Mix of royalty, history, comedy

LONDON – Renowned British fi lm maker Danny Boyle wanted to please British ego even if it would not please the world.

He had to put in a lot of diverse characters into another masterpiece, the opening ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics, but he had to consider a lot of wishes and limitations. So he had to include talents – all probably with equal billing – into his program, including James Bond, J.K. Rowlings characters, Mr. Bean, Beatle Paul McCartney, Mary Poppins and, of course, the Queen of England.

Then he had to embellish the story line with a bit of history, from the Elizabethan Age of William Shakespeare and a mediaeval England thrust into modern history, leaving an Enchanted Kingdom as it launched the Industrial Revolution.

A must in the script is the IOC protocol which includes the parade of nations, the oath of sportsmanship, an introduction of the head of state, the lighting of the cauldron and of course the person given the honor to declare “Let the Games begin.”

In a film shot of Buckingham Palace, Daniel Craig as James Bond enters dressed in formal wear comes to meet with Her Majesty the Queen playing herself, in her fi rst acting role. Like the English boss in many an Ian Flemming show, she leaves with 007 in a helicopter, which swoops over the capital to scenes of great rejoicing on the journey to the Olympic stadium.

That is the film clip. Cut to the stadium.

Sounds. Music.

The distant sound of an an AugustaWestland AW139 helicopter becomes louder and louder until the audience sees it hovering above the stadium. As the helicopter steadies, James Bond slides open the door and the “Queen” parachutes out, followed by Bond. The familiar 007 theme tune resounds around the Stadium and the Union Flag opens up in front of the Royal Box to reveal Her Majesty.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, head of state, accompanied by her husband (consort in British terminology) Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, enters the Olympic Stadium to the cheers of Britons who are by now not only her subjects but her fans. She was accompanied by Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee.

For all the theatrics, Boyle drew praises from no less than China, whose 2008 opening ceremonies was the best orchestrated so far, which regarded the show as a “feast for the eyes.”

A sparkling array of showbiz personalities, royalty and world leaders sent their patronage to the opening rites, making the Games opening the most star-studded in the history of the Olympics.

But it was Mr. Bean, played by Rowan Atkinson himself, that rocked the whole stadium into laughter.

In a surprise spoof kept secret until the last minute – even Scotland Yard must not have known about it – Mr. Bean created comic havoc – not relief – as Sir Simon Rattle conducted the theme from Chariots of Fire. JK Rowling, author the British

Harry Potter series, was also in attendance.

With all the dramatis personae a celebrity in themselves, including Paul McCartney who enjoined the crowd to sing with him “Hey Jude”, Danny Boyle was able to weave a story line into show that made the world laugh, cheer in every segment of the three-hour show and experience the nostalgia of Elizabethan England through a stage that throbs with Shakespearean drama.