Shakespeare and stuff

[ufkacbln]

The same way that One Direction do.

This has tickled a vague memory in the back of my mind about a legal case brought against one of the endless stream of manufactured pop bands. If memory serves, a disgruntled punter was miffed to discover that the show she'd been to see wasn't the "artists" singing live, but was actually the "artists" miming to a pre-recorded track, so she sued. And if really rusty memory serves, the courts found for the pop group - the advert of the "artists" singing didn't actually imply that they would be singing.

Unlike the factual "Milli Vanilli" case where on the same grounds over 10 million people were entitled to refunds on not only the concerts, but also the CDs

 

[AndyRM]

This thread is hilarious, completely unintentionally, but hilarious nonetheless.

 

[ufkacbln]

I'm wondering now how the Portsmouth Sinfonia ever got away with it.

Ironically because they were honest and showed integrity in their advertising and stated aims

They were a "performance art" ensemble who openly recruited non-musical members

This was made clear to everyone who saw them.... And a very enjoyable concert

 

[User169]

[QUOTE 4405498, member: 259"]Classical Muddly!



[/QUOTE]

I think he might even have been part of the band

 

[ufkacbln]

I think he might even have been part of the band

When we saw them he was playing in the wind section

 

[ufkacbln]

I still atruggle



yebbut, what if they turned up dressed in trendy black open necked shirts, rather than the white tie and tales in the poster taken at their previous gig. Would you be demanding your money back after 5 minutes ?

For the record, I like white tied orchestras at concerts as it adds to the occasion, but the music, or play, is the thing, no ?

Cunobelin does rather sound like he went in determined to make a scene, and all this so called misrepresentation, and so-say "lies", is just a smokescreen of faux umbrage

Or just you telling lies?

 

[Profpointy]

Cunobelin - straight question. Did you go in intending to make a fuss / walk out in the first 5 minutes? Maybe some kind of pre-arranged protest - I don't know on artistic differences with Roylance ir whatever

If not, the you are seriously contending that you walked out because the costumes didn't matche the posters - which were somehow key to your decision to go.

 

[swansonj]

There are actually some really interesting issues in play here about why we go to the theatre and I for one have been doing some soul searching.

It is an expectation thing, and the expectation was derived from the advertising. Mozart or Shakespeare - if you go presuming it is one thing, and find out it is different, then I think you have cause to complain.

The issue could be cast as traditional versus modern dress (though as has been pointed out, the whole concept of "traditional" is fraught with difficulties). But it could also be cast as Shakespeare as part of the heritage/tourism industry - bland, comfortable and predictable - versus Shakespeare as a living, potent, engaging piece of theatre.

Should we ever expect to go to the theatre and feel safe from being challenged? Although I'm kind of implying that the answer is "no" I actually think it's complex. I would be horror-struck at the idea of going to Shakespeare with preconceptions and preset limits as to how the power of the play would affect me; but I have e.g. been to see three different productions of Noises Off and even more of Guys and Dolls with no expectation of anything other than entertainment, and knowing pretty much exactly what I was going to get. (Then, as musicals were mentioned earlier, there's the odd category of musicals that put you through the emotional wringer yet do so in a way that reinforces rather than challenges - Carousel, anyone?) Why should I deny someone else that right just because it's Shakespeare? Is that snobbery, or sadness at what people might miss out on, or both?

Truth be told, my real objection to Cunobelin's tale is not the attitude to Shakespeare displayed, it's (what I regard as) the insult to live theatre of regarding it as a commodity, and (what I regard as) the effrontery of demanding a refund.

 

[ufkacbln]

Cunobelin - straight question. Did you go in intending to make a fuss / walk out in the first 5 minutes? Maybe some kind of pre-arranged protest - I don't know on artistic differences with Roylance ir whatever

If not, the you are seriously contending that you walked out because the costumes didn't matche the posters - which were somehow key to your decision to go.

From your first post, you have lied, made up stories, scenarios, and already made up your own mind

 

[Profpointy]

From your first post, you have lied, made up stories, scenarios, and already made up your own mind

lied?

how so?

Or more to the point what do you understand by the word "lie"?

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Or more to the point what do you understand by the word "lie"?

I think he believes it has something to do with not accepting exactly what he says (or intends to say), however much it changes or is missing crucial pieces.

 

[MarquisMatsugae]

I went to a pretty awful school but was lucky to have one of those genuinely inspiring teachers, who left me loving literature and Shakespeare particularly. Have watched it since then from modern day Henry V to comedies performed by amateur company in Romford parks

My condolences.

 

[lutonloony]

Haven't trawled through al 17 pages, so apologies if already said, but I think one of the problems with Billy's stuff, is that generally we are too young to appreciate it when at school.

 

[ufkacbln]

lied?

how so?

Or more to the point what do you understand by the word "lie"?

A lie is when someone makes a statement that is untrue .......

 

[ufkacbln]

What untrue statement was that then?

The one in the individual's first post... That simple