Dame Judi Dench’s Shakespeare: The Man who Pays the Rent isn’t for everyone. It’s for those who are willing to follow her through her stories about the Shakespearean roles she played through her seventy year career. She breaks down each role, so not everyone will want to read it. But, those interested in an education in one actor’s interpretations will be rewarded, and the anecdotes are ones to remember.
The book started as a series of conversations with actor and director Brendan O’Hea. In O’Hea’s introduction, he says it was never meant to be a book. He intended to interview Judi Dench, and then offer the interviews to the archives department at Shakespeare’s Globe. But, when a friend of Dench’s grandson was intrigued enough to question all the laughter and passionate arguments, O’Hea thought it might be more than archival material. With the addition of charming drawings by Dench, the nonfiction book comes to life. Anyone who has seen Dench act can hear her voice on every page.
She shares the stories and background of every Shakespearean role she played from Lady Macbeth to Cleopatra. But, she also shares amusing stories from her years with her husband, Michael Williams, another Shakespearean actor. She refers to him as Mikey, and tells about him in a bar in New York City with another actor, bemoaning their performance when someone put hands on their shoulders, and said, give these actors a drink. It was Frank Sinatra. But, it never seems like name-dropping when Dame Judi Dench talks about Tony Hopkins or others. She was there, and the stories are part of her life and her career.
If you ever had problems with a play by Shakespeare, you’re in good company. Dench said she loathed The Merchant of Venice. And, there are other plays she isn’t fond of, and other roles. But, each one becomes special as she talks about it, and relates the stories. How about a snake in her wig as she took a bow? Or crawling off the stage when she hurt her ankle, and no one helped her?
I haven’t seen a great number of Shakespeare’s plays. I’ve read a few more than I’ve seen. But, Judi Dench’s interpretations, along with O’Hea’s questions will encourage anyone interested to take a fresh look at the plays.
Shakespeare: The Man who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench with Brendan O’Hea. St. Martin’s Press, 2024. ISBN 9781250325778 (hardcover), 400p.
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I am not a Shakespeare scholar by any stretch of the imagination, but, like you, Lesa, I’ve read some plays and seen a few others (although never with Judy Dench). This book sounds like lots of fun! Seems like Dench’s charm really comes through.
Her sense of humor really does come through, Kim. It’s an educational, fun book.
I’m a big Judi Dench fan – we did see her once in Shakespeare, in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (one of our favorites). I’ve been interested in this since I first heard about it and might check it out when I get the chance.
I am, too, Jeff, although when I said I’d seen her, I meant in movies. Never lucky enough to see her in a live production.
It’s a fun book, but no hurry on this one.
In London in 1974 we saw her – and John Mills – in the musical version of J. B. Priestley’s THE GOOD COMPANIONS. Her singing was adequate (Mills’s was not(, and of course her acting was impeccable. Incidentally, the songs were by Andre Previn (music) and Johnny Mercer (lyrics).
And, she admits her singing in just adequate, Jeff.
When I was in college in the early ‘80s one of my professors was a big theatre buff and tried to spend time attending plays in London every summer. He saw Judi Dench and Michael Williams, her husband, in a production and then ran into them later, exclaiming about how he adored their performances. He became very friendly with them and would visit any time he was in the UK. Most of us had not heard of Judi at that point and it was about that time our local PBS channel showed their wonderful comedy A Fine Romance. Loved her ever since.
Oh, Eileen! What a wonderful story. She comes across as quite a lot of fun, but I think you have to appreciate her odd humor. It must have been wonderful for that professor to actually know them.