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Wednesday, September 14, 2022
‘The audience want to connect with her’: portraying the Queen after her death
Theatre | The Guardian: They all wondered, says actor Marion Bailey, “can we do this play now?” Handbagged was due to begin previews at London’s Kiln theatre last Friday, then news broke of the Queen’s death. That performance was cancelled but the cast took to the stage on Saturday with some trepidation.
I find it really interesting how different people have taken the Queen’s death. I completely understand the importance of ritual in a society and respect how that period of mourning is held close even for problematic figureheads, but I don’t agree that we can’t be critical of those people. I think it is very revealing how this play places the Queen in opposition with Margaret Thatcher in a way that shows the Queen in such a positive light. There is so much less criticism of Queen Elizabeth than there is of any elected political figure. Perhaps people are more willing to forgive her because she did not choose the throne, but as an American I can’t imagine not criticism that kind of political structure. I hope there are plays in the future that show figures like the Queen in a more realistic light, portraying how she actively contributed to the destructive legacy of colonialism.
The Queen was alive for so much of history so she is inevitably going to be portrayed in a lot of media and art. Certainly the moment someone passes and you are portraying them, it can be complex to navigate, but assuming there were no issues prior to the Queen’s passing, it would not be offensive to continue to perform. It reminds me of seeing friends of mine who live in New York and happened to see Wicked the night after the Queen died and could not stop laughing about the fact that the opening line of the show is, “Good news! She’s dead!” This coupled with the fact that Wicked is currently playing on the West End and those actors had to say that and have had to say that every night since is darkly hilarious. I know all of these actors know the irony and complexity they are dealing with as much as those who are actually portraying the Queen do, and I am sure it was discussed backstage and very much on everyone’s mind throughout the performances.
This is just one of the reasons that I love theatre as an art form. With the right piece, you can honor and celebrate a person and their story, find enjoyment and happiness and just escape from reality, even if only for a little while. Theatre is uniquely suited for this, as it establishes a connection between the players and the audience that no other medium can truly match. Film and television can try to emulate that connection, albeit with a little bit more creative liberty due to not being done live and in person, but it just isn't the same. Another thing this article made me think about was about how to depict real people who have passed on. The Queen certainly isn't the first figure to be put in this unique situation (Marilyn Monroe comes to mind, with how much her likeness has been used long after her death). But still, the Queen is perhaps one of the most widely known and beloved figures to be thrust into this issue, and I can only hope that as time goes on, media and entertainment can and continue to find ways to respectfully and appropriately tell her stories with the respect that she is due, especially for the sake of the millions of British citizens who are currently in mourning.
I always think it’s strange when the writer, creator, designer, actor, or main character in real life of a show passes away. Not strange in a bad way but comforting to see their legacy continue to be shown every night. While I think acknowledgement and maybe even some time is respectful as long as the person in question was loved I think most audience members and theater goers appreciate seeing the work of their praise continuing to live on. Specifically with the Queen I think the matter of trying to “connect” with the story of the Queen and Thatcher all depends on the audience’s individual sentiments towards the queen. To those who knew/cared very little about the Queen watching the show may bring new revelations but I don’t think they’d be affected by it as much as someone from Britain. On the extremes I think somebody obsessed with the royal family may find it insensitive to continue the show without a bigger mourning period whereas somebody who hates the Queen and what she has done from a political and historical standpoint may be upset that such a large deal is being made over a show.
4 comments:
I find it really interesting how different people have taken the Queen’s death. I completely understand the importance of ritual in a society and respect how that period of mourning is held close even for problematic figureheads, but I don’t agree that we can’t be critical of those people. I think it is very revealing how this play places the Queen in opposition with Margaret Thatcher in a way that shows the Queen in such a positive light. There is so much less criticism of Queen Elizabeth than there is of any elected political figure. Perhaps people are more willing to forgive her because she did not choose the throne, but as an American I can’t imagine not criticism that kind of political structure. I hope there are plays in the future that show figures like the Queen in a more realistic light, portraying how she actively contributed to the destructive legacy of colonialism.
The Queen was alive for so much of history so she is inevitably going to be portrayed in a lot of media and art. Certainly the moment someone passes and you are portraying them, it can be complex to navigate, but assuming there were no issues prior to the Queen’s passing, it would not be offensive to continue to perform. It reminds me of seeing friends of mine who live in New York and happened to see Wicked the night after the Queen died and could not stop laughing about the fact that the opening line of the show is, “Good news! She’s dead!” This coupled with the fact that Wicked is currently playing on the West End and those actors had to say that and have had to say that every night since is darkly hilarious. I know all of these actors know the irony and complexity they are dealing with as much as those who are actually portraying the Queen do, and I am sure it was discussed backstage and very much on everyone’s mind throughout the performances.
This is just one of the reasons that I love theatre as an art form. With the right piece, you can honor and celebrate a person and their story, find enjoyment and happiness and just escape from reality, even if only for a little while. Theatre is uniquely suited for this, as it establishes a connection between the players and the audience that no other medium can truly match. Film and television can try to emulate that connection, albeit with a little bit more creative liberty due to not being done live and in person, but it just isn't the same. Another thing this article made me think about was about how to depict real people who have passed on. The Queen certainly isn't the first figure to be put in this unique situation (Marilyn Monroe comes to mind, with how much her likeness has been used long after her death). But still, the Queen is perhaps one of the most widely known and beloved figures to be thrust into this issue, and I can only hope that as time goes on, media and entertainment can and continue to find ways to respectfully and appropriately tell her stories with the respect that she is due, especially for the sake of the millions of British citizens who are currently in mourning.
I always think it’s strange when the writer, creator, designer, actor, or main character in real life of a show passes away. Not strange in a bad way but comforting to see their legacy continue to be shown every night. While I think acknowledgement and maybe even some time is respectful as long as the person in question was loved I think most audience members and theater goers appreciate seeing the work of their praise continuing to live on. Specifically with the Queen I think the matter of trying to “connect” with the story of the Queen and Thatcher all depends on the audience’s individual sentiments towards the queen. To those who knew/cared very little about the Queen watching the show may bring new revelations but I don’t think they’d be affected by it as much as someone from Britain. On the extremes I think somebody obsessed with the royal family may find it insensitive to continue the show without a bigger mourning period whereas somebody who hates the Queen and what she has done from a political and historical standpoint may be upset that such a large deal is being made over a show.
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