Love a Good Play: Ellen Terry with Eileen Atkins
Jan 31, 2016, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
The last time I saw a one-handed play was wonderful Kevin Spacey in Clarence Darrow. I gave that 6/5.
Eileen Atkin’s leaves that in the shade. No props, no prompts. She’s extraordinary.
This is a masterclass from an actress in full command of her craft and her audience.
Dame Ellen Terry was a late 19th century stage actress who became THE leading Shakespearean actress of her day (she died in 1928). She was also famous for giving lectures on Shakespeare and here we are lucky enough to receive her lecture on Shakespeare’s women — from the feisty Beatrice, Rosalind and Portia, through the Merry Wives of Windsor to Viola, to her brave Juliet, innocent Desdemona, shy Cordelia and fragile Ophelia.
IT. IS. BRILLIANT.
Each woman is intelligently analysed and a pertinent speech to prove her point is beautifully delivered. Her Beatrice took me back to Zoe Wannamaker’s performance at the NT in 2007 — the first time Shakespeare ever made real sense to me; of Rosalie Craig’s Rosalind from last year’s As You Like It at the NT, Patsy Ferran’s Portia in The Merchant of Venice at the RSC in July. Her Juliet has me very much looking forward to R&J in spring. Lily James had better do it justice.
It was truly joyous to remember these performances having seen them so recently. It gave me many more perspectives to ponder on in regard to Shakespeare’s treatement of women.
Musing on the way home I had an idea: Eileen Atkins should play Prospero. Helen Mirren did it in an ill-fated film but the idea is sound. With a new Artistic Director arriving at the Globe in May who’s already talking of a female Cymbeline surely this HAS to be done.
7/5 Possibly the most skillful and powerful thing I’ve ever seen.
