FREE ESSAY ON LOVE'S LABOR'S LOST

LOVE'S LABOR'S LOST

Topic:
My paper report came a bit late but I was extremely exited to go. I got to watch Love's
Labor's Lost preformed by the drama department in Juilliard School in Manhattan. I went
alone and got through on a waiting list. I never read the play and had no idea what to
expect. It turns out that a play is much easier to understand if you are watching people
act it out on stage than if you are reading it from a script. And that play was meant to
be watched. It was full of obscure jokes, and strange language which is relevant to the
times when it was written but does not seem to make sense to the modern reader. The
actor's body language, the expression on their faces and the general movement on stage
tells the story almost independently of the written play. In other word's how the actors
say their lines matter as much as what they are saying. I understood why a play is
supposed to be seen on stage rather than read in a classroom.
The first thing to note about the production was that it was moved out of its time frame.
The original play takes place somewhere in Shakespearean times in Europe. This version
puts the actors in modern clothing. The are portrayed as school children at play more
than adults. The whole play tied into the theme of Cupid and the futility of attempting
to resist love. Everything is about movement and it seems almost as a ballet or an
elaborate dance production. The opening act starts with four young men (Navarre, Berowne,
Longaville, and Dumain) making an absurd pact to dedicate 3 years to studying and abstain
from women's company and all other earthly delights. On stage these men seem more like
children. They are wearing school boy's clothing and brandish wooden swords to make a
pact. In the middle of the stage in a little school house with a classroom inside. The
foursome is carrying book bags and speak in exaggerated tones. The colors are very
vibrant and lively, giving the stage more movement and a feeling of light spirit. Once
the four have made their vows, Cupid will have his revenge. He finds his servant in the
form of Costard the clown who in the production appears as a spanish ghetto joker in
baggy jeans and a lot of very colorful shirts. The play is full of sexual innuendoes,
heavy flirting and even a few rap numbers. I have never hears Shakespeare being raped
before but it seemed to have a good beat to it.
In the second movement we are introduced to the four ladies of the play: Rosaline, Maria,
Katharine, and the Princess of France). They are dressed as teenage girls with a risky
fashion sense. Their characters are very distinct with one representing a nerd, one a
sports jock one a flirt and the Princess a strong independent woman. The ladies are ready
for a warm reception but Navarre, being true to his pact, refuses to let them in. Thus
they are ready to aid Cupid in his revenge against the arrogant men who thought to ignore
his arrows. Here each actor seems a clown with a lot of overplaying. Each motion is
bright and obvious, giving the viewer as much help as possible with the understanding of
the play. The music is live and very sad contrasting what happens on stage. It prepares
the audience for the inevitable tragic ending of the play and tones down the flashy
acting. Soon all the boys break their oath and fall in love with the young women and the
clever and sharp flirting begins. What the play lacks in clarity of words it makes up in
the expression on the actor's faces. Boyet is interestingly enough portrayed as a wild
bisexual, Armado is showing homosexual tendencies as well. That makes the play more fun
for the modern viewer and brings the jokes down to the level where they can be
appreciated more by the audience. 
The actors were all young students of the school but their skills were not equal. Costard
took the audience by storm by being what he was supposed to be - a clown. I forgave the
rude gestures, the wild movement on stage and the strange rap number because it was in
the character. The performer was not inhibited and felt at home doing anything on the
stage. Surprisingly the character of King Navarre seemed bleak and flat, getting lost in
others. I am not sure what is written for Navarre in the play but it seems the actor
lacked passion and failed to convince me in the love scenes. The only good part was the
renewal of the oath scene where his dialogue was light and clever. Outstanding was
Berowne's performance, the actor went all out and was almost too real to watch. He was
funny when he had to be, the monologues came out clear and easy, and the more serious
lines were said with passion but not overplayed. He made the audience share his point of
view, he carried the mood through and you can see how hard he was working by the sweat on
his face. The female characters were less notable and largely overplayed. The seem to
have been reduced to the cliche of the nerd, the jock, the flirt, and the Princess. The
were useful in carrying through the plot but were not a pleasure to watch. Only the
hunting scene raised my interest.
I am very glad that I had the opportunity to attend this play and see it performed live
right before my eyes. I never knew how exiting and entertaining it can be. Actors create
a connection with the viewer, and their performance is effected by the mood and the
reception of the audience. I was sitting in the first row and felt almost like the entire
play was being acted out for me alone. And I am sure that everyone around me had the same
feeling. The alteration to the settings, the costumes, the songs, and the occasional
phrase that was added by the actors themselves (like Oh, baby) was justified by the
overwhelming response of the audience. If you ignore the strange jokes and obscure lines
and see this play as a lightheaded comedy it is a pleasure to watch.