Wednesday, November 3, 2010

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is being set in 1930's Raj India. Bollywood dance influence.

Dear Brenda,
Now following the Gala AND the tsunami in our republic, I am ready to pick up the pieces and MOVE ON...
Let's have a long talk on the phone.
I will read over your notes. Excellent research.
My main influences are; "I Served The King of England" and "Monsoon Wedding." I have got "Women of The Raj" and have read the Tarquin Hall detective novels set in Delhi as well as "The Weight of Heaven" (bit of a downer/effect of imperialistic good intentions. I saw "Shakespeare Wallah" another wonderful movie about Brits in India and "Heat and Dust" set in 1920 Raj India.
I have been working with Peter on the set and it is almost there. I'll explain the process. I showed him some of the costume sketches to inspire. It is Ursula who can be Indian. She might be the one to be mistaken for Hero (even this is flexible, really.) Generally, I was wondering about a tea length dress alternative for the women that could be either afternoon or evening. You know I'm interested by abstractions from reality, a take on 1930's. I see a slightly unreal world in the play that allows such perfect resolution.
This reminds me that I must get in touch with our Bruce Mann to discuss reasonable adaptations of names from Shakespeare's Italian.