Tag: William Shakespeare
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Catching up (Part 4)
January 2021 to April 2021 The novelty of digital entertainment by now very much worn off but, fortunately, there were plenty of other worthwhile distractions (the return of birdwatching after four decades perhaps the most surprising) for the Tourist to mask the lack of live cultural stimulation. (And travel, which…
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As You Like It at the Barbican Theatre review ***
As You Like It Barbican Theatre, 15th January 2020 As You Like It? Not really like this. Mind you I have yet to see a production of the play that really bowled me over. The NT production from 2016 directed by Polly Findlay looked great, office chairs becoming the Forest…
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Measure for Measure at the Barbican Theatre review ****
Measure for Measure Barbican Theatre, 8th January 2020 I like Measure for Measure. I find the weird cocktail of morality play and satirical “comedy” fascinating. No one comes out of it well, not even the ostensibly virtuous Isabella who goes into bat to save brother Claudio from death, but is…
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Much Ado About Nothing at Wiltons Music Hall review ****
Much Ado About Nothing Wilton’s Music Hall, 19th November 2019 The Tourist has been very much taken with previous Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory productions, Othello and Henry V, both here and on home turf in Bristol. This latest, MAAN, directed by Elizabeth Freestone, as was Henry V, and who…
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A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Bridge Theatre review *****
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Bridge Theatre, 6th June 2019 Go join the Shakespeare party down at the Bridge. Nick Hytner pretty much always nails the Bard and he has done it again here. Ignore the lukewarm reviews from the critics who seem to have got a little bit antsy with…
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The Merry Wives of Windsor at the Barbican Theatre review *****
The Merry Wives of Windsor RSC, Barbican Theatre, 13th December 2018 Confession. This was the first time I had ever seen a production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. The Tourist can’t remember there being an opportunity, RSC or otherwise, in those few periods of his intensive theatre-going in the…
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Measure for Measure at the Donmar Warehouse review *****
Measure for Measure Donmar Warehouse, 22nd November 2018 BOGOF. An inelegant retail term, Buy one get one free. Which is exactly what you get here. Two stripped-down, straight to the point versions of Will’s 1604 riff on justice, told as mirror images with gender reversal. So much gender swapping in…
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Macbeth at the Barbican Theatre review ***
Macbeth Barbican Theatre, 15th November 2018 Is this a dagger I see before me … well maybe more of a kitchen knife … It is pretty tightly plotted (at least if you pare it down). It is quick by comparison to a lot of the Bard – half the length…
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Romeo and Juliet at the Barbican review ***
Romeo and Juliet Barbican Theatre, 8th November 2018 You can stay right next to Juliet’s balcony in Verona. Le Suite de Giulietta. The Tourist, SO, BD and LD can vouch for the lovely decor, the sizeable rooms and the delicious breakfast. The courtyard is closed at night so it is…
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The Two Noble Kinsman at the Globe Theatre review ****
The Two Noble Kinsman Globe Theatre, 12th June 2018 I am not too keen on the Globe. Actually that is putting it mildly. I really don’t like it. For the simple reason that it is so bloody uncomfortable. I know that is the point. Sam Wanamaker’s vision of a re-creation…
At Home He Feels Like A Tourist 