redfiona99

They broadcast Richard II live from the Globe. Which was a must see, except I nearly missed it because of the Addams Family.

But anyway it was fantastic because they went at it full bore. So the rich black comedy that runs through Shakespeare's plays was fully present and correct.

There was this one scene with York, his wife and their son and Bolingbroke (who was Henry IV by this stage). The son had been plotting against Bolingbroke, so his father went off to tell the king. The wife was dead set against it and told the son to get to the king first, which he did.

And he was just about pardoned when his father storms into the room. So they're serious, and York's all, 'no you must kill him because he is a traitor.' And then the wife bursts in, and all decorum is lost.

Adding to the lack of decorum is that all the parts were played by men, so you had ancient and aged actor pretending to be a woman, who was playing the scene for laughs.

Plus it was a fantastic contrast to a similar scene earlier, where it was Bolingbroke, his father and Richard II. Only that was serious.

Plus the music. They had music playing, a troupe of musicians.

And at the end, everyone (including the dead, even those killed off several times because of doubling up) came out and started dancing. This is how Shakespeare should be done. (I mean, high energy, with a sense of humour. The addition of women might be a good idea.)

Oh and before there are any claims of sexism, the Globe does other plays with mixed casts and some where all characters are played by women (including Richard III, which I would love to see)

And the acting, oh my word the acting. Mark Rylance, who rocks, was Richard II, and he made you like the character, even when he was being a vapid fop. Actually, he did the transition from that to man who realises the chaos he's caused very, very well.

And his wife. She was brilliant also. Depth of feeling came across wonderfully, and the scene where she was taking her leave of Richard after he'd been deposed was heartbreaking.

Bolingbroke was, well he was Bolingbroke, but he was very good at it. (BTW, I love how Shakespeare knitted his plays together, I don't know if it was by accident or design but well done that man) And his father, oh my word his father. I should point out a small hint of bias, the actor playing him was John McEnery (Mercutio in the Zeferelli version of Romeo and Juliet) and I'm a big fan of his. But all that aside, it was. Plus even when the planes were passing over (The Globe is right in the Heathrow flypath by the sound of it) you could hear every word.

Plus, they were acting out the words of the greatest dramatist ever (I brook no argument here, anyone who wants to disagree and is not George Bernard Shaw can step outside) so that was a distinct advantage.

But yes, it was wonderful. I'd go on a Shakespeare orgy but several of our videos are next door but one, and that means I'll have to get them back, which makes me feel awkward to the max.

But they have my copy of Romeo and Juliet (Zeff version) and I must see it again.