The Japanese Version of an English Play in the Czech Republic

?Que? 

So, that was interesting….  where to begin….  Let’s start from top to bottom.  First, the actors hanging out of the windows (yes, i got a picture of that)(and, no, i’m not talking about the stage movements of Prospero and Ariel) was rather distracting.  I think I was looking for them more (at least in the beginning and when people exited the stage) then I was paying attention to the play.  Speaking of distractions, I must have stared at the really bad coat hanger sea gulls (yes, i decided what they were, because i can’t fathom any other reason for their existance) for a total of about 10 minutes throughout the performance trying to figure them out.  Figuring things out seemed to be a problem for some of the actors.  Granted, the lights in the beginning can be chalked up as Murphy’s Law exacting its terrible wrath, but the sail, after a certain point, was simply over-kill.  Not to mention, the actors lost credibility as sailors when even the “captain” had trouble taking down one of the lesser sails.  it wouldn’t have been completely horrible to have left on stage.  Audiences could have easily percieved it as a curtain or peice of the shipwreck or something given the changing scenes if the acting allowed.  However, even the best actors could not save the completely out of place, out of style, and non-matching costumes.  I don’t remember the tempest happening in Tiawan; I don’t remember Alonso having a Prussian cap on his head; I don’t remember the hoop skirts being a style; and I don’t think Ariel would have had sleeves like that (though his/her head peice was pretty cool and the pants/skirt was an interesting new perspective).  On the issue of perspectives, I spent a good deal more time than I probably should have watching the performance in the reflection of the glass doors to the far right of the stage/seating area.  It didn’t make the performance any better.  And what was up with Caliban all of the sudden switching to English?  Did he forget how to say it in Czech?

Although, on a lighter note, I did like how a log was chosen to be a versitile peice that didn’t require moving on or off the stage.  I thought it was rather interesting and fit into every scene change normally.  (I don’t know if that is what the play originally calls for, but I liked it – it was believable.)  I also though it was a pretty clever use of an unusual stage when Prospero lifted Miranda into the little window-looking slot in the wall (don’t know what the proper term for that is – sorry!) when Ferdinand first came on stage.   

In all, not the best, not the worst, and a good opportunity to analyse what makes a believable Shakespeare performance.

~ by kristen on June 28, 2007.