ShakespeRe Told

[yendi]

We watched the first movie in this series last night (Much Ado About Nothing). And yeah, we're hooked. BBCAmerica is now pretty much neck-and-neck with TCM on my list of favorite cable channels.

Loved the entire cast, even if Billie Piper was the only one I was familiar with (and wow, does she have range!). Damien Lewis and Sarah Parish were just wonderful as the leads, and I adored Anthony O'Donnell's updated Dogberry.

I'm looking forward to the remaining movies, although I'm a tad disappointed that they chose Taming of the Shrew as the final one, mainly because retellings of that tale aren't exactly rare.

Comments

[silme.livejournal.com]

Actually, as they were aired here originally (and as they appear on the DVD), Midsummer's Night Dream, with Johnny Vegas as Bottom, is the final one. Shrew was third after Macbeth (the weakest) and Much Ado. This Shrew actually is quite good; I've even shown it at school.

[yendi]

Not that it bothers me immensely, but I do wonder why they shifted the order around. Granted, with four movies, it doesn't matter much.

I don't doubt that I'll love Shrew; I'd just like to see an update/retelling of something that isn't usually retold (which would make Shrew and R&J my last picks for the series).

I'm extremely intrigued at the idea of Macbeth played out in a restaurant, which we get in two days.

[silme.livejournal.com]

My Year 10s claimed this Shrew helped them understand the play. Their essays weren't bad. I do wish there was a film of the all-female cast at the Globe (from which this icon is taken). They would have loved it!

I assume it will all be on DVD (the BBC versions) soon in the US; I bought it back in December here. (They were aired here last autumn.)

[unblinkered.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed Taming of the Shrew...any Shakespeare adaptation that casts Moaning Myrtle as the Shrew has to be good!

[yendi]

Seriously? Excellent casting, there.

[unblinkered.livejournal.com]

Yup....Shirley Henderson.

[silme.livejournal.com]

and Rufus Sewell. That one was good casting. My Year 10s even enjoyed that one! (I use Shrew for their Shakespeare coursework. ;)

[unblinkered.livejournal.com]

I can see how that particular version would work well for teaching! The BBC really do have an excellent choice of actors at the moment - and seem to be using them effectively, to boot (mostly)!

[silme.livejournal.com]

It worked very well with that age group -- truly kept their attention. When they read the play, they were able to see how the BBC drew from the original.

[bethynyc.livejournal.com]

This week we get James MacAvoy as MacBeth!!! Set in a restaurant! I'm very excited!

[celticfeministw.livejournal.com]

*is jealous*

That is all.

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

well darnit! I didn't realise this was coming on so I didn't Tivo it. I'll TiVo the rest, but Much Ado About Nothing is one of my favourite plays, so I'm sorry to have missed it.

[yendi]

I hope they'll rerun it. I'll keep checking the Tivo to see (if it's on while you're here, we'll certainly want to watch it again).

[tewok.livejournal.com]

Hey there! Any chance you can contact me off-lj? I'd send email directly but I don't think I have a current address. Dunno if you're still on TH or not, so in case you don't have those archives to search for me, you can send me email at:
at tislabs dot com

I'd have contacted you more directly -- private email through lj -- but I don't know how, or even if it's possible.

Cheers,
Wayne