Shakespeare - Midsummer Night's Dream - staging magic (2/3)

A documentary on the problems of presenting fairies and magic in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" on the stage.

interview clips with Toby Jones, actor playing Bottom in Jonathan Miller's Almeida Theater production, discussing issues performing the role.

Extended excerpts from The RSC (1994) production, directed by Ian Talbot.

interview clips with:

Penelope Rixon (narration)
Jonathan Miller
Tony Gash, head of Drama, University of East Anglia
Ian Talbot

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Shakespeare
• Jonathan-Miller
• Tony-Gash
• Ian-Talbot
• theater
• play
• stage
• performing
• arts

[JaneRutterFan]

I also agree with Ian Talbot - why suck the magic out of this play? Miller sees nature as boring? How sad for him and for the production. Nature IS magic! You can feel it quivering in the text....I think one of the reasons Harry Potter has been such a phenomenon is that we crave more magic ..especially in these times.

[amaxamon]

I hate most of these. Awful. Lacking in any insight or deep feeling. AMND is an excuse for directors & designers to go crazy without rhyme or reason. I esp hate the Adrian Noble, it looks like David Lynch's "Blue Velvet." Awful

[d2ditmars]

Jonathan Miller's "no magic" approach to this play sucks all the soul and life out it. In fact, his "fairies" look like vampires. I completely agree with Ian Talbott - why did Miller even WANT to do this play if he wanted to gut the magic out of it. Also

[mhewitt41]

This is fantastic! Very intelligent and insightful...thoroughly enjoyable.