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outdoor theater
Aug. 9th, 2007 10:59 amI went to California Shakespeare's production of Triumph of Love last night. I love live theater - even BETTER in outdoor amphitheaters. Boise had a tremendous Shakespeare theater right on the river -- this one is in Orinda, CA - literally right outside the tunnel on highway 24. Remembering my sweatshirt and cap (its a windy little space and by the end of the show - quite chilly) - - I headed in.
Screwball romantic comedies are difficult things - they either rock on - or are embarassing to watch. I've watch - and even performed - in both. Triumph is uneven - it's lead, San Jose Rep's Stacy Ross is simply brilliant. She gives a nuanced and polished performance as Princess Loenide, disguised as Phocian. A princess who fakes being a man to get into a household to be close to the man she's fallen in love with. Sort of a medieval Victor/Victoria set up. Unfortunately - the play includes a "clown" - played by Danny Scheie - whose entrances are silly, and portray the court jester as an effiminate begger with a penchant for bending over and showing his ass to people. He's apparently been in other shows - because his appearance on stage illicited an applause. He was obviously having fun - but his portrayal of a weak gay court jester became REALLY annoying. The other players were obviously shakespearian trained - and were having trouble "relaxing" into the pace and humor of a less structured piece. When you see Shakespeare you expect classic voices and meter - - but not in this setting.
Still - the play was worth seeing - and was fun. but - was uneven. But that is often the case when Shakespeare companies try stuff outside of the Bard's repetoire.
Screwball romantic comedies are difficult things - they either rock on - or are embarassing to watch. I've watch - and even performed - in both. Triumph is uneven - it's lead, San Jose Rep's Stacy Ross is simply brilliant. She gives a nuanced and polished performance as Princess Loenide, disguised as Phocian. A princess who fakes being a man to get into a household to be close to the man she's fallen in love with. Sort of a medieval Victor/Victoria set up. Unfortunately - the play includes a "clown" - played by Danny Scheie - whose entrances are silly, and portray the court jester as an effiminate begger with a penchant for bending over and showing his ass to people. He's apparently been in other shows - because his appearance on stage illicited an applause. He was obviously having fun - but his portrayal of a weak gay court jester became REALLY annoying. The other players were obviously shakespearian trained - and were having trouble "relaxing" into the pace and humor of a less structured piece. When you see Shakespeare you expect classic voices and meter - - but not in this setting.
Still - the play was worth seeing - and was fun. but - was uneven. But that is often the case when Shakespeare companies try stuff outside of the Bard's repetoire.
