Anyone going to MARY STUART tonight?- Page 2

[Smaxie]

Posted: 3/31/09 at 1:17am

The concept of the costuming is that at any point in history, the men in suits are the men in suits. It also further separates the women and traps them in their respective roles.

As Brantley wrote of the costuming in the West End version, "the device beautifully brings out the awkwardness and inequity of sexual roles. Ms. Lloyd's production cannily underlines the difficulties for women of power in a man's world."

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/31/09 at 1:21am

For those of you who don't know the history behind the play at all, I'd say read up on it a bit before you see this. I may have enjoyed it more if I had known the backstory.

and yes, it ran three hours tonight with one intermission...started about 7 minutes late.
Updated On: 3/31/09 at 01:21 AM

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/31/09 at 1:22am

Thanks Smaxie, I mean that does make sense. I guess I just didn't think about like that during the show. It definitely stopped it froming feeling like a period piece. You knew you were watching an historical drama, but it never felt the way A Man For All Seasons felt earlier this season.

Edit for the history info: If you have no idea who Henry VII, Anne Boleyn or Catherine of Aragon are then maybe read a little about them. Also if you don't know why the Catholic church was at odds with Henry VIII that might be helpful. Outside of this knowledge you shouldn't need to know too much more to follow it.

Updated On: 3/31/09 at 01:22 AM

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 3/31/09 at 2:00am

Oh, I was there tonight. If anyone sees this and doesn't like it much, know that you're not alone. It was full of a sort of very polished acting that I find very empty, most of all from McTeer.

In smaller roles, Michael Countryman and Brian Murray are excellent. I suspect this will repeat its London triumph but I was unimpressed with how impressive it all was. I've seen two other productions of this play and in both of those, something real seemed to be going on. Tonight I saw a lot of showy acting that seemed like so much empty virtuosity.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/31/09 at 2:04am

Uh-oh. A history buff I am not. I wish they would put a blurb in the Playbill the way Billy Elliot did.

Maybe I'll go read Brantley's review of the London premiere to get an idea of what the show is about.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/31/09 at 11:49am

There is a little blurb in the Playbill that gives a very brief history lesson. I mean I don't think you have to be a history buff not necessarily understand it, but it's not like Mary Stuart is a biography from birth to death. It is focused on the a very short (like maybe a week) of her life, so if you don't know the build up to the conflict at the beginning of the play I guess you could be lost.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 3/31/09 at 12:06pm

Or you could read this on the show's website.

http://www.marystuartonbroadway.com/history/

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 3/31/09 at 12:06pm

I think a reading of the play beforehand would be helpful. Schiller does play havoc with history, however. Mary and Elizabeth never met, let alone have the dramatic showdown of the confrontation scene. The real Elizabeth was very hesitant about signing Mary's death order and did so after much deliberation and soul-searching. The real Mary was considerably younger than the real Elizabeth and, from my readings, does not come across as an overly sympathetic historical figure. I sense that Elizabeth got the short end of the deal in terms of p.r. -- Mary was NOT a nice person or a beleaguered victim of Elizabeth's rage or jealousy.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 3/31/09 at 1:34pm

I'm seeing it tomorrow night. Not happy if it's going to run 3 hours, but I do love that era in history (even if Broadway distorts the actual history to make it entertaining).

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 3/31/09 at 1:40pm

Hmmmm...I'm a bit of a history buff, and particularly love the Elizabethan period of England, so I think I'll be fine there.

I'm a bit worried about a 3 hour production that drags a bit though.

Thanks for the reviews!

[Scripps2]

Posted: 3/31/09 at 2:44pm

I don't recall this dragging in the West End but then I do love history and Schiller certainly rewrites it!

I do think it would help to know the conventional history of these matters before you go into the theatre. Not necessarily in detail but certainly the who's, when's and why's. This will help explain why Schiller's take on events was very controversial in its time.