playwright: William Shakespeare
director: Judy Myers
scenic designer: Kit Mayer
costume designer: Janis Martin
lighting designer: Kirstin "Fluffy" Blake
One of Shakespeare's "problem" plays that, in the end, is not so all-well as it reunites an ill-suited couple.
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I'm always wary to attend a Shakespeare production, and doubly so when it's performed at a college. Unfortunately, this production did nothing to allay my concerns.
The students worked admirably on a tough show, but there seemed to be no actor who could combine strong acting with the ability to know what they were talking about. Either they knew what they were saying but were completely wooden or they had great flair and acting style but spoke as if they had no clue as to what they were saying.
One of the problems with college Shakespeare is that there are so many actors needed that it's unlikely that anyone can get a full cast of multi-talented actors. While the leads might have a good grasp on what they are doing, the supporting actors, which so often drive the plot from one scene to another in Shakespeare, simply can't handle the work.
The best energy in the entire show was the curtain call, when the actors came out and danced and sang Beyonce's "Single Ladies". Where was this energy during the play? This is a sure sign that the cast simply did not know what they were doing on stage -- didn't understand the lines, didn't understand the motivations.
I've seen a few productions at this school and this, sadly, is one of my least favorites.
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