Judi Dench has recalled causing on-stage chaos when she blundered over one of William Shakespeare’s lines, adding in the word “erection”. The veteran performer starred opposite her late husband Michael Williams in an early 70s production of The Merchant Of Venice by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Dench, 84, accidentally mispronounced “election” as “erection”, provoking “unrest” and causing the band the walk off stage “in shock”. Dame Judi Dench and Sir Kenneth Branagh star in All Is True, a film about Shakespeare’s later years (Isabel Infantes/PA)Speaking on the Graham Norton Show, Dench discussed her dislike of The Merchant Of Venice, Shakespeare’s tragicomedy in which protagonist Antonio struggles to repay a large loan. It caused a lot of unrest.” Dame Judi Dench and Sir Kenneth Branagh appeared on the Graham Norton show (Isabel Infantes/PA)Dench appears alongside Sir Kenneth Branagh in the film All Is True, which details the final years of the Bard’s life.

Source: Irish Examiner January 25, 2019 11:15 UTC