orangerful | ooh, that could have gone better for him... (Reply)

Wow. I just got back from seeing 'Titus Andronicus' at the Shakespeare Theatre in DC. I had seen the movie (Julie Taymor's 'Titus') so I remembered the basic storyline and the BIG moments. But seeing it live, on stage...whoa. It's a rough play, one of Shakespeare earlier works that is usually ignored or shrugged off as before he was "big". But watching 'Titus' on stage and screen, you can see Shakespeare figuring out other characters that we'll see later (Tamora, Queen of the Goths, is a much eviler Lady Macbeth, Aaron, the Moor, is a weird mix of Iago and Othello, Titus has shades of King Lear when it comes to his own ignorance of what's going on around him). Since I've only seen the movie, I thought this production was really good. It was interesting how many cues (mostly costuming) seem to be very similar to that of the movie. (especially the sexually weird evil goth sons - they wear eyeliner, grab each others balls, and rape women...was the eyeliner in shakespeare stage directions??)

The best part of the play was the people who didn't know *anything* about where the story was going. Hearing them gasp and giggle nervously as the plot unfolded on stage was a different experience to all the well-known plays we've seen. (this was the first time 'Titus' has been performed by this theater ever).

OH! and for you locals - the Shakespeare Company's "Free For All' show this year is 'Loves Labours Lost' !!! I saw this on stage last year and it was SO much fun. I definitely reccomend getting out there to see it, plus, it's free!!!