Love's Labour's Lost - William Shakespeare
RATING * * * *
Directed by Christopher Luscombe
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Until March 2015
Luscombe's slick and comedic new version of one of Shakespeare's more lighthearted works, has been set on the eve of the outbreak of the First World War, a neat-enough centenary tie-in. The set replicates an Elizabethan manor at Charlecote Park, just outside Stratford-upon-Avon. The designer, Simon Higlett, imaginatively uses the RSC's thrust stage to bring to light the particular aristocratic nature of the 1914 society the play is set in.
Luscombe made the decision to have an underscore for the majority of the play . At some points I felt that the music accompanied the play appropriately, aiding the intended jovial atmosphere, however it could be argued that, to some extent, it trivialized the message of Shakespeare's work.
Love's Labour's Lost looks at the elitist atmosphere of pre-1914 society, how the male sex views their own masculinity. King of Navarre and his followers enter into a pact which appears to restrain their own masculinity. However it soon becomes apparent that the men's weak nature means that they do not keep their promise. This weakness is sharply contrasted with the strength shown by the Princess of France and her retinue, who are resolute in sticking to their various decisions made throughout the play.
Although it was widely advertised as being set in 1914, in hindsight, there was little in the production which tied it to this theme, being a little inconsistently woven through the play. However in some ways this did not detract from what is a frothy, well-acted and light piece of entertainment.
Humour, melodic songs and delightful set, made for an enjoyable experience.
RATING * * * *
Directed by Christopher Luscombe
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Until March 2015
Luscombe's slick and comedic new version of one of Shakespeare's more lighthearted works, has been set on the eve of the outbreak of the First World War, a neat-enough centenary tie-in. The set replicates an Elizabethan manor at Charlecote Park, just outside Stratford-upon-Avon. The designer, Simon Higlett, imaginatively uses the RSC's thrust stage to bring to light the particular aristocratic nature of the 1914 society the play is set in.
Luscombe made the decision to have an underscore for the majority of the play . At some points I felt that the music accompanied the play appropriately, aiding the intended jovial atmosphere, however it could be argued that, to some extent, it trivialized the message of Shakespeare's work.
Love's Labour's Lost looks at the elitist atmosphere of pre-1914 society, how the male sex views their own masculinity. King of Navarre and his followers enter into a pact which appears to restrain their own masculinity. However it soon becomes apparent that the men's weak nature means that they do not keep their promise. This weakness is sharply contrasted with the strength shown by the Princess of France and her retinue, who are resolute in sticking to their various decisions made throughout the play.
Although it was widely advertised as being set in 1914, in hindsight, there was little in the production which tied it to this theme, being a little inconsistently woven through the play. However in some ways this did not detract from what is a frothy, well-acted and light piece of entertainment.
Humour, melodic songs and delightful set, made for an enjoyable experience.