Of course, most of the actors in this production won't go on to careers with the Royal Shakespeare Company in London, but this was a very well-done production. As for how it's performed--as brilliant as Aubrey Beardsley's illustrations and Alla Nazimova's 1924 "all-gay" film were, I think they've unfairly given people the idea that the play can ONLY be performed in a "campy," flagrantly "gay" fashion. Playing it "straight" (horrible pun intended) might allow people to view it in a new way.
I've only read the play. It must be very difficult to perform. It has to be high camp, erotic, decadent. The acting in this version is flat. Salome should be a spoilt brat full of confidence and her speech describing Jokanaan should be full of sex. The young Syrian captain should be less shouty and more imploring, more desperately in love. Herod is a bit shouty too. Generally, the words should be spoken more slowly and there is no sense of doom.
Straight stage productions of Salome don't work in our time. The only great Salomes on stages is the Richard Strauss opera of Salome. Its libretto (the lines the cast sings) s straight from this play and the music is so dramatic and powerful and it's just marvelous. I highly recommend it. You shoulda have put some of that Strauss opera music in here to make it more dramatic/climatic.
Gaudete; you did a great job of directing. The costumes, the lighting/set is fine. But I'm afraid, darling, that your actors aren't any good. This is a dark play and Salome is supposed to be played darker, crazier. She's lusting for blood. The only reason it's hard to do this play in our present time is because this is such an old play from the 1900 to 1914 period, 100 yrs ago. The acting styles have changed.
When this play was presented in Paris, the character of the Page of Herodías was remplaced with a woman, and made other changes for hide in the shadow some dark details.
I wait you can understant my english. I dobted in some parts of my text. Grits form Mexico.
Gaudete, what did you think of Alla Nazimova's 1924 silent film of SALOME, with sets inspired by Aubrey Beardsley's illustrations and (so the urban legend goes) an all-gay cast?
She danced to "Ave Satani", didn't she? That was used as the theme to "The Omen".
I was likening the tone of some of the performers to those on Dawson's Creek bec they not are classicly trained & it shows. Doesn't mean they were dreadful, just not befitting of this time period or the language.
If Wilde invented the Seven Veils, & you are doing a play by Wilde, wouldn't you use his convention in his own play? I would understand the change if it were written by someone other than Wilde.
I can appreciate the irony of the song selection, but it doesn't work in context of it's purpose. Also, why didn't you use 7 veils? That's like having a Hydra with one head!
Herod and Herodias rolling their eyes at each other as Salome has her monologue with the head was unbearable.
Salome's final curtain call was nice, I'll give you. Reaching for Iokanaan and losing him was effective.
@gaudete " I didn't use seven veils b/c from my research it turned out that there IS no actual dance of the seven veils; it's something Wilde invented." Isn't that the point of putting on his show? To use the bits he created? After all, there was no mention in the original biblical text of Salome lusting after John the Baptist.
I'm sorry, this just wasn't good. I tried to give it a chance as this time period is difficult to reproduce, but it sounded like Dawson's Creek goes Wilde! The Dance of the Seven Veils looked like she was going into Dirty Dancing territory, especially when the guard came up to dance WITH her! Not very sexy for the Tetrarch when another man is dancing with your object of lust! Plus, she mostly just walked back and forth listening desperately for a beat to move to-the OMEN THEME!? no no no.
I enjoyed it very much, but oh, oh, oh - the American accents are just not convincing. But then again, I am a traditional old biddy when it comes to St. Wilde.
Thank you very much - and I totally understand that American (or at least non-British) accents aren't everyone's cup of tea. Would it help to know that originally the play was produced in France? :D
YUSS!!! :D I thought it sounded like the Prince of Egypt...I don't have the soundtrack though, just seen the movie...but it goes so awesomely with this scene...love the play too :)
Iokanaan cannot look at the Princess and cannot see her eyes if he wants to preserve his purity. It's such a pity!
ilovecinematv 1 year ago
dude you just help me pass an english test. you rock. great play. your a good director man
bluejays1945 1 year ago
She is like the shadow of a white rose on a mirror of silver.
ZenPapageno 1 year ago
Of course, most of the actors in this production won't go on to careers with the Royal Shakespeare Company in London, but this was a very well-done production. As for how it's performed--as brilliant as Aubrey Beardsley's illustrations and Alla Nazimova's 1924 "all-gay" film were, I think they've unfairly given people the idea that the play can ONLY be performed in a "campy," flagrantly "gay" fashion. Playing it "straight" (horrible pun intended) might allow people to view it in a new way.
jamesjeffreypaul 2 years ago
I've only read the play. It must be very difficult to perform. It has to be high camp, erotic, decadent. The acting in this version is flat. Salome should be a spoilt brat full of confidence and her speech describing Jokanaan should be full of sex. The young Syrian captain should be less shouty and more imploring, more desperately in love. Herod is a bit shouty too. Generally, the words should be spoken more slowly and there is no sense of doom.
KingsCrossHarry 2 years ago
Straight stage productions of Salome don't work in our time. The only great Salomes on stages is the Richard Strauss opera of Salome. Its libretto (the lines the cast sings) s straight from this play and the music is so dramatic and powerful and it's just marvelous. I highly recommend it. You shoulda have put some of that Strauss opera music in here to make it more dramatic/climatic.
MastersoftheOpera 2 years ago
Comment removed
TheAmericanEvita 7 months ago
Gaudete; you did a great job of directing. The costumes, the lighting/set is fine. But I'm afraid, darling, that your actors aren't any good. This is a dark play and Salome is supposed to be played darker, crazier. She's lusting for blood. The only reason it's hard to do this play in our present time is because this is such an old play from the 1900 to 1914 period, 100 yrs ago. The acting styles have changed.
MastersoftheOpera 2 years ago
STOP FUCKING COUGHING!
thailies 2 years ago
I'm confused..from what I know, the Page of Herodias is a gay man.
chuvanessence35 2 years ago
When this play was presented in Paris, the character of the Page of Herodías was remplaced with a woman, and made other changes for hide in the shadow some dark details.
I wait you can understant my english. I dobted in some parts of my text. Grits form Mexico.
aatg8 2 years ago
Gaudete, what did you think of Alla Nazimova's 1924 silent film of SALOME, with sets inspired by Aubrey Beardsley's illustrations and (so the urban legend goes) an all-gay cast?
jamesjeffreypaul 3 years ago
She danced to "Ave Satani", didn't she? That was used as the theme to "The Omen".
I was likening the tone of some of the performers to those on Dawson's Creek bec they not are classicly trained & it shows. Doesn't mean they were dreadful, just not befitting of this time period or the language.
If Wilde invented the Seven Veils, & you are doing a play by Wilde, wouldn't you use his convention in his own play? I would understand the change if it were written by someone other than Wilde.
joeyfatone13 3 years ago
continued...
I can appreciate the irony of the song selection, but it doesn't work in context of it's purpose. Also, why didn't you use 7 veils? That's like having a Hydra with one head!
Herod and Herodias rolling their eyes at each other as Salome has her monologue with the head was unbearable.
Salome's final curtain call was nice, I'll give you. Reaching for Iokanaan and losing him was effective.
joeyfatone13 3 years ago
* Not the "Omen Theme" - check your classical music.
* Yup - the choreography wasn't all that. Read the sidebar.
* Re: "Dawson's Creek" - I presume you mean the accent? See below.
* I didn't use seven veils b/c from my research it turned out that there IS no actual dance of the seven veils; it's something Wilde invented.
* Have you directed a version? I'd be delighted to see other renderings.
gaudete 3 years ago
@gaudete " I didn't use seven veils b/c from my research it turned out that there IS no actual dance of the seven veils; it's something Wilde invented." Isn't that the point of putting on his show? To use the bits he created? After all, there was no mention in the original biblical text of Salome lusting after John the Baptist.
bunnyshooz 10 months ago
I'm sorry, this just wasn't good. I tried to give it a chance as this time period is difficult to reproduce, but it sounded like Dawson's Creek goes Wilde! The Dance of the Seven Veils looked like she was going into Dirty Dancing territory, especially when the guard came up to dance WITH her! Not very sexy for the Tetrarch when another man is dancing with your object of lust! Plus, she mostly just walked back and forth listening desperately for a beat to move to-the OMEN THEME!? no no no.
joeyfatone13 3 years ago
I enjoyed it very much, but oh, oh, oh - the American accents are just not convincing. But then again, I am a traditional old biddy when it comes to St. Wilde.
nicksum29 3 years ago
Thank you very much - and I totally understand that American (or at least non-British) accents aren't everyone's cup of tea. Would it help to know that originally the play was produced in France? :D
gaudete 3 years ago
Hee-heee, you are right, of course. Thanks for keeping the Oscar alive.
nicksum29 3 years ago
One of the greatest and most terrifying plays ever written. Good luck in all your endeavors, and thanks for sharing it with us!
jamesjeffreypaul 3 years ago
Well put. And thank you for your kind words!
gaudete 3 years ago
who plays john the prophet?
loveGod19 3 years ago
John McKinnon - there's credits at the end.
gaudete 3 years ago
she's seducing him..ooh..she is evil.
loveGod19 3 years ago
i have never seen this play before. what is the synopsis?
loveGod19 3 years ago
Presumably by now you've gotten the gist of the play? :)
gaudete 3 years ago
What is the opening music called? :) I could have sworn I've heard it before!! :D
DisenchantedThespian 3 years ago
It's "The Chariot Race" from "Prince of Egypt."
gaudete 3 years ago
YUSS!!! :D I thought it sounded like the Prince of Egypt...I don't have the soundtrack though, just seen the movie...but it goes so awesomely with this scene...love the play too :)
DisenchantedThespian 3 years ago
The music is great, and definitely works for this.
PluckyRagdoll 3 years ago