I've been very lucky and gotten to see 4 plays at Bard on the Beach - two last year and two this.
I've been very lucky and gotten to see 4 plays at Bard on the Beach - two last year and two this. Last year, due to the timing of my arrival, they were at the end of the season. Thus, polished, and both were excellent. King John, I'd never seen before. It's fairly short, lacking in many of the great soliloquys and moments sort of expected in Shakespeare, but not completely lacking, and I think it should be performed more.
The Merry Wives of Windsor was very innovative, and deservedly the hit of last season. It was set in Windsor, Ontario; in the 60's (ranging a little into the 50's and 70's). The music was all country, with a brief excursion into rock and psychedelia. You could only do this in Canada. Someday, I should describe it. I wish there was a DVD to buy. The concept worked brilliantly.
This year, I was able to see dress rehearsal performances of Hamlet and Measure for Measure. Although I wanted to see the actor playing Hamlet more obviously showing off his witty side, his performance was excellent. As were all the others. I especially liked Polonius. There were some innovations that worked well, such as Horatio being a woman. The best actor, though, was the character actor who played three different important but small parts, with completely different faces, body language, voices, and accents. Every single performer could be understood, and the duel at the end was beautifully choreographed.
Measure for Measure was a disappointment. It isn't a play I'm familiar with, but I can see why it's considered by some to be one of the "problem" plays. In some ways, I think it's a comedy only because no one dies at the end. None of which is what bothered me. The play itself is very enjoyable. The concept the director went for didn't work. Based on what's written in the program, there were some basic misunderstandings that clearly informed the production. They've seen too many movies and didn't understand their research. More in a separate entry.
#Shakespeare #BardontheBeach
The Merry Wives of Windsor was very innovative, and deservedly the hit of last season. It was set in Windsor, Ontario; in the 60's (ranging a little into the 50's and 70's). The music was all country, with a brief excursion into rock and psychedelia. You could only do this in Canada. Someday, I should describe it. I wish there was a DVD to buy. The concept worked brilliantly.
This year, I was able to see dress rehearsal performances of Hamlet and Measure for Measure. Although I wanted to see the actor playing Hamlet more obviously showing off his witty side, his performance was excellent. As were all the others. I especially liked Polonius. There were some innovations that worked well, such as Horatio being a woman. The best actor, though, was the character actor who played three different important but small parts, with completely different faces, body language, voices, and accents. Every single performer could be understood, and the duel at the end was beautifully choreographed.
Measure for Measure was a disappointment. It isn't a play I'm familiar with, but I can see why it's considered by some to be one of the "problem" plays. In some ways, I think it's a comedy only because no one dies at the end. None of which is what bothered me. The play itself is very enjoyable. The concept the director went for didn't work. Based on what's written in the program, there were some basic misunderstandings that clearly informed the production. They've seen too many movies and didn't understand their research. More in a separate entry.
#Shakespeare #BardontheBeach
We always called it Pleasure for Pleasure.
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