal casting; I'm all for suspension of disbelief generally, but if you *could* get two pairs of identical twins of a similar age, you would, wouldn't you? Especially as this is fantasy casting land. So let's go! (And it's gone 1am, so apologies if I'm fairly brief. )


Antipholus of Syracuse - Luke Treadaway
Antipholus of Ephesus - Harry Treadaway
I just like them. I think they're mighty fine actors. Reports of differences in personality is how I've decided which plays which, but I'm sure you'll forgive me if I confess I'm not wholly married to who plays who.


Dromio of Syracuse - James Phelps
Dromio of Ehpesus - Oliver Phelps
Yeah, okay, they might not be the most Shakespearean of actors, but they are amusing, they are identical, and I'm sure you could train 'em up.


Adriana - Michelle Terry
I just love this girl. She's freakin' hilarious and can do feisty like nobody's business. She would seriously PWN as Adriana.


Luciana - Faye Castelow
I feel bad I can only find pictures of her from After the Dance; she played a much sweeter character in Time and the Conways. I reckon she'd make a lovely Luciana, and with their voices and their hair, she and Terry would make convincing enough sisters. :3


Egeon - Hugh Bonneville
I've never seen Hugh Bonneville in a play. I would LOVE to see him do Shakespeare. He could definitely do "worried" and "busy" the right amount for Egeon, and he goes really well with...


Aemilia - Janet McTeer
She's freakin' awesome, she works well with Bonneville, and I could see her as the mother of a pair of Treadaways easy.


Luce (Nell)/Courtesan - Ella Smith
She's a big girl, and she's also gorgeous and funny, so I want to double-cast her. We can stick her in a wig and an apron for her cameo as Luce, then she can come out properly and rock the stage as the Courtesan later. She would be AWESOME. :3


Doctor Pinch - Julian Bleach
You can play him straight, or you can play him super-creepy and weird. I prefer him super-creepy and weird. And if you're going for super-creepy and weird, there's only one real option.


Solinus - Tom Hiddleston
Well, I'm casting young, and Solinus is a duke so needs to be suitably aristocratic. Do I need any better excuse than that, or do you need me to gush about how gorgeous the boy is?

And there we have it! Sorry I can't be bothered with Balthazar and Angelo, but I'm sleepy and they're not the most *enormous* roles anyway.

[Lorannah]

Excellent choices and what a ridiculously pretty cast. Particularly love the idea of cross casting for Nell/Courtesan. And I'm particularly fond of anything that casts Julian Bleach as I have wonderful memories of Shockheaded Peter (I think I saw him as Puck as well, but I'm doubting my own recollection).

[Queen Mab]

Hugh Bonneville! It's Bernie!