tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944798.post7985533628398527700..comments2024-01-18T05:18:48.819-05:00Comments on Wombat's World <small>(a blog for writer K. A. Laity)</small>: Review: Stoppard's Rough CrossingK. A. Laityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05983280397279864583noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944798.post-70250409445467297142007-07-24T14:36:00.000-04:002007-07-24T14:36:00.000-04:00I love the word play and the challenges he offers ...I love the word play and the challenges he offers the audience. In a time when everything is spoon-fed, it's a relief to actually be asked to use some intelligence, to participate. The best theatre always involves the audience.<BR/><BR/>I will always see Michael Kitchen squinting as George Briggs in <I>Enchanted April</I>. I can imagine him to be excellent as Dvornichek. Definitely a lighter touch for the part--I can imagine him taking a much more subtle approach.C. Margery Kempehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15910282257993793334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944798.post-8637312109995121942007-07-24T08:50:00.000-04:002007-07-24T08:50:00.000-04:00I'd like to see more of Stoppard's work. I've rea...I'd like to see more of Stoppard's work. I've read most of his early plays and very much enjoyed <I>Rough Crossing</I> in London. <BR/><BR/>Which was why I was so eager to see Shakespeare and Company's production. Alas, the director seemend to completely miss so many of the points in the play. So sad.<BR/><BR/>It's interesting to me to see Michael Kitchen in so serious a role in <I>Foyle's War</I> and remember how funny, with excellent timing, he was as Dvornicheck in <I>Rough Crossing</I>. Very good actor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944798.post-17751127990478541252007-07-23T10:52:00.000-04:002007-07-23T10:52:00.000-04:00Interesting -- It's one of Stoppard's plays I have...Interesting -- It's one of Stoppard's plays I haven't read, so I knew only the bare bones of the story. I'd agree that Dvornicheck seemed far too broad for what the role required, which seemed to play very well with the rest of the audience. I envy your getting to see it in London back in 1984. I think I've never seen Stoppard in the same city twice. We saw <I>Arcadia</I> in Connecticut and <I>Hapgood</I> in Houston. Nevertheless, it was fun.C. Margery Kempehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15910282257993793334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944798.post-94072519173404352007-07-20T20:55:00.000-04:002007-07-20T20:55:00.000-04:00I went to see the same production of Rough Crossin...I went to see the same production of Rough Crossing. And I also saw the original production in London in 1984.<BR/><BR/>One of my problems with the Shakespeare and Company production is that Dvornicheck is supposed to be an extremely competent steward, except he's out of his element on a ship. That's why Turai wants him on his staff.<BR/><BR/>I find the fact that the character was directed to be <I>in</I>competent in this production irritating. <BR/><BR/>I also felt the timing of the cross talk was off and the joke about Dvornicheck staggering around <I>except</I> when the ship was in a storm was spoiled by Turai slipping all over the shuffle board court. <BR/><BR/>Plus Dvornicheck wasn't blocked to move much during the storm in the second act. My friend, who hadn't seen the original, thought they were in a storm most of the time and it just got worse in the second act.<BR/><BR/>I was disappointed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com