Theatre South East

Shakespeare in Love – Noel Coward Theatre

Booking until April 18th 2015

Having failed a fourth time to secure ‘Book of Morman’ tickets in their daily lottery, I took the opportunity of purchasing a £15 front row day seat for ‘Shakespeare in Love’. Critics were divided about Shakespeare in Love so I was intrigued to see it.

Shakespeare in love the play is adapted by Lee Hall from the screenplay of the same name written by Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman.

The Bard wrote at least 38 plays and numerous sonnets and poems during his relatively short lifetime (51 years). Writing at that speed it is hard to imagine that he ever had a writer’s block (that is reserved for people like me). However this is exactly how the play starts. Will (Tom Bateman) is struggling to find the words needed for his next play ‘Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate’s daughter’. The deadline for the play has passed and Henslow and Burbidge are on his back.

When casting for the play a man called Thomas Kent auditions for a part. He is passionate about the theatre and in particular Will’s writing, however it turns out Thomas is actually the beautiful Viola De Lesseps (Lucy Brigg-Owen) in disguise. Once her identity is discovered by Will, love ensues even though she is betrothed to the repulsive Lord Wessex (Alistair Petrie).

The course of true love never did run smooth

Naturally Will and Viola’s love affair is not an easy one but eventually with many twists and turns a play is written and it happens to be the most famous play of Shakespeare’s career.

I thoroughly enjoyed Shakespeare in Love. There is drama, humour and passion. Each of the characters were well written and played beautifully. I particular enjoyed the relationship between Will Shakespeare and his compatriot Philip Marlowe (David Oakes).

It wasn’t just the story and the casting that made me fall for this show. The set was simple but extremely effective, designed by Nick Ormerod, it was built as a Elizabethan Theatre on two levels sporting an impressive balcony where sometimes the players were watched by fellow cast members.

All the world’s a stage

Mistrals played at various times in the show which was toe-tappingly jolly and almost festive.

If music be the food of love play on.

And oh the costumes – a designers dream, rich vibrant and perfectly placed. The whole show looked, well… lovely.

In conclusion – Shakespeare in Love was a very warm production, full of humour, passion and I found it delightful. True, it is not show-stopping but I had a perfectly gentle and entertaining afternoon at the theatre, I would love to go again and see the whole show…..

Which brings me on to:

A WARNING ABOUT DAY SEATING FOR SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE.

When I initially sat in my front row seat I was gutted. Admittedly I had been warned by the box office that the stage was high but I wasn’t prepared for how much I would have to stretch my neck. I am not a tall person and by the interval I was stiff and by the end of the show I could hardly move L

To be fair, even though the stage was deep most of the action takes place at the front of the stage so although you are able to keep up with the story you do miss the lower halves of the actors, the entire Romeo and Juliet death scene and the dog (because apparently there is a dog in it?!?).

Day seats are a great way to see theatre cheaply, however I have had better experiences at other theatres. It is better to buy a lower price ticket and see this marvellous play at it’s best.