O!M!G! *Theater flail of joy*

[neadods]

I haven't even made my annual pilgrimage to Stratford Ont, and already this season has been left in the dust by the announcement of next season.

Richard III, directed by Miles Potter, will be presented at the Tom Patterson Theatre. Seana McKenna, who has played almost every leading lady written by Shakespeare, will now turn her talents to one of the greatest male roles in the canon.

SEANA FREAKIN' MCKENNA IS PLAYING RICHARD III!

I first saw her about a decade ago; I'd crossed national borders for the first time (it's not like we don't have Shakespeare in America!) to see Scott Wentworth in Medea. I was such a fangirl of his from Kung Fu - The Legend Continues that I was willing to finally schelp up to see him.

She was Medea and about 10 minutes in my attitude went from "Scott! Squee!" to "Shut up, Scott, Seana's onstage!"

And now she's playing not just my favorite tragic hero, but about the only tragic hero in Shakespeare who I don't think needs to be hit with a brick.


ETA: Why did they put this in the Patterson, though? Tickets will sell out in seconds. Dang, I may have to become a member again, and I don't want to buy tickets the same month I'm paying for ChicagoTARDIS.

Comments

[rm.livejournal.com]

I might have to travel to see this.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

This cannot possibly be less than awesome.

If you do go up, allow me to pimp the Aspidistra B&B, which does not advertise but does have three lovely rooms -- and most importantly, Deborah's always risen to the occasion with M's allergies and dealt with my father's new diet with aplomb and incredibly delicious food.

[darthfox.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, that Medea was something, wasn't it? I have goosebumps right now from remembering the minute between Medea closing the door and the chorus flinging themselves at it screaming.

I'm psyched that she's doing R3. That'll be awesome. But I'm still psyched about this season, too. (Two months! When are you going?)

[neadods.livejournal.com]

M & I are going end of August & seeing... um... Tempest, Winter's Tale, Two Gents, and Peter Pan.

[darthfox.livejournal.com]

Ooh, same lineup as me, though I'm also seeing As You Like It (of which I am still not tired, but given how I felt after last year's Midsummer Night's Dream, I'm prepared to guess that this might be the last As You Like It for me for a while).

I'm not sure I share your concern in your ETA - the Patterson is small, but it's not going to sell all the way out at the speed of a rock concert. It might be a tough ticket, but not impossible (and even if it becomes impossible, shoot, I was able to get last-minute returns to that Wars of the Roses stuff they did a few years ago - in the Patterson - when we couldn't get tickets in the usual way).

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I wasn't going to do Pan, but *everyone* tells me it's the must-see show of the season.

I'm prepared to guess that this might be the last As You Like It for me for a while

I *still* haven't forgiven them that excruciating AYLI from the same season as Medea, the one with the clock pendulum swinging through the background. I don't think I've bothered to see it there since.

OTOH, Wives is a personal favorite, so I'm looking forward to seeing that next year.

The Patterson may not sell out at the speed of light, but I'm still surprised that one of their strongest players and one of the most popular plays isn't in the Festival.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

PS - I remember that the scenes with Seana were incredible... but I also remember that the two child actors were not taking it seriously that night. Which is a real pity, but fortunately Seana and Scott rose above it.

[jennetj.livejournal.com]

Fascinating. I wonder how they'll approach it - whether totally gender-swapped, or if she'll play male. Either could be interesting. And of course I adore Seana. Though I still haven't totally forgiven Miles Potter for that Wild West Taming of the Shrew.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I'm betting on playing male, personally.

[bewarethespork.livejournal.com]

I wish I could somehow see that - it sounds like it'll be amazing.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Hold that thought - I tend to treat the Stratford trip like a convention - long weekend, shared rooms, etc. So as long as you've got a passport to get over the border, some expenses could be shared...

[bewarethespork.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid that wouldn't be plausible - I'm all the way over in Australia, so it'd be a great deal more difficult and expensive than just crossing the border for me!

[neadods.livejournal.com]

If I wasn't logging in from work, I'd use the *facepalm* icon. Sorry, got you and brewsternorth confuzzled for a moment there. I'm either eating too much sugar or not enough...

[bewarethespork.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see. That's all right, I've done similar things in the past. :)

[wshaffer.livejournal.com]

Weirdly, I was just having a discussion with someone at a convention recently about what it would be like to have Richard III played by a woman. It gives some of the lines an interesting double meaning. (Most obviously, things like, "Upon my life, she finds (although I cannot)/Myself to be a marvelous proper man.")

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I've heard of a gender-switch Lear. I think it would work, although the person writing about it was horrified.