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theatrefannz
Reviews
Hamlet (1970)
Ian McKellen's Hamlet
I was taken to see this Hamlet while at school and then watched Hamlet, Richard 11 (bits available on youtube) and Edward 11 (available on DVD) on TV. I thought Ian McKellen's Hamlet was very romantic,though according to The Independent newspaper in The Bard and Me-2008-'not the seven ages of man (Ian McKellen's Hamlet....wasn't filmed)-so perhaps it was a mirage. Why aren't Hamlet and Richard 11 available on DVD? Well its a miracle they weren't wiped-3 of Mckellen's plays of the month were-perhaps nobody at the BBC knows who Ian McKellen is?-perhaps he isn't famous enough for them? I also though Susan Fleetwood great as Ophelia-she was very vulnerable-as she died aged 50 and this is this classical actress' only filmed Shakespeare perhaps her famous brother Mick might have better powers of persuasion on BBC or whoever keeps these TV programmes back to finally let us see it again.
Bedroom Farce (1980)
wonderful comedy
As with other TV programmes I have known and loved no one has seen fit to either repeat or bring them out commercially. I contacted the National Theatre over a year ago to suggest that Bedroom Farce (along with The Double Dealer-starring wonderful Dorothy Tutin) would make money if released on DVD. At that time it was obvious they had no idea what I was talking about. Recently though when the National at 50 was televised Penelope Wilton and Nicholas le Prevost played the pilchard/sardine scene-not a patch on Joan Hickson and Michael Denison who were a great success on the London and American stage. Which is why Bedroom Farce was televised and shown in 1980-but has not been seen since.
The Blue Dress (1983)
William Trevor drama
As there is only a limited cast list for The Blue Dress I thought it was interesting that former husband and wife Virginia McKenna and Denholm Elliott make their only appearance together. From what I can remember- 30 years ago-this was an excellent version of a wonderful William Trevor short story. When the B.F.I or whoever get round to releasing his TV work this should be included.
I first saw William Trevor drama Mrs Ackland's Ghosts in 1975 when I was a teenager and I started to read his novels and stories. I also started to watch any of the adaptations of his work -Matilda's England is another forgotten classic with one of the last performances by Celia Johnson. William Trevor TV dramas always attracted the best actors who appeared in his work several times and The Blue Dress is no exception