Edward
Bartender
- Messages
- 25,081
- Location
- London, UK
Bartenders, please move this thread if inappropriate, but it didn't seem to fit with "the moving picture", and I thought it was at least as applicable here as in the Obs Bar. My apologies in advance if I've called it wrong...
Last night, I went to see the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Macbeth, currently running for a limited season in London's West End. A stunning cast, with the wonderful Patrick Stewart in the title role. Undoubtedly the best production of Macbeth I've ever seen, and Stewart performance just betters his turn as Prospero last Spring. Truly wonderful - if you get the chance to go, run to that theatre! I saw it from Row E of the stalls, ten feet from the stage. The actress playing Lady Macbeth is equally superb in her performance - lady called Ms Fleetwood (don't recall her first name offhand; UK Loungers will recognise her from Casualty or one of its spin-off shows).
Anyhow, the reason I post it here: the overriding visual theme for the costumes and set is Stalinist Russia. In particular, there are many wonderful hats on stage. Plenty of fedoras, and during the scence in which Banquo is murdered - set on board a train - several rather nice hombergs of the wide-brimmed, Al Capone style (at least one I'd say had a brim approaching 2 3/4"). Being so close to the stage, I got a good clear look at all the hats, and they all appeared to be a good quality fur. The suits and other clothing worn with them are all rather nice too - much for FL members to admire. What really made me chuckle inwardly, however, was the way they on stage treated the hats. Clearly either they have been specifically directed and tutored to handle them in a certain way, or none of them are habitual hat-wearing, FL-reading types. Every single one of them grabbed his hat roughly by the crown. One character's hat was very beaten up indeed - I'm sure to indicate it being well used (this particular character appeared only in civilian dress, a more political or possibly journalistic correspondent type appearance rather than a military man), but the way he treated it, maybe not! I found it amusing because not so long ago I wouldn't have thought twice about it, but since discovering this place I have become aware that there is a better way to treat a fur felt hat. An amusing coincidence is that yesterday was my first day out in my Biltmore fedora, and there it was on my lap for the show - after having been worn all day with only the brim being touched. lol Maybe back then they just weren't as fussy about their hats as we are today because they were just regular hats, basic clothing, nothing special and treated accordingly.
If you get the chance to go, do - it's worth it, and not just for the hats.
Last night, I went to see the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Macbeth, currently running for a limited season in London's West End. A stunning cast, with the wonderful Patrick Stewart in the title role. Undoubtedly the best production of Macbeth I've ever seen, and Stewart performance just betters his turn as Prospero last Spring. Truly wonderful - if you get the chance to go, run to that theatre! I saw it from Row E of the stalls, ten feet from the stage. The actress playing Lady Macbeth is equally superb in her performance - lady called Ms Fleetwood (don't recall her first name offhand; UK Loungers will recognise her from Casualty or one of its spin-off shows).
Anyhow, the reason I post it here: the overriding visual theme for the costumes and set is Stalinist Russia. In particular, there are many wonderful hats on stage. Plenty of fedoras, and during the scence in which Banquo is murdered - set on board a train - several rather nice hombergs of the wide-brimmed, Al Capone style (at least one I'd say had a brim approaching 2 3/4"). Being so close to the stage, I got a good clear look at all the hats, and they all appeared to be a good quality fur. The suits and other clothing worn with them are all rather nice too - much for FL members to admire. What really made me chuckle inwardly, however, was the way they on stage treated the hats. Clearly either they have been specifically directed and tutored to handle them in a certain way, or none of them are habitual hat-wearing, FL-reading types. Every single one of them grabbed his hat roughly by the crown. One character's hat was very beaten up indeed - I'm sure to indicate it being well used (this particular character appeared only in civilian dress, a more political or possibly journalistic correspondent type appearance rather than a military man), but the way he treated it, maybe not! I found it amusing because not so long ago I wouldn't have thought twice about it, but since discovering this place I have become aware that there is a better way to treat a fur felt hat. An amusing coincidence is that yesterday was my first day out in my Biltmore fedora, and there it was on my lap for the show - after having been worn all day with only the brim being touched. lol Maybe back then they just weren't as fussy about their hats as we are today because they were just regular hats, basic clothing, nothing special and treated accordingly.
If you get the chance to go, do - it's worth it, and not just for the hats.
