Will Shakespeare

A top-notch cast tries to pay homage to the bard but this series hardly reaches Shakespearean heights.

For one thing, the level of extraneous noise is such that sometimes (especially early on) it drowns out the actors.

Tim Curry is Shakespeare; Ian McShane, in part one, aquits himself well as Marlowe; John McEnry is Will's Stratford pal Hamnet Sandler; Rob Cook is . . . Oh, somebody. Nicholas Clay is Southampton. The cast runs quite deep.

They use every old saw about Shakespeare, from his holding horses to his line that William the Conqueror came before Richard the first (cleaned up for family viewing). But we know tons more about Shakespeare forty years on, and have more sensible speculation about how plays of the day were written. It's too bad this material couldn't be incorporated into a smoother version with the same cast.

But it was made in the day when British TV was largely done in long, videotaped, stagey interiors where people speaking loudly to reach the microphones. And grainy exteriors.

The series was written by a real writer, John Mortimer, not some TV hack. So some of the wilder nonsense can be explained by his writers' imagination. But it has to be dramatic, after all. Still, the series is at its best when Shakespeare's words are enacted.

This six hour mini-series really catches the flavor of Elizabethan England. Tim Curry is a surprising choice as Shakespeare because one expects a more traditional hero. Curry played the doctor on the submarine Red October in the movie of the same name, but his characterization is much stronger and more appealing in this movie. Ian McShane as Christopher Marlowe is interesting, but Nicholas Clay as the Earl of Southampton is breathtakingly handsome and steals every scene he is in--no, he doesn't have to steal them, they belong to him. Shakespeare's long debated sexuality is handled well in this movie although the implication that he and Southampton were homosexual lovers is definitely there. This movie is not as fast-paced as "Shakespeare in Love." It seemed longer than six hours long, but it kept me coming back for more each evening of the week. I know quite a bit about Shakespeare and this movie did not disappoint me. It was fun where it should be fun and serious where it should be serious. If you love Shakespeare, this one is probably for you!

The Life of Shakespeare isn't entirely successful, it doesn't completely get under the skin of some of Shakespeare's life and some of the relationships could have been further explored perhaps. But it was much better than I expected, I to be honest wasn't actually expecting it to be good, despite being a fan of Tim Curry and some of the other cast members.

Even with the flaws, this series wasn't in my opinion bad at all and a lot compensates. Despite me being a big Tim Curry fan, I was not sure at all whether he would work as Shakespeare. But in a very strong and appealing performance, and he is also very sexy here, he does. Curry is well supported by Paul Freeman, Ian McShane and particularly Nicholas Clay who steals the show a number of times.

The sets, costumes and photography are nothing grand or lavish, nor did they need to be. They still look great though, and stick true to the period. I also liked the 17th century lilt to the music too, the witty and intelligent writing and the stylish direction especially in the first episode.

All in all, surprisingly good series and an interesting one too. For Shakespeare fans, you will either love it or hate it, for Tim Curry fans, it is a treat! 8/10 Bethany Cox

Well, with all due respect to the brilliant actors associated with this production I must heartily disagree with the previous good review, evidently penned by a rabid Tim Curry fan, of this disenchanting mini-series. I felt Ian McShane, in particular, was totally wasted in his role -as Marlowe- and although Tim Curry did the best that could be done, with the sub par material, he was altogether forgettable in the lead. The ambling, misguided, largely fictional account of William Shakespeare's life was aided somewhat by adequate production values, but was not worthy of being aired on prime-time TV, in the US. In fact the ABC network considered showing it, at one point, but was rightfully disappointed with its clumsy, substandard contents. View it if you must, Tim Curry aficionados, but everyone else, I just thought you should be warned...