Millennial Notes Shakespeare’s Classic Finds Sympathetic Killer & Sadistic Hero by Julian Auston The Stratford Festival of Canada brings us an innovative “Hamlet” that flips the play’s essentials. Claudius, the repentant murderer, evokes our sympathy; while Hamlet, his ambitious heir, startles with his vengefulness, as a slew of courtiers are mangled by their conflict….
Millennial Notes Declan Donnellan Invokes Love and Fear in Shakespeare by Julian Auston “The Winter’s Tale” remains my favorite play for its extravagant emotions. Could it be Leontes’ angry misguided jealousy aimed at his friend? Or, the bittersweet ending of his wife’s brief resurrection? Or, maybe it’s the unbridled joy of a random bear…
Michael Lew Turns “Winter of Our Discontent” to Comedy by Barry David Horwitz It all starts in high school, where it’s so easy to shove aside the weak and the geek. At Theatre Wit in Chicago, playwright Michael Lew combines outrageous teen comedy with a Shakespeare villain. Lew makes us question whether the cruel…
Carl Jordan Makes Shakespeare for Today by Robert M. Gardner Don’t miss L. Peter Callender as Shakespeare’s Othello. In the 30th anniversary year of African American Shakespeare Company, longtime Artistic Director Callender finally gets his wish to play the great role. Callender is physically well suited to play Othello. His face in repose possesses…