I don't know Much ado about nothing from school, I do remember Romeo & Juliet from there (which I loved) and A Midsummer Night's Dream, which I didn't get at all back then with all those difficult names and relationships and thought it was boring.
So, I knew absolutely nothing about the play when we bought the tickets months ago. As you say, David and Catherine are bringing people to the theatre, mission accomplished. Back when he was doing Hamlet I had not been a fan of him yet, so I missed that. I do remember my friend buying the DVD and watching it four times, and I hesitated, fearing it might be boring, with the difficult Shakespeare English and all. Then we watched it together and I was surprised how much humor there also was, and David totally touched me with his emotions.
So, after we bought the tickets, I educated myself, found a great website where they talk about each act in detail, what happens, and what it did mean at the time. I also listened to the radio play where David had spoken Benedick already. Plus, we went to see the German version of the play just a few weeks ago here in my home city, what a great coincidence that it was there and I can compare the productions now, as I am just back home from London (if we had flown two days earlier I would have even been able to go to the Torchwood preview and meet JB in the same week as David, not sure I could have handled THAT)
So, I felt as prepared as possible, but I must admit that the first time around, even though I always knew what was going on at the stage, I had a hard time catching some words or even sentences. And if you miss one the next one also does not make much sense. But there was so much going on, you did not know where to look first, lots of surprises (I had not spoilered myself before) and so I wanted to see it again. Luckily, we won tickets in the lottery, and I bought the script and in every free minute (while waiting at the stage door, for example) I read it and tried to memorize as much as possible, and at the second time we saw it I really did understand what they actually were saying.
I absolutely admire everyone who is able to learn words and sentences which are so difficult! Plus, I should mention, it really is not David's fault or even the Scottish, I do have the same problem when I listen to him reading audiobooks. Instead of concentrating on WHAT he says I just happily listen to the sound he makes, how easily the syllables roll off his tongue and then that wonderful voice... So, that's my excuse and I stick with it LOL
And it's true, whenever David was on stage, I did not let my eyes wander, even if he was only standing at the side and not saying anything, like in the church. Still he had such an intense look on his face there, you could not look away.
I also agree about Don John, he really managed to touch me with his sad look. I always like it when it isn't all about the comedy, when there is depth. This would be an actor I would like to see more of.
Sorry, turned out I wrote too much, see the conclusion in the next post!
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branchandroot
part 1 of my comment
Date: 2011-06-29 09:07 pm (UTC)So, I knew absolutely nothing about the play when we bought the tickets months ago. As you say, David and Catherine are bringing people to the theatre, mission accomplished. Back when he was doing Hamlet I had not been a fan of him yet, so I missed that. I do remember my friend buying the DVD and watching it four times, and I hesitated, fearing it might be boring, with the difficult Shakespeare English and all. Then we watched it together and I was surprised how much humor there also was, and David totally touched me with his emotions.
So, after we bought the tickets, I educated myself, found a great website where they talk about each act in detail, what happens, and what it did mean at the time. I also listened to the radio play where David had spoken Benedick already. Plus, we went to see the German version of the play just a few weeks ago here in my home city, what a great coincidence that it was there and I can compare the productions now, as I am just back home from London (if we had flown two days earlier I would have even been able to go to the Torchwood preview and meet JB in the same week as David, not sure I could have handled THAT)
So, I felt as prepared as possible, but I must admit that the first time around, even though I always knew what was going on at the stage, I had a hard time catching some words or even sentences. And if you miss one the next one also does not make much sense. But there was so much going on, you did not know where to look first, lots of surprises (I had not spoilered myself before) and so I wanted to see it again. Luckily, we won tickets in the lottery, and I bought the script and in every free minute (while waiting at the stage door, for example) I read it and tried to memorize as much as possible, and at the second time we saw it I really did understand what they actually were saying.
I absolutely admire everyone who is able to learn words and sentences which are so difficult! Plus, I should mention, it really is not David's fault or even the Scottish, I do have the same problem when I listen to him reading audiobooks. Instead of concentrating on WHAT he says I just happily listen to the sound he makes, how easily the syllables roll off his tongue and then that wonderful voice... So, that's my excuse and I stick with it LOL
And it's true, whenever David was on stage, I did not let my eyes wander, even if he was only standing at the side and not saying anything, like in the church. Still he had such an intense look on his face there, you could not look away.
I also agree about Don John, he really managed to touch me with his sad look. I always like it when it isn't all about the comedy, when there is depth. This would be an actor I would like to see more of.
Sorry, turned out I wrote too much, see the conclusion in the next post!