CYMBELINE at the Delacorte

wonkit
#1CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 7/23/15 at 10:39pm

Anyone attend the first performance tonight? How was it?

After Eight
#2CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 7/24/15 at 9:22am

It was in pretty good shape for a first preview. The actors are not quite at the top of their game --- some are really over the top of it. There was some doubling of roles, not always advantageously. Hamish Linklater's wig fell off during a duel scene. The duel stopped so he could pick it up and replace it on his head. Lily Rabe was quite good. Tom Kitt has provided some nice music. Overall, I'd say it was ok.


Running time: 3:15, one intermission.


 

neonlightsxo
#3CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 7/24/15 at 9:26am

A rave!

neonlightsxo
#4CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 7/24/15 at 9:26am

A rave!

wonkit
#5CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 7/24/15 at 10:23am

aftereight - I thought the doubling of Kate Burton's roles was a brilliant idea. Is that one that didn't work yet? 

wonkit
#6CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 7/25/15 at 12:20pm

Has anyone been in the stage seats for this? Uncomfortable? Miss too much? I am so intrigued, since I loved being in the stage seats at the Globe productions of 12N and RICHARD III.

wonkit
#7CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 7/26/15 at 12:37pm

Me, again. It is like talking to myself. Three performances and there seems to be little reaction to this production. What's up?

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NYC4Life
#8CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 7/26/15 at 1:10pm

I saw it last night and had a wonderful time. I see a lot of Shakespeare every singe year but I have to admit that I had never seen a production of Cymbeline. I was wrapped up in hearing the text out loud for the first time so my excitement was on a level ten. The highlights for me were Lily Rabe. She is just always so lovely and intoxicating to me. Hamish Linklater was fun and he's very good at clowning. He's a likable actor. The doubling of the roles was an excellent touch. Especially Kate Burton. it all seemed very seamless. The entire cast seems to be having a great time with each other and with the production. There is one moment I could have done without and that was (SPOILER) Raul Esparza belting out a show stopping number as Iachimo. He sounded great and the audience really seemed to dig it but it just felt odd for me. His entire performance was my least favorite. He was doing everything he was suppose to but I just didn't buy it.

There was also a moment during Lily Rabe's beautiful and emotional speech at the end of act one that a Raccoon decided to ender stage left and of course people in the audience began to whisper and giggle. It was an unfortunate moment for it to happen.

Overall I recommend it. Daniel Sullivan knows what he is doing and it's free theatre. It's hard to be critical.

wonkit
#9CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 7/26/15 at 2:57pm

Thanks for the info! The set and costumes look bizarre. What is the thought behind them - if any?


 


 


SPOILER REQUEST


I can't figure how Iachimo gets a song. I assume it isn't "Fear no more" since he isn't around for the death of Fidele. So what lyrics and where does the song occur?

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NYC4Life
#10CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 7/26/15 at 4:00pm

Spoilers

The song is his entrance. it's very Vegas/Sinatra. His first scene has a showgirl/cocktail waitress (lily rabe), a poker table and group of guys playing cards.

The costumes are a bit everywhere because the tone is very much actors putting on a show. Hamish puts on a red wig at the opening in front of the audience to show the difference between Posthummus and Cloten. He plays both roles, and the set is a gold Proscenium in the middle of the stage with crates that have other titles of the Bard's plays around it. (hamlet, lear, etc).

Updated On: 7/26/15 at 04:00 PM

Show Off
#11CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 7/28/15 at 7:00pm

Any word on how the line has been? Last year I got in line around 6 am (on a weekend) for Much Ado and ended up receiving the last two tickets they had. There doesn't seem to be as much buzz this year and I'm going on a weekday so I'm hoping I won't have to get to the city as early. Any insight would be very helpful as I'm coming from out of state :)

Nina23
#12CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 7/28/15 at 7:30pm

 


Will this make it to Broadway and yes I know the last revival was a couple of years ago. So it has not been long enough

LarryD2
#13CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 7/29/15 at 6:09am

No. Not everything is trying to get to Broadway.

neonlightsxo
#14CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 7/29/15 at 4:44pm

Has anyone tried the stand-by line yet?

neonlightsxo
#15CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 7/31/15 at 9:12am

Nobody?

wonkit
#16CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 8/2/15 at 12:15pm

Anyone have anything to report? I was surprised that there was so little chatter about TEMPEST but now the same thing seems to be true of CYMBELINE. Bad choice of plays, uninteresting productions, too hot? I'm just curious is if anyone else has noticed (or cares) about the low profile of Delacorte productions this summer.

VintageSnarker
#17CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 8/2/15 at 2:06pm

I had intended to see The Tempest but it got away from me and I'm honestly not brokenhearted about it. It's not one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. I didn't hear the best things about this production. I wasn't drawn in by the photos of the set/costumes. 

Ed_Mottershead
#18CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 8/2/15 at 6:13pm

Cymbeline was the first Shakespearean play I saw, with my parents when I was 11 at Stratford-on-Avon, England.  I was way too young to understand it, but it was quite a cast:  Peggy Ashcroft (Imogen), Richard Johnson (Posthumus), Clive Revel (Cloten), Brian Bedford (one of the two lost sons).  It made a deep enough impression that I've been a Bardolator ever since.


BroadwayEd

dave1606
#19CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 8/2/15 at 6:28pm

I caught this yesterday, and don't know why there isn't more buzz. Is is easily both one of the best casts the public has assembled for a Shakespeare in the Park in years, and also one of the best productions I have seen them do since maybe Twelfth Night. 


For those wondering I got there around 7:30am on Saturday, and was #238 in line. I got tickets, and there seemed to be plenty still to be given out when I left.


This production is such a joy.  One of the best things about it the lovely score by Tom Kitt. There are two songs integrated into the show, and both work very well. Raul Esparaza gets to sing and that is always a good thing. 


Lily Rabe is so amazing, and continues to prove that she is the perfect leading lady for nearly any piece of Shakespeare. Hamish Linklater also is perfect for his part, and brings some amazing humor to his two roles. 


Though she looks like she could join the next Hocus Pocus film, Kate Burton (Scandal!!!) is a delight in her two roles. I thought she brought a lot of warmth to her character in act 2. 


 


Daniel Sullivan's direction keeps things moving at a brisk pace, and the set has come clever reveals.


Overall, I found this to be one of the most accessible and enjoyable productions. It is funny, moving, and very entertaining. Perfect summer entertainment. I wouldn't miss it. 

wonkit
#20CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 8/2/15 at 11:05pm

If people are waiting for opening night, they may be out of luck if the reviews are good. The opening is August 10th and the last performance is August 23rd - not a lot of opportunities.

neonlightsxo
#21CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 8/3/15 at 9:10am

I caught the show this weekend and it was one of the best Delacorte productions IMO in years. Perfect cast, and a clear vision by Daniel Sullivan. Don't miss it.

MegInManhattan
#22CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 8/3/15 at 2:10pm

I saw it Friday and also really enjoyed it! I liked the quirky added musical numbers. It set a fun tone and broke up what at times felt like a very long production (feeling lengthy being the fault of the material, not the direction or acting). Lily Rabe was great, and I enjoyed Hamish Linklater in his two roles, he hit several good comedic choices related to this and made each character shine. This was probably me favorite Delacorte production I've seen.


The raccoons are always at Shakespeare in the park. The love the theatre! But seriously...can't they do a better job of keeping them off stage? I've seen one on stage at almost every play I've been to (including Friday, but he kept to the side).

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abbagirl
#23CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 8/4/15 at 10:50am

"Has anyone tried the stand-by line yet? "


I did, last night! I wasn't able to get there after work till almost 7, but surprisingly the line was the shortest I have EVER seen it, even the line monitor staff kept remarking on it...easily got a ticket at 7:30 (not the greatest seat, but ah well), hooray! I loved the play, and Rabe and Linklater especially.


 

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luvtheEmcee
#24CYMBELINE at the Delacorte
Posted: 8/4/15 at 1:25pm

I saw it about a week ago. I had never read or seen Cymbeline before, and so after hearing all of the "oh, Cymbeline sucks, oh it's such a mess" that I had over the years, maybe I was pleasantly surprised that it really isn't a disaster, or maybe -- more likely -- sure, it's all bits and pieces of stuff we've seen before, but the production is just lovely. I thought it was lovely, anyway. Hamish and Lily were great as always, I was thrilled beyond words to have Raul back, as always, and I liked that Daniel Sullivan's approach to directing it really cashed in on the grab-bag of familiarity and anachronism and everything and everywhere that the play is and used that in fun, surprising ways. I hadn't been to Shakespeare in the Park in years and I've missed it terribly; Cymbeline was the magic I'd been longing for. I wish I could get back to the city before it ends.


Oh, and the theatre was packed but everybody on the standby line got in.


A work of art is an invitation to love.
Updated On: 8/4/15 at 01:25 PM