16th performance of Love's Labour's Lost (my 8th)
Photo by unknown photographer of DT at stage door tonight (posted by slittle on OG)
After a nice late lunch / early dinner, it was time to head back to the theatre to see David Tennant in Love's Labour's Lost this time! I've decided that I do prefer seeing Hamlet and then Love's Labour's Lost rather than the other way around, although the RSC are performing them more often with LLL followed by Hamlet.My seat tonight was in the stalls and was by the aisle on stage left that they use to enter and exit. The thing that struck me was how long actors stay in character as they all did until they were totally out of sight of the audience. I also didn't realise that before they enter the stage proper, Costard and Jaquentte are arguing about whether or not to give Berowne's letter to the King and the others. Costard doesn't want them to hand over the letter.
As I'm seeing 6 performances this week, these will all be quick notes.
David Tennant's expressions in the first scene especially are just amazing, especially when he has his "just woken up" look!
Berowne didn't get the hat on the branch tonight.
I couldn't see the folded arms person today but from all the laughing, I would guess that they unfolded their arms quite quickly!
From my seat I could hear some things as the actors were waking along the outer part of the theatre to enter the stage. For example all the French initially entered at my aisle and I could hear all the dresses swishing behind me! Also Longaville dropped some of his papers I think from what I could hear.
I just love the way the "I who am honest!" line is delivered! Even though I know it, I still laugh a lot at that line and at Edward Bennett's facial expressions in that part. He plays the King a lot better than he plays Laureates in Hamlet I think.
After the interval they did the two dances and sang the song too.
It was interesting to see David Tennant turn around from running off stage to go back for the second bow and, as he always does for LLL, go to the back of the stage for that bow. He even stood aside waiting for the other actors to come on stage (from backstage) before he took his place on stage. You wouldn't get many main actors doing that.
The more I see Loves Labours Lost the more I enjoy it. Whereas with Hamlet I loved it right from the start, this play has had to grow on me gradually but it has (although the Amardo scenes still bore me at times). I think it's a shame that they're only doing 24 performances of the production.
Afterwards I went to the stage door and David Tennant came out for a couple of minutes to sign things. It's really lovely watching him interacting with the people there although it's disappointing that most of the people on the barrier itself didn't actually see the performance but just come along for the signing. We've spoken about that before that it's a shame that they don't restrict it so that only people with tickets can get there (it is on RSC property after all) but I guess that would take too much to arrange. I didn't take any photos tonight as I didn't think I'd surpass the one I took last Saturday!
I was totally wired for the two and a half hour drive home last night after a really great day!
Next performance for me: Hamlet on Monday (27th)
