'National Theatre Live: The Beaux Strategem' (2015)
Opening thoughts: Am always up for seeing something different to Shakespeare and other theatre standards, and 'The Beaux Strategem' (unfamiliar to me before seeing the production) more than fitted the bill. Something done extremely well. This National Theatre Live production of 'The Beaux Strategem' is a perfect way to get introduced to it, it is not for everybody and it is true it is something of a mishmash and good luck trying to decipher the time period. But a wonderfully entertaining, energetic and charming one. It is very good, very engaging and very accessible, as well as well made and acted. It isn't perfect, but actually the very, very few not so great things are not that major. Not when so much is so good.
Bad things: Amy Morgan is a little bland as Cherry and could have brought out the flirtatiousness more.
Did feel that the music didn't really fit that well, the Irish folk/country style jarring with the mood and more suited for something more whimsical, and overused. Having it played when characters were arguing for example was distracting.
Good things: Can't fault the rest of the cast, which is full of great comic timing, energy and emotional connection. Richard Henders is particularly terrific and Lloyd Hutchinson is suitably genial. Pearce Quigley always has excelled in comedic roles, see his comic Shakespearean roles, and proves it here in a very funny larger than life performance. The writing is incredibly witty and funny throughout and the heart is not lost too. It is especially good in the farcical elements, that manage to not be repetitive or forced.
Even with it being a mishmash of styles and periods, the production still looks great with very elegant costuming and imposing set. The staging is always involving and tasteful, coherence never an issue. It never tries to do too much, with the theatrical element not being too overdone, while never being static, even in the more intimate moments (charmingly done).
Concluding thoughts: In summary, very good.
8/10.
