Shakespeare's The Tempest - Play (Out on DVD)

Couldn't get to see Colin in The Tempest live last year so looking forward to seeing the DVD which arrived today.

The Tempest arrived yesterday! I have watched it twice already .... and it is a long play. I'm so glad it is subtitled or I would be lost in Shakespeare's language. It is beautifully done. One can see how exciting it must have been to be a "groundling" at The Globe. I was excited from the first moment. The music is delightful, and somber, and sweet ... backing up the scenes wonderfully. It is colorful and exuberant, and I really liked it. All the actors are excellent. Roger Allam is a tour-de-force as Prospero.

There is a gift for us ! Colin has a solo during the last act. His voice is sweet. The song is poignant and melancholy. It is quite short ... but so worth watching again and again.

I have stopped the disc several times to see where Ariel is coming from. He can be sitting silent, or swinging, or running up the stairs. His entrance is as flying in from above ... though we cannot see from where. Those who have seen the play at The Globe and have now also seen the dvd ... have very good things to say. However, there are some who are disappointed that the camera does not follow Ariel's every movement ... as the live audience was able to do. Of course, this is not Ariel's play ... some fans have a hard time believing it is okay to divert the camera from him at any time. (wink)

With the dvd, however, we can savor these moments over and over again. There is a particular moment in the last act, at the ending of Ariel's song, where it seemed to me that Ariel movingly displayed that brief moment of looking forward to his freedom while understanding that this would mean separation from Prospero. It was an almost imperceptible change to that malleable face which spoke more than words, lasted only an instant, and spoke again to the talent we witness.

I hope you enjoy it! Tell us what you think. We love discussions here. :)

I'm happy that you were able to finally see it. It was terribly good. I was a groundling at the Globe and I loved all the interactions they did with the crowd (especially Caliban - he was just so hilarious, and of course Ariel, but that's a given). There are certainly a lot of things that could be missed out on the DVD; you could only get the full experience live. But it is still very good, nonetheless.

Have you heard that his performance is not even at his best? He was hospitalised the day after the last recording. Sometimes, giving acting over 100% just takes its toll on his body, doesn't it (he's ill a lot)? He does it to the detriment of his health.

What other Shakespeare roles would you like him to take on? David Tennant has hinted wanting to pass over the Richard III mantle to Colin but he may still be too young. I'm sure he'd do a terrific job with it though. Personally, I'd love to see him in "A Midsummer Night's Dream". And hopefully "Hamlet" later on.

If they were ever going to make "The Book of Mormon" into a film musical, I think he'd be perfect for it too.

I can only imagine how wonderful it must have been to see it live … to be in the historic Globe Theatre with such an enthusiastic crowd. I must say, even though it’s only the dvd, I found Caliban’s performance quite wonderful. It was an unhappy time for me that I could not be there myself. However, incomplete or not, I must be grateful for the filming of these exceptional performances.

I did know of Colin’s illness … there was great sadness in me that he was so ill. I found out about it when I was at work, and it unsettled the rest of my day. He’s become like a good friend, and I felt it deeply. But I agree with you that there is no end to his commitment to his cast-mates, his fans, and his craft. He was ill at the end of Merlin … with a raw throat and some respiratory distress. Colin's problem probably started this way ... but as he continued to perform, the condition worsened and evolved into a more virulent version of the infection, and that is when it becomes an emergency medical condition requiring hospitalization. (This was my concern ... that he pushed on so as not to disappoint his cast-mates and fans ... sometimes to his own detriment.) He was still putting stress on his throat, as well as the very acrobatic role which required such physical effort. Fans who saw those performances said he looked tired and some of the acrobatics were subdued. However, they also say he was still brilliant and energetic and gave his all, including remaining to sign autographs after most performances. He missed a few performances. (Perhaps because he tried to rest up to be ready for the dvd filming on the 14th.) So, he did come back for the dvd filming. Then he was out again, and from what I understand, did not return, even for the final performances, something he would not have wished for. He was hospitalized on September 20th.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” would be wonderful. Have you seen the YouTube video of his reading of Shakespeare's Prince Hal Henry? If not, you must! There he is, no make-up, no background, no enhancements … just Colin and the camera … and all the emotion that wells up in him is testament to his great skill and his ability to bring us into Prince Hal’s anger, pain, and suffering.

Colin Morgan Reading for Prince Hal Henry IV Part I Act III Sc 2 Take 3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXFNW6OgYiI

I have stopped the disc several times to see where Ariel is coming from. He can be sitting silent, or swinging, or running up the stairs. His entrance is as flying in from above ... though we cannot see from where. Those who have seen the play at The Globe and have now also seen the dvd ... have very good things to say. However, there are some who are disappointed that the camera does not follow Ariel's every movement ... as the live audience was able to do. Of course, this is not Ariel's play ... some fans have a hard time believing it is okay to divert the camera from him at any time. (wink)


@ suntse
Colin enters the stage for the first time trough the door on the right side (stage left). He comes in running, jumping of the "rock" that is right at the column and lands behind where Prospero is standing.
I saw the play three times last year and enjoyed it every time.
But I do have to agree with some of the People who are disappointed with the way the Dvd was edited. Not because there is not enough Colin, but because on several scenes you can´t see the entire stage (as you would were you in the audience) and therefore you do actually miss stuff that is going on.
For example: the first time Ferdinand, Miranda and Prospero meet. Ferdinand draws his sword and point it at Prospero. Prospero uses his magic to stop him with not making his sword move anymore. (Sorry, I don´t know an exact word for it, English is my second language) Now, while Prospero is talking, Ferdinand tries very hard and in a funny way to get his sword move. But that is what you can´t see because the camera has a close up on Prospero the whole time. You only hear people laughing. It´s such a funny scene but you can´t really enjoy it while watching the DVD. I can because I saw it live and remember what happend.
Another one: Trinculo enters the stage through the yard, starts making fun with the audience and mentions he is wet from the swimming. Then he squeezes his costume on a particular place (you know what I mean) and you see water coming out of it. Everyone laughs. But it is not shown that he squeezes it over the head of the person standing in the front row. That one just got wet.

I liked it so much when the actors interacted with the audience, or reacted to noises coming from them (like a crying baby, so funny how Caliban reacted), aswell as to the planes flying over London and causing noise that sometimes it was hard to hear the actors speaking).
A bit less close ups on the Dvd, a bit more zooming out to the entire stage would have been great. And yes, you would have seen Colin doing some things and entering/leaving in a specific way which you can´t.
But I do remember them and fit them in every time I watch the DVD so I´m not missing things (somehow) =)


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DO WHAT YOU WANT BUT HARM NO ONE

@ netti_b
Thank you so much for filling in some of the blanks. Your descriptions are a grand addition. Yes, I laughed quite a lot when Trinculo squeezed his costume ... even more hilarious to know an audience member was involved. What a fun way to get wet! Something to remember always.

Yes, I was sorely disappointed that going to London was impossible for me. You are so kind to help me understand the whole picture. If there are other scenes you wish to describe, I would be looking forward to hearing about them.

Thanks, again,
suntse

The energy in The Globe was truly magical. And the interactions with the actors made it so surreal. Whenever Caliban stared up, looking baffled at planes that were flying over, it was so hilarious. I'm sorry you weren't able to go. I hope you get the chance to one day go to one of his performances. I'm sure he will do more theatre.

He does give so much into his performances to the detriment of his health sometimes. You know who does this too? Daniel Day-Lewis. It's funny how similar they are, in how much they give of themselves for roles and performances.

Either "A Midsummer Night's Dream" or "Macbeth". I think he's ready for Shakespeare's most intense play.

I've seen that video before. :) He is quite good, isn't he? It's amazing that he's been acting since he was 5 years old. I wish we were fortunate enough to have witnessed his acting progression through the years. I'm sure his mum has all the videos though. Maybe one day there will be a documentary about him and his early acting years.