April 08, 2005

Denzel and the Bard

From Terry Teachout's review of a new production of Julius Caesar starring Denzel Washington:

According to the posters, Denzel Washington is the star of “Julius Caesar,” which opened Sunday at the Belasco Theatre. The fine young ladies in the balcony signified agreement by squealing when he made his entrance in a sharp-looking business suit, this being a modern-dress version of Shakespeare’s classic tale of dirty work in ancient Rome. Don’t let appearances fool you, though: The real star of this mostly horrible show is Colm Feore, who is high-strung and lustrously precise as Cassius. Next to him, Mr. Washington comes off like a well-meaning amateur, standing stiff as a weathervane and gabbling his way through Brutus’ lines. Sometimes he snaps into focus, but for the most part he stalks haplessly through Daniel Sullivan’s hopelessly confused updating, which is set in some unknown country—perhaps the one where modern-dress Shakespeare productions go to die….

Heh. This doesn't surprise me at all - I thought the same thing of Washington's performance as Don Pedro in Branagh's Much Ado About Nothing. (Indeed, I thought all of the Americans in the cast, up to and including Michael Keaton, were completely outclassed by their Brit counterparts.)

I'm not suggesting for an instant that Denzel Washington isn't a good actor. He is. But it would appear he's no Shakesperian.

Posted by Robert at April 8, 2005 12:50 PM
Comments

With all due respect, my dear Robbo, Colm Feore steals every scene he's in. He's one of the most underappreciated actors of our day. I liken him to a fierce Olivier. He's simply superb. So, I don't think you should write Denzel off just yet.

Posted by: Kathy at April 8, 2005 01:34 PM

My impression of Terry's take is that Feore is as good as you say, but that Washington's performance was rather wooden in its own right. As I say, this would be in keeping with my impression of him in Much Ado.

Again, I don't mean to dismiss Denzel as an actor. But being a Hollywood actor and being a Shakesperian are two very different things and it has always been my impression that there are very, very few Hollywood actors, even among the best, who can successfully make the transition.

Posted by: Robert the LB at April 8, 2005 01:53 PM


Emma Thompson -- thinking man's strumpet or bride of Mr. Ed?

There is something sexy in the way she recites Shakespeare.

Posted by: The Colossus at April 8, 2005 01:57 PM

Mmmmmm....Emma....mmmmmmm.....

And BTW, not that she is, but just what the hell is wrong with horse-faced women? I've always thought they were extremely attractive.

But that's just me, Mr. Ed.

Posted by: Robert the LB at April 8, 2005 02:36 PM

then you really oughtta love george eliot.
henry james once said that she looked like an intelligent horse. (told you he was funny.)
(but so kindly that he instantly added that she was
so charming that he quite fell in love with her.)
now THERE's a couple!

Posted by: mom at April 8, 2005 03:57 PM
Post a comment









Remember personal info?