neadods: (theater)
[personal profile] neadods
The Stratford (Ont) theater festival guide arrived yesterday, and for all I was "meh" when someone told me what the plays were last year, now that I know details I'm all "There are five I am GOING TO SEE. Nonnegotiable."

1) Taming of the Shrew. While I honestly don't think any Shew could EVER top the Gregory Doran RSC version that I saw in 2003, the only person who could is the director of last year's amazing gender-bent Midsummer Night's Dream -- and that's who's doing this year's Shrew. Chris Abraham is now a "must fan stalk watch" for me.

2) The Adventures of Pericles. It's being directed by Scott Wentworth, whom I've fangirled over for close to 20 years now. 'Nuf said. I haven't seen a show he's directed in quite some time; it will be interesting to compare it to the earlier work I remember. (His minimalist Christmas Carol was quite something; the stage was awash in fake snow and characters would pull the small props they needed out of it.)

3) The Physicists. The murder mystery plot (which, according to the guidebook "inhabits a space somewhere between Agatha Christie and Tom Stoppard") sounds interesting, but to be honest, I stopped reading after "Seana McKenna, Geraint Wynn Davies, Graham Abbey" because it doesn't matter what comes after that really. "...read the phone book." "...read graffiti off the lavatory wall." "... recite the Bentley's menu."

4) She Stoops to Conquer. Because I like Restoration-style comedy.

5) The Alchemist, because Scott Wentworth is in it. (See #2).

Now I have to find a time to see them that won't use up too much of my vacation, conflict with Gridlock DC, or suck up all my money before the JASNA meeting in October. (Yes, I have first world problems.)

Date: 2014-12-08 05:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jennetj.livejournal.com
I hadn't realized Scott's directing Pericles! We've got Pericles on our stage right now, so I'll be interested to compare and contrast. Our Pericles is Ben Carlson, who's next season's Petruchio (his wife, Deborah Hay, is Kate - they were here a couple of years ago with a restoration comedy and they were delightful - Ben's practically become one of our regulars). And I know you loathe Hamlet, but its Johnny Goad!

Mind, I don't know when I'll be able to go. We're doing Nova Scotia again (hopefully without hurricane) and will have to see what the rest of the summer will look like. Let me know when you decide to go.

Date: 2014-12-08 11:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] neadods.livejournal.com
If I was going to torture myself through another Hamlet, I know someone with a Cumberbatch ticket going spare. (Although I'm willing to bet that that'll be simulcast. Frankenstein has been a money tree.)

As for Stratford, my window to see everything opens August 1 and closes September 19, has to avoid GridlockDC, and not take all my money for an early October trip. There are only a couple of golden weekends that work best for me in that framework; I'm trying to find out if Mo wants to go too or not.

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