The weather certainly did NOT cooperate last Friday evening, but going to see Cymbeline in the courtyard of the Prangins Château was still a lot of fun. It rained through the first two acts, but the company organizing the play come prepared for the weather and all the spectators were outfitted with these horrible but useful orange ponchos. We must have looked an odd sight from the stage.
Things did get off to a bit of a shaky start. The sound of the rain on my poncho hood as well as any movement in the crowd (all that shifting plastic) made it very difficult to hear the actors in the beginning. And unfortunately, although we did bring cushions, the rows of plastic chairs were packed together like sardines and as I’ve now hit the beginning of my seventh month of pregnancy, to say I wasn’t comfortable is a bit of an understatement. I felt very sorry for the group of British octogenarians behind me as I’m quite sure all my rustling and fidgeting made it very difficult for them.
But the weather pretty well cleared up by the time Posthumous and Iachimo were making their bet over Imogen’s chastity and the rest of the play unfolded under clear skies and the evening songs of the birds in the nearby park.
Cymbeline is categorized as a Romance, which I take to mean only that it has a healthy serving of tragic potential, but a happy ending and plenty of bawdy humor. I recognized some of the same plot devices and story you see in Romeo and Juliet (the two lovers each think the other is dead), Much Ado About Nothing (a potion that makes you look dead, when you are really not), Othello (man tricked to believe his wife has been unfaithful, tries to have her killed) and The Winter’s Tale (shepherd rearing noble children in secret). It is essentially a combination of love story and mixed-up heritage.
The theatre company presenting Cymbeline at Prangins is very small and so many of the actors were playing multiple parts (which I think is how Shakespeare was originally performed, no?). There were a few instances where this amplified the comedy, since, for example, the actor playing Posthumous was also playing Cloten (his rival), so any jokes comparing the two were that much stronger.
The play wraps-up a bit messily (and very quickly) so I don’t believe Cymbeline will ever become one my favorites, but it was well worth the rain and the uncomfortable seating. And I definitely look forward to see what play they will be performing next summer.
9 responses so far ↓
Colleen // June 22, 2009 at 6:26 pm |
Hey, congratulations on your soon to arrive baby!
Outdoor productions of Shakespeare have never been my favourite thing; either the weather doesn’t cooperate or the actors are yelling too much because they don’t know how properly to project their voices.
And yes, English Renaissance plays were originally performed with a small cast and the actors playing multiple parts.
CB James // June 22, 2009 at 7:08 pm |
I also avoid outdoor productions as much as possible, even here in California where it so seldom rains. We have the opposite problem–sitting out in the open under the hot sun.
But, it does sound like you had fun, which is the main thing.
adevotedreader // June 23, 2009 at 6:01 am |
It sounds like you enjoyed yourself, despite the rain and uncomfortable seating.
Congratulations on being pregnant by the way!
verbivore // June 23, 2009 at 8:12 am |
Colleen – we were very fortunate in the sense that the actors were all wonderful and did a remarkable job of making themselves heard above the rain and the poncho rustling, but I can see it’s best to be wary of outdoor Shakespeare!
CB – Yes, it was fun. And people were picnicking in the rain before the play so I think everyone made the most of it.
Devoted Reader – Thank you!
litlove // June 23, 2009 at 9:36 am |
Ah and next year you will have a -what? – a 10-month old baby to leave at home/take with you?! I hadn’t realised your pregnancy was so advanced – I can imagine how uncomfortable you were! Still, it sounds like a real experience, and I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Dorothy W. // June 24, 2009 at 2:04 am |
I’m glad the weather cleared out eventually! It sounds like a fun evening, all in all. I’m glad the production was a good one.
ds // June 24, 2009 at 8:44 am |
My thoughts are along the same lines as litlove’s. It must have been quite uncomfortable. All the same, I cannot get the image of all of those orange ponchos out of my head–that is priceless!
I’m glad it was worth the effort, however.
verbivore // June 24, 2009 at 10:30 am |
Litlove – Wow, yes…a 9 month old baby! I suppose I’ll have enough time to get the babysitting sorted out until then
Dorothy – Thanks, it was fun. I really look forward to next year and hope the sun shines.
DS – It was but I’m getting used to be uncomfortable all the time these days
One of the actors told us we looked like an ocean of orange juice – quite funny.
Stefanie // June 24, 2009 at 6:09 pm |
Glad the weatehr cleared up and you enjoyed the evening. Sounds like a nice evening.