Another Sunday, another week closer to the new normal, whatever that may be. I hope you and yours are safe and well, and coping with whatever the corona-challenge throws at you.
Kay asked on Thursday Watcha Watchin’? and reminded us all about the upcoming eight-part Netflix series based on Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton novels. I bet that will be a gorgeous, feelgood watch. Imagine the settings and the costumes, let alone the stories.
While you’re waiting, what about a different kind of eye and brain candy?
I’ve written before about National Theatre Live, the live-broadcast arm of London’s world-class National Theatre. Right now the theatre is closed, but they’re offering free (free!) streaming via YouTube of some awesome past productions that were originally filmed as part of the National Theatre Live service. The lockdown offering is called National Theatre Home.
The production that caught my eye is Danny Boyle’s Frankenstein, with Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller. I saw that live in 2011, and it was incredible. Even more amazingly, during the run the two actors alternated roles so that both played Dr. Frankenstein and his creation. And both versions will be available so you can watch, wonder, and be moved. Benedict Cumberbatch as the creature will be available from 7pm UK time (2pm eastern) on Thursday 30th April until Thursday 7th May. Jonny Lee Miller as the creature will be available from 7pm UK time on Friday 1st May until Friday 8th May. More details here.
Right now, you could watch Tamsin Greig as Malvolia in Twelfth Night.
And after Frankenstein, there’s Antony & Cleopatra with Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo.
If you’d like to know more about National Theatre Home, click here.
Kudos to the National Theatre for making these amazing productions available. I hope you decide to give them a try. And that you enjoy them.
Take care, stay safe, and see you next week!
Eight Ladies Writing 
This sounds awesome, Jilly, thanks! I’m going to send the info to my kids’ school, because they all study Shakeapeare for several years in the older grades.
I actually have been watching this car show called Rust to Riches on Netflix. So NOT the type of show I’d typically watch, but my younger son (who is big into Legos) asked if we could give it a try, and I found it a nice, mindless form of entertainment as I did needlepoint. Plus, the cars they turn out are AMAZING. I’m about midway through season 2 and have hit my limit, so I’m off to find something else, but it’s definitely been entertaining. Plus, the person who is the “engine expert” is a girl and she’s pretty darn amazing.
I love both of those guys. We’be been binge-watching Elementary over the past few weeks. I’d love to see Jonny Lee Miller in something else. Right now, it feels like the modern Sherlock in New York is just who he is.
Jonny Lee Miller was in a short-lived *musical* TV show called Eli Stone. If you can find it, it’s pretty incredible. Who knew he could sing and dance?
ETA: Turns out, it’s on Amazon Prime, plus a couple of other places. You might want to give it a try if you’re a JLM fan. 🙂
Thanks for the heads up, Jilly! I’ve seen the National Theatre Live production of Hamlet with Benedict Cumberbatch and a couple of other things, too. So, so good! And free is a wonderful price.
Ahhh, such wonderful suggestions! I couldn’t convince my better half to watch Frankenstein with Benedict Cumberbatch as the monster until I forced it upon him the final morning. Hoping it would still be available, we left for our chores. We missed it and I was not as amazed at Jonny Lee Miller’s monster. Here’s hoping it will become available again! And thanks for all the other suggestions!
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