The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Kevin Gates. At the City Theater, Austin, TX, June 8, 2017. Review by Michael Saenger What in the world does one do with The Taming of the Shrew? When I was growing up, it was a staple of community theater, a hilarious and (chuckle) romantic tale of an […]
Twelfth Night, Watermill, dir. Paul Hart, York Theatre Royal. 19 May 2017. Reviewed by Sarah Olive This production was one of two offerings from Watermill Theatre at the second York International Shakespeare Festival (Romeo and Juliet was the other). Both traded heavily on the incorporation of live music into the productions: Romeo and Juliet with […]
The Cardinal by James Shirley, directed by Justin Audibert for Troupe at Southwark Playhouse, 2 May 2017 Reviewed by Peter Malin References to the play are to James Shirley, The Cardinal, ed. by E. M. Yearling, Revels Plays Series (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1986) Conventionally-staged productions of early modern plays, in period costume, have […]
‘Know us by these colours’: Oregon Shakespeare Festival 2016 By Sheila T. Cavanagh, Emory University Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) in Ashland, Oregon sparked considerable controversy last year when they announced their “Play On!” initiative, whereby current playwrights and dramaturgs are being commissioned to “translate” the plays attributed to Shakespeare into twenty first century English. […]
Tamburlaine by Christopher Marlowe. Adapted and directed by Ng Choon Ping for Yellow Earth Theatre at the Old Fire Station, Oxford, 13 April 2017. Reviewed by Peter Malin All textual references are to Christopher Marlowe, Tamburlaine the Great: Parts I and II, ed. by John D. Jump, Regents Renaissance Drama Series (London: Arnold, 1967). […]
Henry V dir. John-Robert Partridge for Tread the Boards Theatre Company at the Attic Theatre, Stratford upon Avon, England, April 2017. Reviewed by Sara Marie Westh, University of Birmingham. I should begin this review by admitting that Henry V is my favourite Shakespeare play. In the current political climate, a highly jingoistic tale about English […]
The History of Cardenio. By Gary Taylor, John Fletcher, William Shakespeare, and Miguel de Cervantes; Directed by Gerald Baker for Richmond Shakespeare Society in association with Cutpurse; at The Mary Wallace Theatre, Twickenham; 19th March 2017. Reviewed by Kim Gilchrist, University of Roehampton This performance of Professor Gary Taylor’s adapted text The History of […]
Hamlet. Directed by Robert Icke, for The Almeida Theatre, London. Seen 1st March, 2017. https://almeida.co.uk/ By Dr. Eleanor Rycroft, Bristol University Robert Icke has developed a reputation for shedding light on classic plays as Associate Director at the Almeida in recent years, notably through productions of Uncle Vanya, Oresteia, and a crystal clear version of […]
Pamela Schermann’s Othello: Iago’s Capitalist Tragedy, Time Zone Theatre Company @ Waterloo East Theatre, London, 10 March 2015. Cast: James Barnes (Othello), Trevor Murphy (Iago), Charlie Blackwood (Desdemona), Ella Duncan (Emilia), Denholm Spurr (Cassio). Reviewed by Charlene Cruxent One table. Three chairs. Five actors. White curtains. That’s all it takes for Pamela Schermann to create […]
Hamlet: Koko Totuus [Hamlet: The Whole Truth]. Adaptation by Ville Kurki and ensemble, based on the translation into Finnish by Matti Rossi. Directed by Ville Kurki for Grus Theater, performed at the Turku Castle, Turku, Finland. 1 February, 2017. Reviewed by Nely Keinänen It was a very cold and dark winter night when my two theater […]
