all the world's a stage
Have just received a copy of the Stratford (Ontario) Festival brochure in the mail. This year, I have every intention of going, since they've got some stuff that looks terrific -- I'm particularly excited about Edward II (of course!) and Measure for Measure (which will feature Thom Marriott as the Duke and Jonathan Goad as Angelo... *drool*) And Into the Woods looks pretty cool, and I'm even vaguely tempted by the hippie As You Like It with music by Barenaked Ladies, although it goes against my better instincts. Particularly since they've cast Graham Abbey as Jaques.
There needs to be more Shakespeare, though. Since artistic director Richard Monette will have finished the canon with Measure for Measure, there are only three Shakespeare plays this year. (And one Marlowe play. Did you know this is the first Marlowe play they've done other than, as I have read in the chronicles, a touring Tamburlaine back in the fifties? Seems like rather an oversight given that Stratford is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, classical theater festival in North America. Non-Shakespearean Renaissance drama does not get nearly enough love, especially on this side of the pond.)
I do wonder, though, why Edward II gets a "mature themes" warning and, say, Measure for Measure doesn't -- well, no, I don't actually wonder at all, as the reason is fairly obvious (and yeah, I know any play in which the title character is murdered by getting a hot poker up the arse does indeed contain mature themes!). But still. I mean, the plot of Measure hinges on Isabella's choice: sleep with Angelo and sacrifice her chastity, or allow her brother to be executed. How is that not "mature themes"? :p
Oh, and at one point my former adviser (from when I was at U of Mich) is giving a lecture for the Festival! That's very cool.
On a completely unrelated note, I really wish the auto repair shop would call me back. I want my car. Barring that, I want some idea of when it will be ready...
There needs to be more Shakespeare, though. Since artistic director Richard Monette will have finished the canon with Measure for Measure, there are only three Shakespeare plays this year. (And one Marlowe play. Did you know this is the first Marlowe play they've done other than, as I have read in the chronicles, a touring Tamburlaine back in the fifties? Seems like rather an oversight given that Stratford is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, classical theater festival in North America. Non-Shakespearean Renaissance drama does not get nearly enough love, especially on this side of the pond.)
I do wonder, though, why Edward II gets a "mature themes" warning and, say, Measure for Measure doesn't -- well, no, I don't actually wonder at all, as the reason is fairly obvious (and yeah, I know any play in which the title character is murdered by getting a hot poker up the arse does indeed contain mature themes!). But still. I mean, the plot of Measure hinges on Isabella's choice: sleep with Angelo and sacrifice her chastity, or allow her brother to be executed. How is that not "mature themes"? :p
Oh, and at one point my former adviser (from when I was at U of Mich) is giving a lecture for the Festival! That's very cool.
On a completely unrelated note, I really wish the auto repair shop would call me back. I want my car. Barring that, I want some idea of when it will be ready...