WORLD PREMIERE
I, ELIZABETH ★★★★★
Assembly @ George Street, Wildman Room, 5th to 30th August 2010, (not
16th & 24th)
@ 11.50am, finish @ 13.00 TICKETS
Reviewed by Jacqueline Sharp
Any actress portraying Elizabeth I would have to have a strong presence with bold red hair, Rebecca Vaughan delivers.
The great queen reigned from 1558 until her death in 1603. This production is based on the time when she was at her peak.
The simple but effective set consists only of a chair, desk, a few small props, Nothing else was needed.
The costume worn by Rebecca Vaughan is extremely beautiful. Designed and made by Kate Flanaghan, a graduate from the Central School of Speech and Drama in 2007. The red in the costume is bold, vivid and extremely delightful.
Rebecca, delivers a strong, powerful, charismatic performance, she scripted herself. Her facial expressions add to her delivery in scenes of anger, rage, prudent, careful, decisive, curious, mistrusting, as well as scenes of her being soft and thoughtful!
Her piercing eyes captivated the audience, engaging them with her strong presence/ They were acknowledged by the great queen and drawn into her dry, subtle and starkly humorous banter. I enjoyed watching the audience glaring at Elizabeth I, in return the queen glaring back to her audience,. It was very captivating.
Director Guy Masterson, Director, has done well delivering a production which within 70 minutes, takes you through tales of Huguenots; Protestantism spread France; Mary Queen of Scots; Henry VIII; Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester; François, Duke of Anjou; William Cecil, Nicholas Throckmorton; Philip II of Spain; Archduke Charles of Austria; Henri, Duke of Anjou.
One explosive, heated scene gripped the audience. Everone in the room shook with fear as the queen read a document from the House of Commons which threatened to withhold funds until she agreed to provide for the succession, marry and provide an heir. Elizabeth I explodes with raged and anger!
This fine production has been created from adaptations of historical speeches, letters, poems and prayers from Elizabeth I. The well-written script is true to the original story. Rebecca Vaughan, in role as Elizabeth I has delivered a performance worthy of an Academy Award Oscar.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_I_of_England
http://gale.cengage.co.uk/state-papers-online-15091714/part-i.aspx
http://gale.cengage.co.uk/state-papers-online-15091714/part-ii.aspx
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/searches/subjectView.asp?ID=P9129
http://www.elizabethan-portraits.com/Elizabeth_I.htm
http://www.awesomestories.com/flicks/elizabeth-I
http://www.tudorhistory.org/elizabeth/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Reformation#France
http://www.theatretoursinternational.com
http://www.assemblyfestival.com
http://www.dyadproductions.com
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