Shakespeare's Globe: Titus Andronicus

'Titus Andronicus' is not among my favourites of Shakespeare's plays, a playwright of whose lesser plays are still worth the watch and read. Of his tragedies though it is in my opinion one of his most disturbing and moving. It is very powerful when performed well, Shakespeare's dialogue is unmistakable in style and rich in emotion and the characters are typically compelling. If asked as to whether 'Titus Andronicus' is worth the watch or read or both, the answer would be yes.

Shakespeare Globe did many truly impressive and more productions of many of the Bard's plays (some more than once) that were filmed live and released on DVD from the late 2000s to 2020. Very like Royal Shakespeare Company. This 'Titus Andronicus' is not one of the best of them despite having the potential to be, but it sure is one of the most disturbing and most ambitious. It is also one of the most disturbing and most ambitious of the play itself, again not one of the best productions of the play. On both counts though, the production is very good with almost all its aspects being absolutely outstanding.

It is let down by one major shortcoming that does bring down the production significantly, as it is one of the things that the quality of a production of the play rests heavily on. Personally also found William Houston too hammy and too overwrought in the title role and count me in as another person who also didn't feel like he understood the text.

A shame because the rest of the cast are absolutely superb. Indira Varma is venomous in a blood curdling sense as Tamora and Flora Spencer-Longhurst is a moving and frighteningly traumatised Lavinia. Obi Abili's Aaron is one of the most chilling depictions of mischief and malice seen for a long time. Matthew Needham balances deceptively charming and conniving very effectively and Ian Gelder is a powerful Marcus. They are all well served by wonderfully detailed character interaction and an atmosphere that is bold and truly sadistic without being gratuitous.

It is very violent and sadistic, more so than most productions of 'Titus Andronicus', with sound effects that make even the not easily unsettled viewer squirm and squeamish and visual spectacle that makes the hairs on the back of the neck raise in its nerve shredding intensity. Doing so without being gratuitous like it can be with productions with such an ambitiously savage tone, especially apparent in the most frightening account of Lavinia's treatment of any stage production seen of 'Titus Andronicus'. And the grisliest dinner scene seen in a long time anywhere, on the same level of the feeding poodles to a murder victim murder in 'Theatre of Blood' (which actually references this scene). It is not all sadistic though, as there are moments that are also genuinely funny in a hilarious way.

The production values are boldly dark with a creepy backdrop and the space of the Globe is used brilliantly and not wasted at all, a real sense of how it would have been used in Shakespeare's day. The music pulsates thrillingly and perfect with the production's boldly dark and violent approach without being heavy handed. The props are used to great effect and the production's ambition is on display throughout, though there is never the sense that it was trying to bite off more than it could chew. Not to mention that this is one of the filmed productions where the audience feels and looks like they are part of the action the most.

Concluding, so many wonderful things but let down by a miscast lead. Very good but so close to outstanding. 8/10.

This production is unwatchable because of the horrible performance of the lead William Houston. He has absolutely no instincts. His performance is on par with William Shatner's worst moments. He delivers all of his lines in a ridiculous and hammy way, with the emphases in all the wrong places. He completely misunderstands the character of Titus Andronicus. It is just a train wreck. He honestly looks like he is having a stroke at times or maybe just some constipation.

This is sad, because the other actors all did excellent, especially the actors who played Marcus Andronicus and Aaron the Moor. They nailed their parts. Honestly, everyone else did great. But there is no way to get over that the lead character makes or breaks a film. He is in almost every scene, and it is enough to ruin it. I cannot believe that no one stopped him during rehearsals and said how terrible he was.

Watch instead the Titus Andronicus in the BBC Television Shakespeare production directed by Jane Howell. There Titus Andronicus is played by Trevor Peacock, who does an excellent job in every scene. Thankfully the rest of the production is up to par too, so there is no reason to watch any other.

I'm writing this to spare you the pain. If you have read the play first (which you should always do before watching the film), and understand what Titus Andronicus is meant to be, you will be very disappointed if you watch this production.