But alas I am female, perhaps I will start a theatre company that does all female shakespeare. Seriously! the guys used to do it, it is just now our turn! Normally I'm fine with being a girl, but when it comes to shakespeare... grrr... I dislike being told 3/4 of his best speeches can never be mine just because of my sex!
Anyways this past friday I went to the Globe to see A Midsummer Night's Dream. They do such a fantastic job there. Although the fairy queen and king were scottish for some reason and also jedi apparently. Also I'm not a fan of Theseus and Hypolita being played by the same actors as Oberon and Titania. I mean, maybe if the director has a really clear reason as to why it is being done, but mostly I just think it is lazy and confusing, not to mention cheap, just pay two more actors, you are the Globe for crying out loud. The 4 lovers were exceptionally good, and they have the potential of being so horrible. Helena was actually played a bit stronger, in the fight she fought back with Hermia and wasn't a push over. This was a nice change and made the character a bit less, well, annoying. Otherwise it was an interesting experience, you don't realize how long that play is until you stand through all of it! EEK!
We also went to Portobello Rd, and resisted singing and dancing down it. But it was really cool to be there on Market Day. Notting Hill is so beautiful, I could live there, i mean .. you know... if someone forced me :). Also went to the Victoria and Albert Museum which is quite exceptional, I feel like for a wedding shower I shall have to register there. Then the guests can walk through the museum and say , "Well we could buy Teresa the old gilded cabinet or the carved ivory necklace... decisions, decisions!"
Then back to the manor in time for me to collapse with sickness... :( .. i'm getting better though finally!!! After sleeping most of sunday. Next weekend I go to Stratford, also known as my Mecca, sooooo in conclusion is you ever hear a director in need of a female Prince Hal, I'm your girl... we will make it work! I promise :)
2 comments:
Merry Wives of Windsor, sweetie. I think there's the Shakespear's A-Z which might help. Dramatis Personae, etc. there are a few of his with more female chars. If memory serves Richard II[?] or III has a lot of female chars. with some strong roles. [BTW, that's what I hated about the ba$tard....great stuff...but where's OURS?! Start looking into the plays of George Bernard Shaw and Ibsen for some good female stuff.]
And of course KAte in Taming. I'll give a think on it.
BTW, take some heart in knowing that sometimes roles traditionally played by men have been done by women, granted not "major" parts. A while back the outdoor festival stage at the globe (at home) played Henry V. Some fo the nice chorus bits which introduce each act were done with both males/females. and some of the minor French characters the French envoy, for instance, was played by a woman. Don't forget Henry V has quite a fun "French" scene between Katherine and her maid. And you really don't get the double entendres until you read them out loud. the nurse in Romeo and Juliette is a fun part, though it would be played by an older woman.
But yeah. I know. For a male actor, no matter if he's just a spear holder or a minor or secondary character, there are so many opportunities to get cast and get feet wet. With the women, you're either the "maid" or the one(usually) female in the cast with some meat in the part. But sometimes the small parts give you a lot of freedom, because the director is so busy with the main characters - you can create some good backstory for yourself, and as long as what you're doing "fits" the director isn't as much in your head!
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