Whilst the overall effect was fine, the recent habit of British Shakespearean actors to overact, ham up each line, and add arbitrary snarkiness to every meter of prose, grows exhausting. There was a time when the tradition was to speak the lines plainly, letting the beauty of the words shine. (Not to mention way back in the day, when musicality of speech was rewarded). Now, lines are overwrought exaggerations, with shaking body parts, and all innuendo graphically displayed. Oddly enough, over a decade ago, McKellan's Richard III was a far more evenly modulated performance that brought novel insights into the play to the fore.
Still, by the time you get to Lear carrying in dead Cordelia, you're still transported by the ageless drama. And even an overbaked Ian McKellan is better than most anyone else.
After Lear, I thought that Macbeth would be a sure thing. It's the shortest play, and really quite straightforward. Patrick Stewart can manage this sort of thing with ease. But again, the production just wouldn't let the play be the thing. This time, we're set in a modern army of some sort -- nothing too wrong with that. Then we lather on Soviet imagery -- ok, I get it, Macbeth's assassination is akin to totalitarian regime change. But then again, every little character is encouraged to turn small parts and lines into bravura showstoppers. Never would you have guessed the sturm-und-drang brought to bear on the simple, quick comic sketch that should be the Porter's scene.
Oh well. Both evenings were put on by very talented people and there is much to recall with pleasure. But seriously, too too much effort put in to almost ruining the classics. Take it easy, next time.
Posted by netrc at March 20, 2008 05:33 PM