Yay for free tickets to see a Broadway play! Schiller’s Mary Stuart is on Broadway for the next 20 weeks.
Let me begin by reminding (hah!) those of you who are not-so-steeped in the intricacies of English history that there were *two* Marys floating around Queen Elizabeth: Mary Tudor and Mary Stuart. Mary Tudor was Elizabeth’s sister and predecessor on the English throne. Having failed in my scholarly duties – reading up on the play and the relevant history before attending – I spent much of the performance trying to figure out if Mary Stuart (Queen of Scotland!) was or was not the same person as Mary Tudor.
That nagging point clarified, I though the performance as a whole delightful. I detest musicals, so the show already had a few points in its favor just from that. I also have a thing for Cate Blanchett, so when Janet McTeer tumbled on stage with a similar voice and a bust that would have made dear Cate blush with envy, I was pretty much a goner. Harriet Walter, as Queen Liz, did an excellent job as a dour – though compelling – counterpoint to McTeer’s bewitching exuberance.
Others did not fare so well in my esteem: Leicester, played by John Benjamin Hickey (whom you would recognize were you to see him), was too polished, playing the same character as whichever of the Law & Order franchises he was on last week. But I don’t detest that character, so I’ll give him a pass. Rather, the actors who played Mortimer and Mortimer’s uncle, Paulet, were both disappointing. They were both poorly directed, and their blocking was unfocused. Even more so when you consider the precision with which some other scenes were scripted (particularly one between Liz and Leicester).
Lastly, the technical production deserves special mention: people were ooing and aahing over the lighting, which was effective without being overwhelming. Also, I’ve never seen it rain on stage before. That alone made the event worthwhile.
Oh, wait, one more thing (it’s the English professor in me): the Queens’ blog! What a well placed apostrophe!
