Lexy and I tried to get Macbeth tickets for this week to see it again but it was sold out the night we wanted and the next day we couldn't make the matinee so we got tickets for Henry VIII for last night instead. Lexy ended up selling her ticket to Katie so Katie and I had a swell time.
It was fabulous! For a history buff like me, w/ an especial penchant for Tudor history, Henry VIII was enthralling. It is a Shakespeare history that's known for having no battles or action. It entirely about politics. Even the love story with Anne Boleyn is hardly developed on stage. These are all historic points against Henry VIII (and the fact that Shakespeare had some help w/ some scenes) but it was fantastic! It was presented by a rather young director (Mark Rosenblatt) as "straight" Shakespeare. It was set in the court and time of Henry VIII and had all the pomp that you would expect of such a scene.
The costumes were magnificent, we're talking movie budget. Henry had no less than 5 different, full fledged ensembles from his green leather tennis breeches w/ matching shoes (and codpiece) to his blackworked nightshirt, a green brocade ensemble with strips of fabric woven to make the sleeve poofs, for the trial a scarlet cape with ermine (as everyone wore) and for the christening a gold and brown brocade suit which, when worn in the position of the Holbein painting made me catch my breath. The ladies were all in the exact same cut of gown but in variations of material and color. The lady's maids, whom I saw during rehearsal, wore bodices and skirts of goose grey velveteen with silver brocade petticoats and gable hoods. Anne Boleyn wore blue velvet with the same material for her petticoat but going the opposite direction (little touches). Her coronation gown was ivory gold sewn with beads and gold over her pregnant belly (which sat rather low). Queen Katherine wore plush purple velvet with wine brocade with gold trim at the skirt's parting. Each man had a monochromatic ensemble with matching codpiece, be it cupped or erected. The Duke of Buckingham wore rich chocolate brown velvet that was so dark and rich you could hardly see its dimension. The men's robes were collared in real furs of mostly bear I would think. The cardinal of course wore yards of scarlet moire. The lady's maids wore scarlet hooded capes for the coronation and hoodless ivory gold ones for the christening which was entirely in ivory and gold. The baby Elizabeth (a doll) was swathed in an ivory wrapping embroidered with mirrors and gold training to the floor and carried by the maids. Who have I forgotten? Bottom line, velvet, furs, blackwork, amazing.
The characters actually each had personality, which is the hardest part of Shakespeare. Henry, played by Dominic Rowan was brunette perfection, reminding the audience that Henry wasn't always fat and crazy. Anthony Howell (Roger from Wives and Daughters) played the Duke of Buckingham and the Lord Chancellor. As the former he was courageous and noble. Miranda Raison as Anne was cool and calculating. You couldn't hate her however. She was absolutely gorgeous with raven hair and bright blue eyes. Cardinal Wolsey, played by Ian McNeice was not entirely fantastic, but he worked. Kate Duchêne as Queen Katherine was feisty and pitiful(if not a little bustier on the left side). Her Spanish accent and brown teeth were excellent, obvious but often overlooked touches. Amanda Lawrence as the fool and Virginia was pitch perfect with her comedy, as were the other comic characters.
Running three hours, but without a black membrane like Macbeth, this play wasn't hard for me to stand through, nor did it lose my attention at any point. I was riveted. It was sublime.
Some reviews:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/7764638/Henry-VIII-at-Shakespeares-Globe-review.html
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/theatre/review-23837799-henry-viii-back-at-the-globe.do
No comments:
Post a Comment