Categories: theatre
Date: 09 July 2008 08:14:42
What very well may be my new favourite Shakespeare play due to a superb performance last night by the The Bell Shakespeare Company.
The Casula Powerhouse was, as the name implies, a power generation plant, which has recently been refurbished. The theatre where we saw the play was fairly new, and, in my view, an extremely well laid-out and constructed one. The rest of the Powerhouse is given over to contemporary art displays and, while I will confess I often find them bewildering, I did enjoy having a look. My favourite was probanly the twelve red chandeliers swinging in different formations, and I rather liked the hundreds of coloured ping-pong balls suspended on wires vibrating and the record player you could use to hear different bird songs. Even after reading the explanations, I am not sure I understand it all, but it was interesting to look at.
Back to the play...
Simply superb. I really cannot speak highly enough about it. The performances were simply amazing, and so heartfelt: Rosalind in particular was an absolute riot and played up her role as much as she could; as did the other actors, but I particularly noticed Rosalind. To add to the Bard's wonderful words, songs, music and dance occurred at times of particular joy or significance [the start; pre-intermission; the weddings...] -- and you could see how much fun they were all having.
Many of Bell Shakespeare's plays are transferred to different times, though this one seemed to be set in the time of Shakespeare and when he wrote it: there were a few "modern" props and items, but all in all I did feel I was transported to the times of the 16th or 17th century. Costumes and props are simply, though some beautiful ones; and I did particularly enjoy the "sheep" and "goats" [men and women in sheepskin coats baa-ing and maa-ing around the stage].
Looking forward to the next play...and the next event at the Casula Powerhouse.