Shakespeare Observed

In this lively study of both modern film and stage productions of Shakespeare, Samuel Crowl provides fascinating insights into the ways in which these productions have been influenced by one another as well as by contemporary developments in critical approaches to Shakespeares plays. Crowls study demonstrates the surprising resonances between Roman Polanskis 1971 film of Macbeth and Adrian Nobles heralded recent production of the play for The Royal Shakespeare Company; argues that Orson Welless films of Othello and Cabins at Midnight are not only brilliant remaining of Shakespeare in another art form but make a powerful contribution to our contemporary understanding of performance as interpretation; and chronicles the impact of Peter Halls creation of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1960 on performance approaches to Shakespeare in the past thirty years. Shakespeare Observed provides full interpretative readings of key recent Shakespeare productions in England and includes an intimate behind-the-scenes glimpse into the rehearsal process which produced Ron Danielss emotionally charged version of Romeo and Juliet for the RSC in 1980. The final chapter uses Kenneth Branaghs highly successful film of Henry V as a summary example of the trends and influences Crowls study traces, seeing the film as gathering its interpretative energies from both Oliviers famous film version of the play and Adrian Nobles stage production featuring Branagh as the king. Written in a style which places a premium on capturing the vivid and often dazzling moments of stage and film performances of Shakespeare, Crowls study will be of interest to the avid film and theatergoer as well as to the scholar and student. Shakespeare Observed joins a growing list of recent critical works which have significantly expanded and redefined the boundaries of Shakespeare studies in our time.