Shakespeare in love, a 1998 film, was directed by John Madden and starred by Joseph Fiennes and Gwyneth Paltrow. It was one of the most successful English films of all times. The movie is placed in 1593, a period in which William Shakespeare was suffering from writer's block. It is a story about true love and love about theatre, so bringing it on the stage seemed like a natural fit.
Last year, it was the 450th anniversary of the birth of the English author, so it was the perfect moment to perform this adaptation. The chosen theatre to bring Shakespeare back to the West End was the Noël Coward. This stage was only about one mile away from where the playwright worked so, probably, he walked pass this theatre many times in his life to get to the Globe Theatre, in Southbank.
The premier was the 23rd of July of 2014 and today, 18th of April, the curtain dropped for the last time. The play was really fun, from the beginning to the end, with some romance, tears and love. And all of this is possible thank to the work of one of the largest companies ever seen on a play on the West End with 30 performers and a dog.
It is worth mentioning the amazing work of the band of musicians. During the whole play they made you feel like you were in a Renaissance ball. Orlando James did fabulous performances showing us a virile, passionate and hilarious William Shakespeare. Eve Ponsonby, in the other hand, played a sexy and enchanting Viola de Lesseps and a professional, enthusiastic and shy Tomas Kent.
Suzanne Burden casted a commanding Queen Elizabeth, Joy Richardson a humorous and protective Nurse and Edward Franklin performed a delightful Marlowe, William's best friend.
The obsession for turning movies into plays is, in this case, fully justified. A perfect play and a immaculate cast to make a celebration of the theatre. It is, summarising, a lovely, entertaining and moving show.
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