 |
Mar. 14 - Mar. 21, 2004 |
Lovely romp through history
Redgrave, Richardson and Sinden display classic touch in Crown
By Bruce Raymond
Originally Published: 2004-02-15
In 1963, I had the pleasure of seeing the Royal Shakespeare Company's stage production The Hollow Crown at the then newly renovated Royal Alexandra Theatre. It was brought in as an example of the kind of theatre Torontonians could expect from Ed Mirvish, Canada's newest theatrical impresario. The play had only recently been devised by Britain's John Barton as a one-off piece of theatrical whimsy. Mr. Barton still coaches from the sidelines but I doubt that the performers in this new production at The Princess of Wales Theatre need very much coaching.
The play, described by the Mirvishes' publicists as "a romp through history", is a grab bag of Shakespearean quotations along with letters and observations from England's royals and royal-watchers dating back to William the Conqueror.
The aristocratic patriarchal British actor, Ian Richardson, opens the proceedings with the bard's Richard II speech which includes the phrase, "The hollow crown". Ian returns to his seat and joins the theatrical icons Vanessa Redgrave, Donald Sinden and the lesser known Alan Howard all seated in a row facing the audience. As the evening progresses, each member of the quartette takes a turn down at the footlights to read from various chronicles and letters about Britain's Monarchical Heritage. I don't think any royal personage is excluded from the roster, although some are touched upon only briefly. What emerges is a series of verbal portraits, not all of which are flattering and some of which are quite surprising to those of us who have forgotten our British History lessons. For instance, who would have thought that James I was so articulate on the evils of tobacco!
Donald Sinden perhaps makes the strongest mark. He is rough, gruff and gnarled to perfection. If there isn't a laugh to be found in what he is reading, he creates one by a meaningful nudge, wink and leer. Alan Howard is the footman and scrivener of the group, playing several roles with style and skill, often as a foil to the others.
Page 1/...Page 2
|
| Home / Back to Top |
|
|
 |
|
|
</ td>
