(no subject)

[oakenguy]

Recently I've watched the 1968 RSC version of 'Midsummer Night's Dream', and the '99 American version with Michelle Pfeiffer and Kevin Kline (playing Titania and Bottom the Weaver, respectively). Both very odd.

The '68 version had the production values of a Dr. Who episode, especially in the fairy scenes. On the other hand, a young, nude Judy Dench painted green is a sight to behold. (All the fairies were nude and painted, and most were dirty in that artfully-smudged way. Apart from the principals, all of them were children. '68 was an innocent time.)

The '99 version, well, have I mentioned Kevin Kline as Bottom the Weaver? With an expanded part, of course...who knew that Bottom had an unhappy marriage? It's also one of those movies where you can tell the stars apart from the extras because, to paraphrase Monty Python, 'they're the ones not covered in shite'. Calista Flockhart, as one of the young lovers, pushes her bicycle around wearing daffodil yellow on a street where everyone is dressed in black. Kevin Kline has a white suit and goatee combo that looks like he built a time machine and mugged Tom Hanks on the set of "Ladykillers". And the fairies are grown-ups who keep their clothes on, even if they do frolic sorta aimlessly and generally look like the background of every tavern Xena ever wandered into, only with horns (male) and little wings (female).

Oh, and Bill Irwin steals every second he's on the screen. But that's a given.

Comments

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

I remember my parents going to see the 1968 production and being very impressed. Oddly enough, the only time I ever saw the RSC live also featured Judy Dench (in Comedy of Errors at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle c.1976)

[juliansinger.livejournal.com]

...nude Judi Dench? Gosh. Is the acting any good?

I avoided the '99 version specifically because of Flockhart. Is she obtrusive enough to worry about?

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

Acting? You can't really notice the acting of the fairies, because almost literally each line she and Oberon speak have a different lighting effect and setting. It's amazingly annoying.

And then the mortals come on, and, well, you wish they were fairies. As it is, though, they do very good impersonations of wood.


The '99 version is Flockhart-heavy, alas. They give the fairies about as much screen time as the mortals, but with Rupert Everett and Michelle Pfeiffer as Oberon and Titania that's a no-brainer. The one thing I really like about it is that they've given Hippolyta an actual personality, as opposed to being the arm candy she was in the '68 version.

[saltygoodness.livejournal.com]

that was the movie where I was really creeped out that Calista Flockheart is indistiguishable from an 8 year-old boy when lying nude with leaves over her "naughty" bits...*shudder*

Although in general I like Mid-Summer,

[phobean.livejournal.com]

a strange play begets stranger movies.

[frla.livejournal.com]

The indominatable mr. irwin is the only reason i considered seeing it.

How much screen time does he get and who does he play?


KK!

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

Not very much, unfortunately. He plays Tom Snout, the actor who portrays the "Wall". Four or five lines, a bit of comedy (he has stage fright), some reaction shots. Sigh.

[enidenvy.livejournal.com]

i really love the 99 version. a lot.

[wanderingrogue.livejournal.com]

As a former Puck, I was almost mortified by the '99 version. And I went into the theatre with every intention of loving it. Bottom doesn't have a frickin' back story. The only bit of casting I really liked was Rupert Everett because he seemed a natural fit for Oberon. I thought the take on Puck was interesting, though. Surprisingly relaxed and cool, compared to the hyperactive take that most actors use for the role.

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

I did enjoy Puck's introduction, the "quiet celebrity who doesn't want to be noticed....except he does, he really does".

You played Puck? OoooOOoooo!

[wanderingrogue.livejournal.com]

Yup. Senior play in high school. Funny story. My best friend wanted to be Puck desperately. I wanted Helena (to prove that I can do romantic lead work, not just character parts.) Our auditions had to be a Shakespearian monologue, period. Any monologue from any play would do. Since I already had "If we shadows have offended" memorized, I decided to do that one. She was so competative for the part that if I practised my monologue in her presence, she would drown me out by speaking the same monologue over me, even though it wasn't even the part I wanted so therefore I wasn't trying to compete against her. Thing was, when it came to her audition (also with a Puck monologue, but a different one) it was like nails on a chalk board. She's never been good in character roles. She wound up getting Titania instead. I got Puck. Made me want to point and laugh since she acted like such a bitch during auditions. But I didn't. Because I'm nice. But you better believe I made it painfully obvious that I was having the time of my life. (And the fact that Puck gets to hang out with Oberon more than Titania does and our Oberon happened to be played by a really hot guy didn't hurt. ;))

Ah, I miss theatre drama. Good times, good times.

If you check out my webpage, the gallery has some pics of me, Oberon, and aforementioned bitchy best friend dressed in character.

[superrob.livejournal.com]

Is that available in your run of the mill video store? (The 1968 version, I mean)

Also, I believe there was earlier talk of sangria and improv comedy once I was situated North.

And I beleive that talk came from someone writing to this journal.

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

I think so...well, not Blockbuster, but the more indy ones. Check the 'Classics' or, if you're really lucky the 'Shakespeare' section.

I found my copy at the public library, so there's that option, soo.

And yes! Inman Square has many pleasures which should be explored!