Photo by unknown photographer as it was posted on OG.
13th performance of Love's Labour's Lost (my 6th)
I thought this was probably the best performance of Love's Labour's Lost that I've seen...or at least the audience were!
I only bought this ticket a couple of days ago when it suddenly appeared on the RSC website and I was lucky enough to get a seat in the front couple of rows, right next to the stage right aisle that is used the most. (As it was at an angle, it meant that I could really see well too!)
I worked the morning and left at noon to get home by 1.15pm. I left home at 2.00pm and, despite a couple of broken down vehicles and accidents where the traffic went slow on the M25, I got to my motel on the M40 at exacactly 5.00pm. I had a late lunch and left at 6.15pm. I managed to park in my usual spot and walked to the theatre.
Tonight's performance lasted about 5 minutes longer than normal as they had to keep waiting for everybody to finish laughing and clapping! Right from when DT's head hit the stage, people were laughing and during his first speech, during one of the "I hope is not enrolled there" lines David Tennant had to pause between "enrolled" and "there" for about 10 seconds while the laughter subsided!
From where I was sitting I could see David Tennant standing at the back of the aisle waiting for his cue to go on before his "What's the name of the lady in the cap" speech.
The person DT chose for the folded arms part immediately unfolded them tonight! When he went onto the codpiece part the guy actually looked down into his lap and DT made a face as though it was impressive!
David's shirt was open a long way tonight by the end of the first act!
I really like the long scene with the tree and the 4 of them finding out that they've all betrayed their oaths. Today I could see DT's facial expressions in the tree really well.
As Berowne said his "I who am honest!" line, even though I've heard it loads of times, I really roared with laughter and it occurred to me that I didn't think I'd ever be laughing that much at a Shakespeare line!
The Russians part was really funny again. Dumaine and Longville's voices are hilarious, especially Longville as he sounds far more Pakistani than Russian!
There was a really funny bit when Costard came out as Great Pomphey as he obviously said something wrong (I don't know his speech that well) so there was a gap before he said something else and then they all laughed (David Tennant and Tom Davey especially roared with laughter!).
Afterwards I went to the backstage door and it was very crowded but thankfully there was no pushing and they were better controlled than the first night. I stood where I usually do as I like watching and listening but unfortunately the people around me kept talking amongst themselves so I could hardly hear what was being said. When David did come to my end I heard him wish someone a happy birthday and then take the time to talk to a child and asked them their name and if they were being squashed! It was really sweet to see!
He came out VERY quickly tonight! Probably within 4 minutes of leaving the stage but I did hear that apparently they clean their clothes every night after the performance (sometimes the dressers are there until 2.00am!) so I guess he just dumps the clothes and gets changed. (I was also told that apparently the LLL costumes went over budget so most of the non-speakers wear clothes from the RSC archives.)
I walked back to my car and it was nice just driving down the motorway a short distance to my hotel.
I only bought this ticket a couple of days ago when it suddenly appeared on the RSC website and I was lucky enough to get a seat in the front couple of rows, right next to the stage right aisle that is used the most. (As it was at an angle, it meant that I could really see well too!)
I worked the morning and left at noon to get home by 1.15pm. I left home at 2.00pm and, despite a couple of broken down vehicles and accidents where the traffic went slow on the M25, I got to my motel on the M40 at exacactly 5.00pm. I had a late lunch and left at 6.15pm. I managed to park in my usual spot and walked to the theatre.
Tonight's performance lasted about 5 minutes longer than normal as they had to keep waiting for everybody to finish laughing and clapping! Right from when DT's head hit the stage, people were laughing and during his first speech, during one of the "I hope is not enrolled there" lines David Tennant had to pause between "enrolled" and "there" for about 10 seconds while the laughter subsided!
From where I was sitting I could see David Tennant standing at the back of the aisle waiting for his cue to go on before his "What's the name of the lady in the cap" speech.
The person DT chose for the folded arms part immediately unfolded them tonight! When he went onto the codpiece part the guy actually looked down into his lap and DT made a face as though it was impressive!
David's shirt was open a long way tonight by the end of the first act!
I really like the long scene with the tree and the 4 of them finding out that they've all betrayed their oaths. Today I could see DT's facial expressions in the tree really well.
As Berowne said his "I who am honest!" line, even though I've heard it loads of times, I really roared with laughter and it occurred to me that I didn't think I'd ever be laughing that much at a Shakespeare line!
The Russians part was really funny again. Dumaine and Longville's voices are hilarious, especially Longville as he sounds far more Pakistani than Russian!
There was a really funny bit when Costard came out as Great Pomphey as he obviously said something wrong (I don't know his speech that well) so there was a gap before he said something else and then they all laughed (David Tennant and Tom Davey especially roared with laughter!).
Afterwards I went to the backstage door and it was very crowded but thankfully there was no pushing and they were better controlled than the first night. I stood where I usually do as I like watching and listening but unfortunately the people around me kept talking amongst themselves so I could hardly hear what was being said. When David did come to my end I heard him wish someone a happy birthday and then take the time to talk to a child and asked them their name and if they were being squashed! It was really sweet to see!
He came out VERY quickly tonight! Probably within 4 minutes of leaving the stage but I did hear that apparently they clean their clothes every night after the performance (sometimes the dressers are there until 2.00am!) so I guess he just dumps the clothes and gets changed. (I was also told that apparently the LLL costumes went over budget so most of the non-speakers wear clothes from the RSC archives.)
I walked back to my car and it was nice just driving down the motorway a short distance to my hotel.
It's a shame that they're already halfway through the run of this play!
