A Year of Shakespeare

I’m being facetious with the Bond reference, of course.  Dame Judi Dench could read the phone book and be riveting to many, let alone when she graces the stage to perform Shakespeare.  But perhaps there are packs of wanton younglings who may know her only from her day job.

Because of movies like Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings, a generation of young people is growing up without realizing that some very fine actors have been cast in character parts — and I’m not talking about the smoldering-but-too-young-to-be-talked-about-in-quite-that-way-yet-without- sounding-a-little-creepie Emma Watson.

Hit iMDB.com some day, kids, after trolling youtube and god knows what else.  You may just be surprised by who those “grown ups” turn out to be.

48 years after Dame Judi Dench first played Titania in the 1962 Royal Shakespeare Company production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ directed by Peter Hall, she revisits the role again in a new production of ‘Dream’, also helmed by Hall, and currently playing at the Rose Theatre in Kingston.

Since their collaboration in 1962, Dench and Hall have subsequently worked together on Antony and Cleopatra (National Theatre), The Royal Family (Haymarket) and Hay Fever (West End). The Times Online spoke to the long-time friends on their lasting partnership and the revival of ‘Dream’ which is slated for a run through March 20, 2010.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Here’s a taste of the Reduced Shakespeare Company for those who have yet to be initiated:

SOURCE: http://pasadenanow.com/main/2010/02/02/reduced-shakespeare-37-plays-in-97-minutes

Sweets to the sweet! Farewell.

Lay her i’ th’ earth

And from her fair and unpolluted flesh,

May violets spring!

The actress who played Ophelia in Sir Laurence Olivier’s Hamlet has died.

Here is the headline and link from The Telegraph UK:

UPDATE: As of 1 AM Pacific Time (US), the link no longer works.  I’m leaving it up because the main page on The Telegraph still points to this address for its obituary.

UPDATE UPDATE: Shame on the Washington Post for running a William Shatner ad preceding its obit.  I would have posted it as an alternative link, but now under no circumstances.  I refuse to dishonor this beautiful and talented woman by saying further here.

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Jean Simmons remembered: tributes to the demure, doe-eyed British beauty of film

Actress Jean Simmons, who has died aged 80, seemed destined for stardom from the moment she was plucked at 14 from a London dance troupe to make her first film.
MORE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/7063304/Jean-Simmons-remembered-tributes-to-the-demure-doe-eyed-British-beauty-of-film.html

An emeritus professor of acting in general, and Shakespeare in particular, now on DVD!

From: http://westend.broadwayworld.com/article/Ian_McKellens_OneMan_Show_Acting_Shakespeare_Released_on_DVD_20100120

In the video, the celebrated Shakespearean actor is “Alone on stage, with no props or costumes, distinguished and celebrated actor Ian McKellen performs some of the most striking monologues from Shakespeare’s masterpieces. With wit and humor, McKellen continues this amazing one man show by discussing his relationship with theatre and offering a discourse on some of the greatest plays of all time.” (source: product description.)

‘Acting Shakespeare’ is released by E1 Entertainment. To purchase a copy or for more information, please click here.

Interesting article, in a fluffy, TMZ way (not that there’s anything wrong with that) about Jude Law possibly wanting lighter roles after stretching himself to fill Hamlet’s tights on Broadway.

At first glance, Jude Law seems well cast. And yet… I dunno. Am I wrong or is Hamlet written for a younger man at an earlier crux in life? Maybe I have too many associations in my head, but…

As I noted in one of my first posts about Al Pacino, actors must thank their Hollywood Walk of Fame stars that Shakespeare wrote all that rebound material for them.

From Hamlet to Repo Men… that’s gotta hurt.

LINK: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5j2ZinMIwgbh78oT6mo5Jy9y9JpnA