From the Rehearsal Hall
We're most of the way through the second week of rehearsal, and I'm finally catching a chance to set down some thoughts about the process. It's such an interesting play. So much of the it is so gleefully amoral, so matter of fact in its assessment of opportunism as a driving force in social interaction, that you almost forget what an empathic playwright Shakespeare is. Then suddenly, he strikes with a deep and moving moment that gets to very heart of human care and emotion. In particular, his treatment of the boy, Arthur, and his loss. It's devastating. We were rehearsing the scene in which Constance responds to loss of her boy today, and I couldn't even speak to give notes, it touched me so much.
Grief fills up the room of my absent child
Lies in his bed, walks up and down with me
Puts on his pretty looks, repeats his words,
Remembers me of all his gracious parts,
Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form;
I can't help thinking of poor little Hamnet, Shakespeare's boy who died in 1596, right around the time this play was likely written. The understanding of the loss of a little boy is so specific, so profound, its utterly heartwrenching - what he must have been going through - as a father of two little boys I can't even begin to contemplate a loss like that. But there it is, deep in the fabric of the play.
Ben Evett
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