The play opens with a nightclub scene, which was great for attracting the attention of my two. It's not quite clear in what period the play is set, but think Second World War or after. There is a tricky scene about virginity between Parolles and Helena early on and I am pleased to say the actors Jonathan Slinger and Joanna Horton get us through it with great skill and some humour. After that I could relax about what my dd and ds would think and just enjoy myself! Alex Waldmann, as Bertram, is deliciously naughty but his journey to maturity through the play was wonderful. I don't remember getting that from the last production of All's Well I saw many moons ago.
And to our NAPM member! Son of pg commands his own scene, when, as chief interpreter soldier, he prises confession after confession from the hapless Parolles. He has that wonderful ability to make Shakespeare's centuries old language seem everyday and accessible (of course most of the RSC have that ability, but you can see that son of pg has definitely found his place!). His voice and actions carry and project clearly. HE HAS STAGE PRESENCE! So hopefully we will see him in bigger and bigger roles - he understudies Parolles, and I would have loved to see him play Parolles. My only concern for pg, speaking as a doctor and mother, is that her son appears to smoke his cigarette on stage in this scene rather too expertly!
BTW, for anyone going to Stratford, be warned: the shop stocks an amazing quantity of Matilda stuff - badges, mugs, T shirts, songbook, etc, so we came away £35 poorer! But full marks to the RSC for making tickets for the children half price!
experience) I think smokers only give up when they are ready to, not when someone urges them to. I finally gave up the "occasional one" many years ago when I guiltily admitted that I had had one to one of my offspring and he CRIED <narrows eyes at Son of PG>.
