Tag Archives: William Shakespeare

Cheers to our Will, not sorry old George

By Ray Bennett Today is St. George’s Day named for the patron saint of several places  such as Aragon, Catalonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal and Russia. Oh, and England. We English, of course, don’t mark April 23 in … Continue reading

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TIFF FILM REVIEW: Roland Emmerich’s ‘Anonymous’

By Ray Bennett TORONTO – It’s curious that the lives of many creative men, e.g. Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, are so uninteresting, and in the case of William Shakespeare there is also a distinct lack of information. So you … Continue reading

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BERLIN FILM REVIEW: Ralph Fiennes’s ‘Coriolanus’

By Ray Bennett BERLIN – At a time when revolution is once again in the air around the world, Ralph Fiennes delivers a ferocious reminder of the perils in store when a warrior becomes the head of state. He directs … Continue reading

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THEATRE REVIEW: Peter Hall directs ‘Twelfth Night’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – British stage legend Peter Hall celebrates his 80th birthday by directing his movie star daughter Rebecca Hall in a lyrical and musical production of Shakespeare’s gender-bending comedy Twelfth Night that shows his touch is as … Continue reading

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THEATRE REVIEW: Derek Jacobi in ‘King Lear’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – It’s always an event when a great actor decides finally to take on “King Lear” and, at 72, stage veteran Derek Jacobi, also known for film roles and TV series such as “I, Claudius” and … Continue reading

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THEATRE REVIEW: Rory Kinnear in ‘Hamlet’ at the National

By Ray Bennett LONDON – “Now I am alone,” Hamlet says, and a key light immediately pins him down as a reminder that he never is alone. No one is ever alone in Nicholas Hytner’s riveting production of the William … Continue reading

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THEATRE REVIEW: ‘As You Like It’, ‘The Tempest’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Sam Mendes brings his Bridge Project back to the Old Vic for the second year but while the pairing of “As You Like It” and “The Tempest” makes enjoyable theater, the productions lack the vitality … Continue reading

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THEATRE REVIEW: ‘The Cherry Orchard’ and ‘The Winter’s Tale’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Simon Russell Beale leads a splendid British and American cast in William Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale” and Anton Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard” as the Bridge Project – which began at the Brooklyn Academy of Music … Continue reading

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THEATRE REVIEW: Jude Law in ‘Hamlet’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Anyone who expects a fey and fragile prince from Jude Law in the Donmar’s new West End production of “Hamlet” is in for a surprise as he renders the troubled Dane as rugged and fit, … Continue reading

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THEATRE REVIEW: ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ at the National

By Ray Bennett LONDON — Simon Russell Beale and Zoe Wanamaker (pictured) breathe new life into the roles of belated lovers Benedick and Beatrice in Nicholas Hytner’s warmly enjoyable production of “Much Ado About Nothing” at London’s National Theatre. Clearly … Continue reading

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