Ralph Fiennes Fan Stories and Reviews of Julius Caesar- pg 2

Doulla's Story 04-24-05                                                                      Back Page 1< | Next Page>3

I was at the matinee performance and am sorry I didn't get to meet anyone from the forum. I'm sure some of you were there at the stage door but I was too shy to ask! Also, inside the theatre there was an American lady and her husband in row F18 or 19 just infront of us who might have been a forumer but again I was too shy to speak to her...obviously this English reserve has rubbed off on me after 40 years in this country!!

Well, I'm still coming down from cloud nine having seen him for the first time on stage and doing Shakespeare I know I'm biased but my God he looked gorgeous...tall and lean...the hands...the profile...the smile...and the cropped hair which really suited him.

Even my 75 year old mother, who hasn't a clue who RF is, noticed. After 2 hours watching the first half rivetted despite her limited English, she turned to me in the interval and said "Have I seen that man before?". Pause..."Um...yes, mother." "Was he the one who got burnt in the aeroplane in that film of yours?" "Yes mother." "Ah, ne - ehi oreo kormi!" which for those non-Greek speaking members translates to "Ah, yes - he has a nice body!" Cue Doulla, choking on her chocolate Losley ice cream.

The play was stunning, as Jasmine and the others have already described in their reviews far more eloquently than I can. First half totally gripping; the build up to the assassination so tense, and Marc Anthony's speech to the crowd had to be seen to be believed.

All the actors were brilliant - John Shrapnel was a marvellous Caesar, Anton Lesser and Fiona Shaw were wonderful, you could feel their pain, both mental and physical in Portia's case. And SRB as Cassius? Nell...total respect to The Commander He was mesmerising, made you understand every word, you felt his anguish, his jealousy...he really had a lean and hungry look. The man is a genius.

As for RF, you were all so right about seeing him on stage; he is mind blowing, totally in his element and enjoying every moment of a live performance. I wish he'd been on stage longer, but the 'Friends, Romans, countrymen' speech alone is worth the price of the ticket!!

But what a spitter our dear Ralph is!! Were there any ladies in the front row who were lucky enough to be showered with the sacred saliva? I felt quite sorry for John Shrapnel when he was lying dead at Marc Anthony's feet and getting covered in a torrent of spit...and he didn't flinch once!

I enjoyed the first half more than the second half as the play peaks with Marc Anthony's speech, and then the war at the end is a bit of an anti-climax (except for the sight of RF in desert combats...phew!).

Didn't get to see RF at the stage door but met Fiona Shaw on her way in while I was trying to find the stage door, and then Anton Lesser when he came out at the end. Both very charming and gracious. Never mind...might get lucky next time I go on 7 May.

To anyone who is going over next few weeks, have a wonderful time. For me it was total bliss and I can't wait to go again. I'm thinking wet singlets and suggestive hip movements...RF never fails...

Doulla xx

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Vikingess Takes London by Storm 04-25-05

Well I've had some time to digest and compose myself following the champagne scene, so here is a mini report about my JC experience(s).

I was lucky enough to see the play on both Friday and Saturday night, and I'm glad I did because what a difference a night makes: Saturday night was simply amazing. RF was extremely fired up and delivered the "Friends, Romans..." speech to perfection, whereas he didn't seem half as passionate on Friday night. On Friday night he also nearly tripped in Caesar's shroud when he carried him off stage ... bless him. On Friday night he was a lot more, err, shall we say "graphic" in the champagne scene, however. Suffices to say that the man's got a healthy pelvis. On Friday night there was also a very lucky lady who got a long and passionate kiss, whereas he left that out altogether on Saturday night (well, if we discount a quick peck on the cheek). Also, on Friday night there were a few problems with the backcloth which got trapped in the tree. Somebody was struggling back there to get it back down which - unfortunately - was a bit distracting.
On Saturday night RF almost resembled Freddie Mercury to a scary extent as he did some kind of hand movement while running around the stage in his "sporty" outfit which I am certain Freddie Mercury used to do on stage as well. It made me chuckle.

Simon Russel-Beale was nothing short of excellent on both nights, as was Anton Lesser. I thought Fiona Shaw's physical performance was a bit overplayed, but the vocal delivery was brilliant. She is wonderful (has anyone seen the portrait of her at the National Portrait Gallery btw? Beautiful). It struck me as I watched the play that - apart from RF - the male leads were all tiny and when Fiona Shaw entered the stage the first time she appeared huge compared to them :-)

The 2nd part of the play is indeed very different from the 1st half, and the effects are superb. The debris (or requisites if you like) falling down from the ceiling certainly made an impressive impact and the smell that filled the room (coming from the smoke) was a great extra feature. Oh yes, and RF *did* look scrumptious in khaki uniform. Did anyone notice his feet? Those boots were about the same size as a pair of waterskis.

Another thing that struck me is the amount of "playing dead" going in the play. I am always amazed by people who can stay still for long periods of time, and John Shrapnel takes it to extremes. How he doesn't feel to urge to scratch his nose or move his arms is beyond me. When you are as fidgety as me, it's quite awe-inspiring.

RF was generously giving away large portions of spit on both nights. Well most of the actors were, but Friday night was a particularly generous night for RF and at one point it reached such an extent that people actually started giggling about it.

All in all, a great performance. I really wish I could see it again - but no such luck unfortunately

By the way, the programmes now cost an immodest £5! And the poster is £2.

Lastly, apologies to Sugarpaste et. al that I wasn't at the stage door on Sat. night. I didn't go there Friday (it really isn't "me" - no matter what you say to convince me that it is, Shammy ). I wanted to on Saturday night, however, to meet up with some forumers, but I got talking to someone instead.

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Honey's First Stage Door Encounter 04-26-05

Ok here it is my first stage door encounter. First I want to say the play was fabulous and all the gals I met were so wonderful. First of all I dragged my hubby along to get pictures and video footage, poor guy he had so much going on I don't think he could think straight. Stella and I along with Hubby went to the stage door on friday night and saw a couple of girls that had been waiting it seemed like forever to get a look at Ralph which they called Ralph not pronounced Rafe we of course set them straight right away. It's Rafe Actually!! Then hubby got his camcorder and digal camera ready for taking he didn't have any more hands for a regular camera. Then here he comes looking good, hubby said if you don't go up to him you will never get his autograph as I stood back a little then went up to him and said Mr. Fiennes could I have an autograph and he replyed back "sure" and I handed him my pen and a piece of paper since I didn't have a program yet. He signed my paper and smiled very nicely and then went on to sign other people's stuff useing my pen/sharpie. There was a guy there who had a couple of 8 X 10 photos of Ralph he wanted signed we all know what he plans on doing with that (Ebay i'm sure) and when Ralph got to him I was standing right by him waiting for him to finish with my pen and the guy showed him the photos he wanted signed and Ralph said "Oh no" and he then went on to sign them not very happy about that I gathered. Then he held up my pen and said "who's pen is this" of course I said mind and I was able to get my pen back.....of course i'll never use it again and i'll add it to my RF collection of things. Ralph signed autographs with my pen and gave it back to me!!!
Hubby was able to get some very nice photos and video footage of him. He's not as tall as I was thinking and a bit small actually. He spoke very nice and pleasent. He smiled alot and went on to his taxi.

Ok then Saturday we went to the Matinee Performance which was wonderful...not the Julius Ceaser I was thinking about....more modern day Ceaser virses the white togas I was thinking about. Men in Suits on stage
We meet up with Shug and Gigi H along with her hubby and Stella of course. I also meet up with a friend of mind from Hawaii and her hubby. Then we waited a bit at the stage door but Ralph didn't come out but I did get a autograph from Anton Lesser who played Brutus. Very nice gentlemen and he gave eye contact and talked with me for a bit. Smiled alot. Then we went on to this pub just down the street from the Theatre to get a meal and a few drinks. There were 8 of us and it was so much fun. After a while Gigi H and her hubby along with my friend and her hubby from hawaii had left Stella and Shug and I along with my hubby sayed a bit for a few more drinks and just talked and had fun. Then in comes David Collings (Flavius/Lepidus) in the play. He was done with his parts in the play and came down to the pub for a drink. Of course my hubby asked us girls if we would like to meet him and Stella and Shug jumped up and went into the toliet and left me sitting there by myself Hubby went up to him at the bar and started talking to him, very nice gentleman. Then all of a sudden he came back to our table with hubby and sat down with his drink and visited with us for a while..stella and shug finially decided to come back to the table. Hubby had a very nice talk with David Collings about plays and theatre and other stuff then he said that us girls really like Ralph Fiennes and he said who doesn't and asked us if we have seen his films...what was he thinking???? Hubby asked Shug the same question earlier...what is with these guys dont' they understand we have seen every film he has made even more then once. Hubbys learning!!

We then went back to the stage door after evening performance and meet up with Gigi C. and Maxine. Very nice to have meet these wonderful ladies....very nice. And then I got another autograph from Ralph on my program this time and he was in a bit of a hurry to get to his car/taxi and went on pretty fast. Hubby got some more video footage but not as much since he was in a hurry..All in all 1st. stage door encounter was wonderful. Everyone I meet was great. It was a wonderful time and it will be always remembered.

HONEY

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