ianlouisiana Review of Shakespeare in Love

Shakespeare in Love (1998)

Funny,anachronistic,beautifully written.If you have tears to shed....

[10/10 · 11 April 2007]

A group of actors crowd noisily round a table at an inn in 16th century London.They comprise the cast of the first ever production of "Romeo and Juliet".As they chatter excitedly about their new roles,the one selected to play the nurse is asked "What's it about then?"He leans forward.."Well,it's about this nurse......"Thus is encapsulated the small totally self - absorbed and artificial world of The Theatre, unchanged in over 400 years and I ,for one ,am eternally grateful for it.Tom Stoppard - a witty and erudite playwright - has taken advantage of that premise and recreated Shakespeare as a 20th century man weighed down with the eternal problems of the creative writer plus the additional burdens constraining those involved in the Elizabethan theatre.Deliberately anachronistic and very funny "Shakespeare in love" presents the Bard as a frustrated genius trapped in a loveless marriage pursued by creditors and desperately seeking backers for his new play. Just as "The Dresser" depended on a working knowledge of Lear for its full effect so "Shakespeare in love" will offer more reward to those familiar with the workings of "Romeo and Juliet" and "Twelfth Night". Having said that,one of the beauties of this marvellous film is that it can be enjoyed by anyone who loves words regardless of their familiarity or otherwise with 16th century drama. Notwithstanding the casting of Miss G.Paltrow in the female lead this is a very English production ,no slick David Mamet one - liners ,just the throw away humour redolent of "The Fast Show" very popular on TV in England at that time that also provided a number of members of the cast.Admirers of non - sequitur humour will have a field day. For all that the performances are uniformly first - rate and acknowledging that Miss J.Dench impressed the Academy no end with her showy turn as Queen Elizabeth,"Shakespeare in Love" is predominantly a writer's triumph. A few words about the ending,filmed not at some exotic location but at Holkham Sands in Norfolk "...if you have tears to shed - prepare to shed them now".