REVIEW, Melbourne — Who said theatre was dead?
Last night, in Melbourne, my wife and I sat in the Royal Botanic Gardens with between 500-800 people (a quick approximate headcount) to enjoy Shakespeare.
What struck me was the size and average age of the gathering.
50% or more of the people there were under 25. Most were under 35.
At least 10% were school age children, mostly pre-teens.
Sitting next to us was a group of around 25 10-13 year olds. Who rambunctiously enjoyed the performance with a few bags of Doritos, some bottled water and a lot of good behavior.
So often we are told that high culture does not engage adults, let alone children. That we need to ‘lower the bar’, Hollywood vulgarity and movie style. Or entertainment has to be virtual: Wii, Playstations or internet.
I don’t believe so. This large mixed group, from all ages and backgrounds (although skewed towards under-35s) verily enjoyed the theatre. Not an electronic gadget in sight.
Few got up to check their mobile (they were requested to be turned off !).
Few of the audience appeared bored, or chatting throughout.
Compared with a movie their attention was engaged, and much after-play conversation heard, despite the fact many had sat on the ground for 3-4 hours.
Perhaps, our societies do not promote arts and culture sufficiently, as an entertaining alternative to heavily advertised shopping malls, playstations and the internet.
The Play and Production
These were a well trained group of actors, with a fundamentally classical take; with modern props and references; on the story of Romeo and Juliet, a nod to Baz Luhrmann.
A few well known faces from TV, with the majority of the cast actors from the well-known Australian Shakespeare Company.
The story was the classical story of Romeo and Juliet, set in Verona, as Capulet (Juliet, Tybalt) and Montague (Romeo, Mercutio) fight an age-old feud, Romeo and Juliet fall (and die) in love. This is one time no one can ruin the ending…
Merry Montagues a’marching
The standout performances to my mind were Mercurio and the gang of merry Montagues, but this may reflect I was always a Montague – never a Capulet! Most performances were excellent.
Sunglasses instead of masks were a modern touch, although speaking of visors may have caused a few chuckles. Some of the Aussie references to drinking too much, or pop culture like Michael Jackson (definitely a Capulet cousin) introduced light relief.
The main star was the whole productions tight use of props and limited space, with a truck introduced at the beginning forming the bulk of the production backdrop in multiple guises, yet seeming to ‘fit’.
The Verdict – wherefore art, ahem You?
Enjoyable. Fun. And given Melbourne’s stellar weather of late best enjoyed with a picnic.
Why would you go to have drinks in a crowded nightclub and talk about nothing, when for the price of entry you can see a production of this quality on the grass under the stars on a balmy, unseasonal, Melbourne night.
I think this production of Romeo and Juliet, in it’s light yet faithful style is Shakespeare as the Bard meant it – to be enjoyed.
Join like minded souls in proving theatre is enjoyable, fun and does not need to be the Lion King or the latest Broadway musical, as well-known they may be.
There are still tickets, I would guess, for tonight, and season end is Saturday 15th. Richard III at the Athenaeum follows, but that is indoors…
Go and see it if you’re in Melbourne, take a picnic, and take advantage of these unseasonally warm Autumnal Melbourne nights. Take the kids.
Wherefore art thou Shakespeare? Melbourne.
REVIEW, Melbourne — Who said theatre was dead?
Last night, in Melbourne, my wife and I sat in the Royal Botanic Gardens with between 500-800 people (a quick approximate headcount) to enjoy Shakespeare.
What struck me was the size and average age of the gathering.
50% or more of the people there were under 25. Most were under 35.
At least 10% were school age children, mostly pre-teens.
Sitting next to us was a group of around 25 10-13 year olds. Who rambunctiously enjoyed the performance with a few bags of Doritos, some bottled water and a lot of good behavior.
So often we are told that high culture does not engage adults, let alone children. That we need to ‘lower the bar’, Hollywood vulgarity and movie style. Or entertainment has to be virtual: Wii, Playstations or internet.
I don’t believe so. This large mixed group, from all ages and backgrounds (although skewed towards under-35s) verily enjoyed the theatre. Not an electronic gadget in sight.
Few got up to check their mobile (they were requested to be turned off !).
Few of the audience appeared bored, or chatting throughout.
Compared with a movie their attention was engaged, and much after-play conversation heard, despite the fact many had sat on the ground for 3-4 hours.
Perhaps, our societies do not promote arts and culture sufficiently, as an entertaining alternative to heavily advertised shopping malls, playstations and the internet.
The Play and Production
These were a well trained group of actors, with a fundamentally classical take; with modern props and references; on the story of Romeo and Juliet, a nod to Baz Luhrmann.
A few well known faces from TV, with the majority of the cast actors from the well-known Australian Shakespeare Company.
The story was the classical story of Romeo and Juliet, set in Verona, as Capulet (Juliet, Tybalt) and Montague (Romeo, Mercutio) fight an age-old feud, Romeo and Juliet fall (and die) in love. This is one time no one can ruin the ending…
Merry Montagues a’marching
The standout performances to my mind were Mercurio and the gang of merry Montagues, but this may reflect I was always a Montague – never a Capulet! Most performances were excellent.
Sunglasses instead of masks were a modern touch, although speaking of visors may have caused a few chuckles. Some of the Aussie references to drinking too much, or pop culture like Michael Jackson (definitely a Capulet cousin) introduced light relief.
The main star was the whole productions tight use of props and limited space, with a truck introduced at the beginning forming the bulk of the production backdrop in multiple guises, yet seeming to ‘fit’.
The Verdict – wherefore art, ahem You?
Enjoyable. Fun. And given Melbourne’s stellar weather of late best enjoyed with a picnic.
Why would you go to have drinks in a crowded nightclub and talk about nothing, when for the price of entry you can see a production of this quality on the grass under the stars on a balmy, unseasonal, Melbourne night.
I think this production of Romeo and Juliet, in it’s light yet faithful style is Shakespeare as the Bard meant it – to be enjoyed.
Join like minded souls in proving theatre is enjoyable, fun and does not need to be the Lion King or the latest Broadway musical, as well-known they may be.
There are still tickets, I would guess, for tonight, and season end is Saturday 15th. Richard III at the Athenaeum follows, but that is indoors…
Go and see it if you’re in Melbourne, take a picnic, and take advantage of these unseasonally warm Autumnal Melbourne nights. Take the kids.
Executive Director of Innovation, at 2thinknow. Expert on Innovation Cities and innovation analyst. An experienced data analyst to business and government for over 13 years.
Connect
Filed under: Arts & culture, Asia, COMMENT, Cultural assets, INNOVATION Vault Tagged: actors, Arts, Autumn, Bard, Books & publishing, Cultural assets, culture, Featured, melbourne, Melbourne & Victoria, Plays, romeo and Juliet, Royal Botanic Gardens, shakespeare, Theatre, Victoria |