terrypogue Review of Ian McKellen: Acting Shakespeare

Ian McKellen: Acting Shakespeare (1982 TV Special)

Introduction to Ian McKellen in Acting Shakespeare

[10/10 · 26 June 2004]

I saw this on television many years ago and taped it but my copy is very bad. I've been hoping that it would be made available on VHS or DVD. It was my introduction to Ian McKellan. After it appeared on television it came to the National theater here in Washington, DC and I rushed for tickets. It's simply fabulous. So entertaining and educational (shhhh you don't have to tell anyone that) I cannot remember all the plays or speeches he gives in this production but it certainly is enough to give you a flavor of not only the play but how it sounded as the language and acting styles have changed over the years. It's very amusing to hear the acting style from the late 1800's for instance. And the language has changed so much since the 1600's it almost unrecognizable as English. This is one production that deserves to be offered on VHS or DVD.