PROPELLER, WHAT A DISCOVERY!

Why do I like Shakespeare?

No-one has better understood the complexities of the human condition and all its contradictions, and no-one has been able to capture them so deeply and universally into their work as Shakespeare has. This brilliant quote of his perfectly expresses his meaning of life:

 

"I always feel happy, you know why? Because I don't expect anything from anyone; expectations always hurt. Life is short, so love your life. Be happy, and keep smiling. Just live for yourself and always remember: before you speak, listen; before you write, think; before you spend, earn; before you pray, forgive; before you hurt, feel; before you hate, love; before you quit, try; before you die, live."

I recently had the chance to see the British theatre company Propeller at the Teatros del Canal in Madrid.

The company specializes in Shakespeare’s work, with Edward Hall being the group’s admirable producer and director since the 1990s. It follows the original texts rigorously while bringing the action forward to the modern day, and the cast is all-male, in keeping with how the original plays would have been performed in their time. I got to see both “Twelfth Night” and “The Taming Of The Shrew”, which both share the same clear moral message, that what is to be most treasured in life is generous, selfless love - what other meaning could we possibly look for in life?

The theatre company itself is terrific: its cast is full of excellent actors, the mise-en-scène is hugely entertaining, surprising and intense, and the contemporary scenery and aesthetics make the shows very appealing.

One of Shakespeare’s characters that I most enjoyed was Kevin Spacey’s powerful, disturbing Richard III, directed by Sam Mendes at London’s Old Vic Theatre.

It was simply sublime, with film-like moments of terrifying beauty. It must be said that it is a very challenging role to fill for any actor, after the superb psychological portrayal of the English king by Laurence Olivier. In Spain, perhaps Macbeth by Helena Pimienta, director of the National Theatre Company, is of similar standing to Spacey’s work.

Not to mention, of course, Alberto San Juan’s Hamlet at the Matadero de Madrid.

But to really understand the historical character of Richard III through the eyes of Shakespeare, I strongly recommend Al Pacino’s documentary “Looking for Richard”, in which Pacino, as well as directing, also plays himself and the eponymous king. Shakespeare provided his character, unlike other villains of his creation, with a crystal clear consciousness - he was always perfectly aware of what he was doing. Contrast this with Hannah Arendt’s “banality of evil” theory, masterfully presented in her book about the Eichmann trial.

Recommendations:

Propeller Theatre Company in July at the Hampstead Theatre, London