Grace

I've seen two Shakespeare plays in the past week as part of my late birthday celebrations, each starring two big names in both film and theatre: I saw "The Tempest" in London starring Ralph Fiennes last Thursday, and on Monday evening saw (what I now realise was the final performance of) "The Merchant of Venice" starring Patrick Stewart in Stratford upon Avon.

( The Tempest vs The Merchant of Venice )

So, all in all: don't go see "The Tempest" unless you like slow song-n-dancy Shakespeare, or absolutely adore Ralph Fiennes. I wouldn't say it was worth it. I *would* recommend you go and see "The Merchant of Venice" but, alas, it has now closed so... maybe just keep an eye on the RSC and do, if you can, try to see something on that awesome stage of theirs. They could do interesting things with a layout like that. (Plus they have an awesome gift shop which I could spend a fortune in if I only had some money to spare...)

I have no money right now owing to ridiculous car repair bills and a rather large phone bill - oops - so no more plays until December when my theatre-friend Bec and I will be going to see some more amdram - the Grantham Dramatic Society, to be precise, and their production of the Discworld adaptation of "Going Postal". I've also asked my mum if she will buy me for Christmas tickets for "The Lion in Winter" which is the next play to run at the Haymarket. I love the movie of that play and would love to actually see it on-stage so fingers crossed for that one! :)

Well... this is unheard of, I think... thus far this year theatre and film are drawing on my tally. :) I've been to the theatre three times and I've been to the cinema three times. I doubt that this has ever happened before. And it is entirely possible that, by the year out, theatre might win. Who knows?

As it stands:



I haven't spoken much about theatre before so, hell, why not?

( Ramble... )

I'm not going to ramble about cinema. Why should I? Yes it's moving and beautiful and gives one a bit of escapism but... it's not the same. It's not *personal*. I have a philosophy that we all see a different film when we watch the same one, but at the same time, we're all watching the same footage. It's not so intricately personal as theatre where a slightly different play is performed on each night that it runs, and, even if you and some friends go to the same night, depending on where you're sat and how you interpret things, you each arguably see a different play. In fact, there's potentially an infinite amount of different plays to be seen even on one night.

Anyways, to wrap up this ramble, speaking for myself, 2011 may well be the year that theatre gives cinema the first beating in my life. I know that my sister and I are going to see Fiennes in "The Tempest" in September. That still leaves time for another film to match the tally, if there is indeed anything else worth seeing this year. But then I'm sure I could fit in another play or two and maybe, come new year's eve, be able to say that "I've seen more theatre than film this year!" and revel in how much more geeky a person that makes me. ;) (I certainly want to see Grantham Dramatic Society's "Going Postal" at the end of November/start of December - a Discworld play just a few minutes down the A1? Yes, I think so!)

With visitng the cinema often costing more than at least the amdram performances, I don't see why I shouldn't choose to see a play rather than a movie, the latter which will no doubt be on DVD in 8 weeks anyway... ;)

--x-posted to http://jurious.livejournal.com/