Tags
christopher marlowe, Declan Donnellan, Lee Hall, Noël Coward Theatre, Shakespeare in Love, Tom Stoppard
Are you in London? Or reasonably near?
Then do go and see Shakespeare in Love – the stage version – at the Noël Coward Theatre.
I was not reasonably near – I flew from Italy to London and back again within forty-eight hours (while nursing a huge cold) for the sake of this play, and oh, was it ever worth it!
Much as I love the film, the stage version is better. Much better, in fact – with superb musicians onstage (one of them a fabulous countertenor), Declan Donnellan’s smart, lovely direction that makes the most of a set gorgeous in its simplicity, great performances from everyone, and above all an adapted script that centres everything firmly on theatre – and partly does so by expanding Kit Marlowe’s role. Oh, and of course there is the dog…
Can one ask for more?
Have a look at the trailer, read playwright Lee Hall’s thoughts on writing the adaptation, and then go see for yourself.
Scribblings 