The winter of our discontent...

Last night I went to this beautiful and simple theatre to see a local production of Richard III. It had been shortened to 2.5 hours, and was pretty good indeed. I wasn't familiar with the play before going in, and usually in Shakespeare's plays I at least get a little confused about who's related and how, if not totally bamboozled about the actual plot. I wasn't always too sure about who was whom last night, but the plot was fine. Either an indication that my Shakespearian comprehension is improving, or that the story was well-told. They projected the names of characters onto a screen at the back of the stage when they entered, most useful indeed, and used the same screen for the dream sequence in the final act, and a few other bits and pieces. The stage was simple, a throne or bed might be placed in the middle, and there was lots of tipping of bodies into the trapdoors. The acting was generally pretty great, only a couple of 'hmm' moments, but while the Hobart Rep Society, may only be 'amatuer', it is highly-regarded on the local scene - this show was evidence just why that is so. Overall a pretty enjoyable evening (although I'm not sure one traditionally puts regicide and insanity into the 'enjoyable' category, perhaps 'satisfying'?)

And yesterday is now up.