Continuing the utterly fascinating saga of my theatrical career - who said that? - in which my talent rose and rose without anyone actually noticing, I come to my third role, that of Lucio in Measure for Measure. Now I began this series of posts because I was provoked by an interview with a theatrical grandee who pointed out that many of Shakespeare's jokes are totally unfunny. I could have told him that having once played Launcelot Gobbo for six nights - and having 'died the death' on each of them!
However, I had now picked up 'the roar of the greasepaint and the smell of the crowd' and so I discovered the Richmond Shakespeare Society with their small but perfectly adequate - and permanent! - theatre by the side of the Thames at Twickenham. They produced several shows a year but at least two were always Shakespeare. I was 'in like Flynn'!
Lucio was a very different character from Gobbo. Not a 'clown' as such but just a very funny and outrageous character. When I heard that Measure for Measure was coming up I thought it might be a good idea to read the play - yeeeeees, quite! Anyway, I sat down in my tiny study one night, picked up the script and within a few pages I was chuckling and then in certain places I simply burst out laughing - and that was just reading it off the page! You can read a decent synopsis of the play at Wiki.
The director decided on a modern dress production. (As did I when much later I directed it - Big Mistake!) However, she wanted Lucio played as a down-market spiv-pimp type. I had trouble with this because it is obvious from the words that although as a human being he is a total ratbag, by breeding and upbringing he is a gentleman. Still, the director directs and must be obeyed and so 'I just followed orders', as it were. I also had a difficulty with the accent. She wanted me to sound like an escapee from East Enders but delivering Shakespearean text without hitting a consonant was not easy. In the end I had the bright idea of chewing gum which, if you try it, you will see that it is almost impossible to hit your consonants. After a few rehearsals with the gum, I had the sounds in my head and I could then dispense with the gum!
This was a picture taken in the dressing-room with one of my fellow actors, a lovely lady as you can see, but alas, for the life of me, I cannot remember her name. However, the main thing is that I got some laughs and after the aridity of Launcelot Gobbo I can't tell you what a bonanza that was.
My next performance was in a play which was so funny that I could hardly stop myself from 'corpsing' during performances.
Shakespeare and the East End. That I may like to hear. Kat Moon as Juliette. Ha!
Posted by: missred | Thursday, 02 July 2015 at 18:41
She might do nicely as 'Mistress Overdone'! Actually, I am deeply grateful that finally the 'Memsahib' weaned herself off 'East Enders' some years ago and I haven't watched it since. Mind you, I admired many of the actors in it - very professional.
Posted by: David Duff | Thursday, 02 July 2015 at 18:59
We are way behind you lot here. Dennis was just killed. It is a good excuse to stay in bed a little longer on a Saturday morning.
Posted by: missred | Thursday, 02 July 2015 at 20:05
I'm not sure who 'Dennis' is but who the hell needs an excuse to lie in on a Saturday morning?!
Posted by: David Duff | Thursday, 02 July 2015 at 21:27
You are the late Andrew Sachs and I claim my 10 pounds.
Posted by: Cuffleyburgers | Saturday, 04 July 2015 at 22:19
No, no, 'Cuffers', you mean Errol Flynn, surely!
Posted by: David Duff | Sunday, 05 July 2015 at 09:31