See, there’s a moment in the stage version of “Shakespeare in Love” – which I saw for a second time on Saturday – which just *works* for me.
Forget the gorgeous girl cross-dressing as a boy. (And, OMG, let’s not go there in terms of scene or sexual potential). Forget her father marrying her off to an Earl, against her will. Forget the moment when her husband-to-be orders her to “be submissive” when she is presented to the Queen. Forget the stunning on-stage tension between Will and Viola. (Surely the actors concerned must have, at least once? For artistic purposes, at least?)
No: it’s the moment after she slaps her husband-to-be across the face. The moment – sadly not staged – when he calls for the servants; has her stripped, tied down. When he whips her, telling her that he will not stand for such insolence, and that she should know her place.
..or the alternative moment when her father hears of her misconduct towards the gentleman he intends her to marry. When, worried that the betrothal might fall through, he tells her that – although she is engaged – she is still his responsibility. When he birches her, until she sobs her apologies.
I’d recommend the play rather highly. Especially if you can contrive to go in kinky company…
Sounds brilliant. I will suggest it to Madame at home. The film did not contain such scenes, or so I remember,