Hester L-J

A photograph of a play in performance. A y young woman with long curly dark hair, wearing a long white dress with green splodges down the front, with white shoes and white tights. She's dangling by her hands from a trapeze, against a white background.

Hermia to Lysander: nice try but NO. Love you!🥰 night night! #MoonMad
www.english.cam.ac.uk/research/slo...
One of the classic photos from the 1970 @the-rsc.bsky.social Dream, dir. Peter Brook: Hermia (Mary Rutherford) hanging from one of the iconic trapezes, central to Sally Jacobs's design.

A photograph of a play in performance. On a white painted stage with vertical white boards at the back, a young man is sitting on the ground, making imploring gestures at the young woman who's kneeling on his legs. He's wearing a dark jacket and trousers, she's wearing a short dark skirt and a pale jumper. There are red flowers that look as if they've pushed up through the floor boards.

Lysander: I would never suggest anything improper!🫶CAN we, though? #MoonMad #SlowShakespeare
www.english.cam.ac.uk/research/slo...
Lysander (Fergus O'Donnell) & Hermia (Catherine Kanter) in the 1999 Dream @the-rsc.bsky.social, dir. Michael Boyd; des. Tom Piper's flowers in the floor just visible.

A photograph of a play in performance. A young woman in a black and white dress is sitting on the ground, leaning on her right arm; a young man wearing a cream jacket and pale trousers is leaning against her, embracing her in a would-be seductive fashion. There are suitcases to one side, and a line of dimly-lit people behind, each holding a lantern on a stick.

Lysander: we're lost! we can snuggle together! Hermia: I do NOT think so #MoonMad #SlowShakespeare www.english.cam.ac.uk/research/slo... Hermia (Sinead Keenan) & Lysander (Trystan Gravelle) watched by the production's ever-present fairies @the-rsc.bsky.social Dream 2005, dir Greg Doran. NB luggage

Hilary Mantel does lovely things with this, I seem to remember...

can't come to MT alas, it's the final Mat Ren seminar 🙁

Oberon enchants Titania! #MoonMad
www.english.cam.ac.uk/research/slo...
Oberon enchants Titania in two @the-rsc.bsky.social Dreams: Alan Howard (in purple) & Sara Kestelman, watched by John Kane's Puck in Sally Jacobs's glorious bower, dir. Peter Brook 1970; sinister silhouettes dir. Greg Doran 2005

and what of Passion??

oooooof. that's AMAZING! hard-core indeed.

that's lovely to hear! (I didn't see it, I was still in NZ) - but @andykesson.bsky.social made a similar comment the last time I posted an image of that wonderful umbrella...

A photograph of a play in performance. A woman is curled up as if asleep on a big stretchy net with vine-like tendrils at its sides, which is suspended from above. People dressed as fairies with some elizabethan costume features, eg ruffs, are surrounding her.

A photograph of a play in performance. A woman is asleep inside an enormous open umbrella, which is lined with bright pink silk and lots of pink cushions. There are people standing around her, and bright lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling.

Lullaby time! bugs and reptiles avaunt! also hedgehogs 🚫🦔🐍🕷️ #MoonMad #SlowShakespeare
www.english.cam.ac.uk/research/slo...
Titania (Marianne Oldham) sleeps in the 2023 Globe Dream, dir. Elle While, surrounded by her fairies; so does Stella Gonet @the-rsc.bsky.social 1994, dir. Adrian Noble.

A colour still from a television film. A beautiful woman in an off the shoulder white gown is lying on a bed, surrounded by children. One of them is showing her a book; another is brushing her long blonde hair. Some of them might have wings.

Titania: lullaby time! #MoonMad #SlowShakespeare
www.english.cam.ac.uk/research/slo...
I love the fairy bower in the 1981 BBC Shakespeare Dream, dir. Elijah Moshinsky: Titania (Helen Mirren) & her child fairies are gloriously lit, like a Victorian painting. I'm particularly fond of hairbrush fairy.

we aim to please....

A colour still from a film. Two men are crouching down, as if hiding behind a bush or lying on grass. The man on the left has pointy ears and little horns; he's got a garland made of golden leaves and fruit over one shoulder. The man on the right has dark hair and a very nice nose, and no clothes are visible. He's holding a red flower. They're both looking intently at something out of frame to the left.

Oberon: go and play cupid! sort out the sad lady's love-life! careful, though! Puck: o-KAY #MoonMad #SlowShakespeare
www.english.cam.ac.uk/research/slo...
Puck (Stanley Tucci) & Oberon (Rupert Everett) in the 1999 film of Midsummer Night's Dream, dir. Michael Hoffman. You're welcome.

😍

astronomical I think - Canis major

that's lovely but yes, also confusing!

A photograph of a character in a play. Dimly lit in blue/purple, half length, a man wearing a dark jacket shaped with lots of fine pleats into amazing geometrical shapes. He's looking as if he's plotting something, and he's clasping little white and purple flowers in his hands.

Oberon: I'm going to give Titania NIGHTMARES! Puck: you're welcome, fine, no trouble at all #MoonMad #SlowShakespeare
www.english.cam.ac.uk/research/slo...
Peter de Jersey's sinister Oberon in the 2008 revival @the-rsc.bsky.social Dream, dir. Greg Doran (particularly good flowers, WONDERFUL coat).

Overheard from a #WorldBookDay crowd outside the local school just now: [small boy, already with a slight edge of frustration/anxiety in his voice]: 'I'm NOT a butler I'm JAMES BOND!'

that's a spectacular lawn apron, complete with immaculate creases and gold lace❤️

😱the smiling gum-tree-climbing ursine angel of death, what wholly diseased imagination extruded such horror?

verily the apotheosis of carbs. (I have a fireplace in my room. I cannot EVER light a fire there or bad things will happen. But OH for a toasted crumpet of an afternoon!)

A photograph of a character in a play. A man wearing sparkly black trousers and a long black jacket with sparkly bits, over a bare chest. He has quite long hair and a short beard; he's got green eyeshadow all around his eyes. He's looking up out of frame and gesturing with his right hand.

Helena: I can't help it! *runs after Demetrius* Oberon: I will HELP her! #MoonMad #SlowShakespeare
www.english.cam.ac.uk/research/slo...
Oberon (Jo Stone-Fewings) in the 2011 @the-rsc.bsky.social Dream, dir. Nancy Meckler. He's on Helena's side.

I missed this yesterday - looks brilliant - congratulations!

a few (actually rather a lot) of things to get through in the next wee while but getting there!

woweee! and breathe.... coffee soon I HOPE!

A photograph of a play in performance: a young man wearing chinos and a blazer, holding a walking stick, is leaning menacingly towards a young woman who is wearing a short dress, cardigan, and unsuitable shoes. It's nighttime; there's a moon in the background.

A black and white photo of characters in a play. A young woman wearing a long dark dress and a little hat is standing behind a young man, who is looking grumpy; he's wearing an elizabethan-style doublet and breeches in dark wool, and a hat with a feather. She's looking up at him imploringly.

Helena: you're MEAN, Demetrius: I'm OFF #MoonMad
www.english.cam.ac.uk/research/slo...
L, 2008 revival of @the-rsc.bsky.social Dream dir. Greg Doran, Demetrius (Edward Bennett) & Helena (Natalie Walter); R, more restrained: 1963 RSC, dir. Peter Hall, Helena (Diana Rigg) & Demetrius (Barry MacGregor)

I think I wrote about that when I was working on fountains...

A photograph of a character in a play. Against a dark background, half length, a young man with a short beard; he's speaking and pointing with his right hand out of frame. He's wearing a blue shirt, dark trousers, and red braces, with a dark tie' there's some mud down his front and on his cuffs.

Helena: I'm not alone, you're here! Demetrius: doesn't mean you're safe #MoonMad #SlowShakespeare
www.english.cam.ac.uk/research/slo...
Probably slightly later in the action, but never mind: here's Demetrius (Alex Hassell: fascinating career trajectory!) @the-rsc.bsky.social 2011 dir. Nancy Meckler

have an EXCELLENT birthday eve, Tracey, and a great day tomorrow!

happy birthday weekend, Danielle!