Rachel Reviews: Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench

This book was a joy. I cannot tell you...actually, I can but need to gather my thoughts in order to do that. You see, the reason that I'm struggling is that it wasn't what I expected. I'm not sure what I was expecting. Probably a chapter on each play with a recollection written by Judi with some anecdotes and humorous insights. And it was all of this and yet, it was much, much more.

It is a book which leads you through the roles that Judi Dench has played in Shakespeare's plays and the actress tells us her thoughts and feelings about each role and where she played it. She doesn't do this alone and I think that it is this that makes this book so memorable or is, at least, one of the things. The book is a dialogue between Judi and a friend of hers called Brendan O'Hea who also happens to be a theatre director. O'Hea has recorded conversations that he has had with Judi about her Shakespeare performances and transcribed them into this book. They are Judi's words but they are his too and I think it is this sharing of ideas and O'Hea's prompting of Judi which makes this book so easy and enjoyable to read.

It is a rounded read: it is about Shakespeare; it is about history; it is about acting and a life in acting; it is about theatre; it is about performance; it is about poetry; it is a love affair with a dead man which continues to this day and we, as readers, share the same lover! I'm talking about Shakespeare here and our shared love of him, rather than something more sinister or distasteful.

But it is also about Judi Dench and the book provides a look inside her life, made up as it is of many sterling performances and so, Shakespeare is the frame around which the whole thing is centred...but Judi is the star.

I loved this book. I was entertained. I was educated. I was enthralled.

Judi is funny and the repartee that she has with O'Hea brings out the best in her (and sometimes the naughtiest). Her discussion and knowledge of Shakespeare is exemplary and I felt privileged to be able to have revealed to me her interpretation of Shakespeare's words. Her empathy as a human permeated every page and this has obviously instructed her craft. I felt like a voyeur at times, like I was in her lounge, sharing tea, wide-mouthed at being there and being privy to all this wonderful, intuitive back-and-forth. I learnt a lot about Shakespeare from this and her ability to quote it just blows my mind. Her anecdotes and shared remembrances of truly iconic actors and directors were excellent too and I loved her stories of the dressing room and productions.

This is a keeper for me. I learnt so much and it brought Shakespeare alive for me all over again as well as closer, making me want to become familiar with him again and explore him anew.

A great book.

Rachel Rating: 5 out of 5 blooming stars!!!

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Here's a poem I wrote in tribute to Judi Dench who I hold in the highest esteem for all sorts of reasons, not just her acting: