There is a new breed of Canadian film: Canadian actors being filmed in Canada. The setting is indoors. The writer: definitely British.
The Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario is putting some of Shakespeare's greatest works on the big screen.
We got a chance to see Colm Feore as King Lear as the film is working its way through major cities.
The stage at Stratford is set up similarly to the original Shakespeare stage in England. The stage offers an amazing intimacy when you see a play live in person.
Watching King Lear on stage on film offers a few advantages. The play is much more fluid. You get close-ups and a myriad of angles. You still get the sense that you are watching a live play.
During the performance, I noticed that I understood Feore's lines better than his counterparts. In the Q&A after the film, Feore talked about his approach where he writes out the lines in long hand to make them his own. His philosophy clearly works on the screen.
You get the fine Stratford cast as well. They work on several shows at the same time, keeping things fresh.
For those who struggle with Shakespeare, you have my sympathies. King Lear has quite a few subplots but you can pretty much follow the story. Unlike an English production, you don't have to deal with British accents. The Canadian accent is easier for "Americans" to follow.
If nothing else, you can enjoy the pageantry of the Stratford cast doing the works of Shakespeare.
King Lear is the first of the initial 3 releases, opening in theatres today. King John (April 8) as well as Antony and Cleopatra (May 21) are up next. The Stratford Festival's HD series hopes to record all its productions over the next decade.
Of course, the Stratford Festival wants the films to inspire you to come out to see the plays live. After seeing King Lear, you just might want to do so.
Stratford is in southern Ontario, northeast of London and west of Kitchener.
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Colm Feore is very charming in person talking about Shakespeare and acting. I couldn't resist asking about Bon Cop, Bad Cop. Feore said there would be a Bon Cop, Bad Cop 2 (or Deux). There were no specifics involved, so we don't know if it's the planning stages or further along.
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photo credit: Stratford Festival/me
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