Okay, So What Now?

I think I may continue this Blog even though the Shakespeare crammin' is over. I sort of like it- if only because it gives my friends many more opportunities to mock me and what could be wrong with that?

I might still try and see Twelfth Night- I like the idea that the play is set in New Orleans. I think that's appropriate. But, there's a lot of stuff going on this weekend- so I'm not quite sure.

Other upcoming Shakespeare performances:

King Lear at the American Shakespeare Center. I may wait until the Fall, because it starts running with Richard II in October. Also, David Muse is directing an all-male Romeo and Juliet at the Shakespeare Theater in September. It could be interesting- or it could be annoying.

My friends James Ricks and Steve Beall are both in the Folger's Henry IV, Part One- so I will definitely be there. I am a big fan of both of those guys.

I really should go see a Rude Mechanical's show. I will, I promise. But, they're doing Julius Caesar this fall. I just can't get behind that play. I really can't. They're also doing Coriolanus (which I much prefer to Julius Caesar) this summer, but during my vacation. Same thing with Richmond Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 2. Wow, who does that? rats. I'll miss it.

I do want to go on a pilgrimage to NYC to see a show at the Public. The more I do this, the more I think my hero might be Joe Papp. I love the idea that he took Shakespeare out of the hands of the experts and into the hands of everyone. My favorite story about him was his first performance in Central Park happend because he was doing Shakespeare on a trcuk all around the city and just pulled up the Central Park and hoped no one would ask him if he had a permit. They didn't. That's the way to "fight the power", if you ask me. Listen here, if you care to:

http://www.music.princeton.edu/~carson/papp.html

A gazillion years ago, my friends (and heroes) Noble Shropshire and Tina McKenna took me to see a production of The Golem in Central Park. It must have been about 1984 or so. I hated it. It rained about 30 minutes into it.

So, that's it. I guess I'll keep doing this until I get bored.

Thoughts about Experiencing Shakespeare

At CSC, we've been hearing more and more this season about how much audience members are enjoying the informality of our productions. It got me thinking about how much I like to allow people to experience theater in the way that they wish rather than in the way we wish them to. Our outdoor environment allows for this (to a great extent) - although, to be truthful, we're not particularly conducive to people who want a very formal, monastic experience.

Although I appreciate the reference points, I don't care for people dictating to me how I should experience an art museum, a symphony, or even a Rolling Stones album, so why would I seek out instruction on how to experience theater? I suspect others feel the same way. Not to say we shouldn't give them entry points, but assigning them a code of how to interact with live theater runs counter to my personal taste.

One of my favorite audience members is a guy that's been to many of our productions. He is a highly educated professional who knows his Shakespeare. Invariably, takes a break two or three times during the show to chat me me, pour a glass of wine or just get up to stretch his legs. He also cheers actors when something meets his approval- on rare occasion calling them by name - the way you do at a baseball game.

I love this- because he has decided to experience the event the way he chooses to and I'm glad we create an environment in which he feels free to do that.