tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post1183867666027820040..comments2024-03-23T12:38:46.260+00:00Comments on The History Girls: The Hollow Crown by Mary HoffmanMary Hoffmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241989732624913706noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-66195251313626917492012-08-24T13:18:42.404+01:002012-08-24T13:18:42.404+01:00Coming in very late on this - but I watched devote...Coming in very late on this - but I watched devotedly and was furious when the Wimbledon men's doubles threatened to cancel 4 part 1. Luckily, it was merely postponed for an hour.<br /><br />Shakespeare used historical facts exactly as he wanted - look what he did to poor Richard III! (Which I've just seen as an Original Practices production at The Globe - brilliant.) But you don't watch or listen to Shakespeare to learn history, it's the theatrical experience. I adore all the plays I've read and seen - and I'm not at the end yet - and I really loved The Hollow Crown.Lesley Cookmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10699182779296799170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-77093993612472933672012-08-01T18:47:37.464+01:002012-08-01T18:47:37.464+01:00I really enjoyed them. I am fairly familiar with t...I really enjoyed them. I am fairly familiar with the 3 'Henry' plays, and I saw the Glonbe's touring production on Henry V very recently.<br /><br />I was surprised at the murder of the boys being cut, as the killing of the french prisoners makes a lot less sense without it.<br /><br />I found Falstaff rather irritating, but then I always find him a bit annoying.<br /><br />I did have one or two minor irritations - since the battle scenes were being done so 'realistically' it bugged me a bit that Henry and his mates didn't bother with their helmets (Tom Hiddleston looks very nice on his white charger, but even so..) <br /><br />Over all, I thought they productions were a triumph. The wodners of iPlayer meant I got to watch them all more than once, and I have pre-ordered the boxed set.Marjoriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09234975039675044712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-70126389640783979362012-08-01T17:57:38.534+01:002012-08-01T17:57:38.534+01:00Watching The Hollow Crown made me realise what is ...Watching The Hollow Crown made me realise what is probably a sublimely obvious point: that the better you know a Shakespeare play, the more you enjoy it. I know Hamlet, for instance, very well, and much of the pleasure of watching a new performance is in greeting favourite lines - and in seeing how they interpret it. But I don't know the histories at all, and so I struggled with these: it was difficult to work out who was who and what was going on - so despite the stellar quality of the acting, I'm ashamed to admit that I dozed off in the first two. Think I was out when the third one was on.<br /><br />Reassuring to know that Shakespeare tinkered with the facts for the sake of a good story...Sue Purkisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09084528571944803477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-43814521454636139722012-08-01T17:32:06.607+01:002012-08-01T17:32:06.607+01:00I have no great knowledge of Plantaganet kings and...I have no great knowledge of Plantaganet kings and, like Caroline, I'm not familiar with these plays (though I'd seen Henry V on film years ago). Therefore I didn't have any problems with either Shakespeare's or the directors' changes. I felt the productions were aimed at the average viewer, and as an average viewer I loved the plays, the suddenly familiar speeches, the glorious scenery and castles - and yes, Tom Hiddleston! Not surprised by low viewing figures since it was the middle of summer when people are often away. We had to miss the second one. I was bored by all the Falstaff goings-on in Henry IV Part 2, but absolutely riveted by the dramatic bits. And agreed with Caroline about the indistinct diction. Shakespeare is not difficult to understand but you do need to HEAR it!Ann Turnbullhttp://www.annturnbull.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-39209637583342979012012-08-01T15:27:00.645+01:002012-08-01T15:27:00.645+01:00I didn't grow up breathing an atmosphere of Sh...I didn't grow up breathing an atmosphere of Shakespeare -- as many of you did -- and I'm not familiar with this particular cycle. So for me this was my first viewing of each of these plays.<br /><br />I thought the acting and sets were superb, but I really had trouble understanding some of the dialogue. This was highlighted by one of the post-play documentaries which showed scenes from Henry IV as played at the Globe, where every word was clearly enunciated. <br /><br /> Julie Walters was one of the worst offenders! I don't know if it was her or bad ADR but I had to keep asking Richard "What did they say?". Richard even had to repeat a line which should have been utterly clear, Hotspur's exultant: "Die merrily!"<br /><br />Highlights for me were the sets and settings of Richard II & Henry IV part 1; Ben Wishaw, Jeremy Irons, and yes, the utterly mesmerising Tom Hiddleston. <br /><br />My least fave bits were Falstaff and his band of comic-relief cronies, though there were some poignant moments. <br /><br />The film-makers took risks. Some paid off, some didn't. But one thing is certain... Nobody does Shakespeare better than you Brits and the beeb! :-)Caroline Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07249424644829463560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-75698580902229815702012-08-01T13:28:55.172+01:002012-08-01T13:28:55.172+01:00At least you had the option of seeing it on TV. I ...At least you had the option of seeing it on TV. I too will wait for the DVD. Shakespeare was, I think, first and foremost a poet. If it worked better having Hotspur and Hal the same age, that's what he was going to do. And considering the liberties taken with his plays anyway, why shouldn't he take some of his own, if it made for a better play? Someone whose name I forget gave King Lear a happy ending. Lines were added. In more recent times, directors have, as you say, played around with the shows. I recently saw a production of Lear with a woman playing the role, a top actress too old to play most of Shakespeare's women. I was surprised at how comfortable I was with it once it began.Sue Bursztynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362273418897882971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-41652403742966417692012-08-01T12:23:48.835+01:002012-08-01T12:23:48.835+01:00I too will wait for the boxed set. Very interestin...I too will wait for the boxed set. Very interesting post!adelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15826710558292792068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-50929265896361820282012-08-01T12:15:35.023+01:002012-08-01T12:15:35.023+01:00I wish I'd seen more of them - for various soc...I wish I'd seen more of them - for various social reasons - guests & so on - we only got to see Henry IV part 2,but your post has reminded me to look out for the dvd!Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-23330758974358611802012-08-01T11:26:50.842+01:002012-08-01T11:26:50.842+01:00I'm sure the brilliant Hollow Crown versions w...I'm sure the brilliant Hollow Crown versions will stand the test of time. Much of the acting was spine-tinglingly good (Patrick Stewart's John of Gaunt, for example) – and never, on a long run on the stage, could they have afforded to hire such a stellar cast. For me, the cinematography added so much, and I loved seeing these familiar scenes acted in the open air, by the seashore, in castles... I think the BBC are to be congratulated for investing in something of lasting value rather than playing the usual viewing figures game.Linda B-Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01599899073420595717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-38860275129100630042012-08-01T10:36:55.138+01:002012-08-01T10:36:55.138+01:00Surely *everyone* has a crush on Tom Hiddleston!Surely *everyone* has a crush on Tom Hiddleston!Juliettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00203399623895589924noreply@blogger.com