The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 17.0253 Friday, 31 March 2006
From: Ellen Joy Letostak <
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Date: Thursday, 30 Mar 2006 14:42:40 -0500
Subject: 17.0247 Beatles Do Shakespeare
Comment: Re: SHK 17.0247 Beatles Do Shakespeare
The scene is also available, in more complete form, on the DVD compilation:
_Beatles Around the World_
(Mark Devito, Geoffrey Giuliano)
UK, 110 min.
The DVD features a compilation of 1960s Beatle live and televised
performances from England, America, and Japan, most notably the
Midsummer parody from the U.K. special _Around the Beatles_, originally
broadcast 28 April 1964. As most of the film evolves from old 16mm
footage, quality is variable.
The complete scene features the Beatles in renaissance dress at the
start of their TV special, which apparently is being filmed at a '60s
version of the Globe Theatre. Ringo raises a flag on a faux theatre roof
that announces the show's title, _Around the Beatles_. He peeks out an
exit door to observe hundreds of placard-carrying Beatles fans, marching
into the theatre chanting their own Fab Four version of the "We Love You
Conrad" tune from _Bye, Bye Birdie_ (George Sidney, 1963). While the
other three Beatles blow trumpets, Ringo fires a cannon stage left, a
scene that is replete with humorous diegetic sound effects. The interior
sound stage itself is a postmodern, Globe-esque, three-tiered space
complete with thrust stage. The "groundlings" enter and fill the tubular
tiers and remain standing throughout the P & T performance, which is
interrupted by audience catcalls. The Beatles do a fine job of playing
off the audience response and seem to be enjoying themselves tremendously.
Best,
Ellen
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