I know this might come as a shock, but I have never seen the movie version of Shakespeare in Love. I mean, I own the movie: I bought it one time when it was on a great sale, but I never got a chance to watch it. So I wasn’t totally sure what to expect when we went to go and see the play. I knew it was a little historically inaccurate, and I knew that people LOVED it. I can now join the list of people who LOVE that story.
One thing I hadn’t known going in was that Tom Stoppard was involved in writing this story. That small fact gave me a whole different perspective on the piece. Stoppard’s works are brilliant, and this one is no exception. The integration of Shakespeare’s works into the world around him, the nods to the real people who were instrumental in Shakespeare’s success, and just playing with the conventions of the period (a woman on stage?!? Never!) and using it all in a way that is so smart and humorous, I was thoroughly entertained. While it’s certainly a play which rewards those who are familiar with the period and its players, this was a show that had everyone laughing!
Being able to have the sets and costume designs from the West End production was a real treat! The set was beautiful, with the wood panneling looking so much like Shakespeare’s Globe. I was amazed by the number of places the actors had to run up and down, in and out of the woodwork. It was totally mesmerizing! The costumes were equally beautiful, intricate and transportive; showing the extravagance of court and the simplicity of everyday life. From lace and pearls to leather and linen, they were all dressed perfectly. The addition of on-stage musicians also enhanced the Renaissance feel, and it was so great to see those musicians playing actual roles within the play.
Like Humphrey (Will Shakespeare) and Shannon Taylor (Viola de Lesseps) lead the incredible cast, full of Startford’s finest playing Elizabethan England’s finest. Notable mentions going to Tom McCamus (Fennyman), Stephen Ouimette (Henslowe), Micheal Spencer-Davis (Tilney), Saamer Usmani (Christopher Marlowe) and Brad Hodder (Ned Alleyn) just to name a very few. It was a great joy for me to see these people who I’ve read about, studied and imagines brought so beautifully to life. I could hardly contain myself as they talked about Beaumont and Fletcher, had Hemmings and Condell as part of Shakespeare’s cast, John Webster being uber creepy and gory (sings of things to come), Tilney being such an uptight Master of Revells; I was in my glory.
I cannot express how much I enjoyed Shakespeare in Love. I look forward to a rainy day off where I can finally watch the award winning film of one of my newest favourite stories. If you’re in Stratford this weekend, make sure to catch this amazing play on Sunday for its final performance.
