Thursday, March 03, 2016
Dead 400 Years, but Still Very Much Alive
The New York Times: In a coincidence that seems fitting for a master creator of plots, Shakespeare is said to have been born, and died, on April 23. This year, the 400th anniversary of his death has prompted an outpouring of productions, concerts and exhibitions. Here are a highly curated few.
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For as long as I can tell, someone has been reviving Shakespeare, or reworking it, or re-imagining it, or rebelling against it. Not a week goes by that I don't saunter on to the PTM blog, ready to drop my 5 knowledge bombs on the world, and chance upon some sort of Shakespeare something. The Globe is casting females in traditionally male roles, or a director is adapting traditional prose to be performed as modern day social commentary(congratulations on the run, Anthony and Cleopatra!), or someone else doing something else to make Shakespeare somehow more relevant or appetizing. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm fine with this. Of all the playwrights to latch onto for 400 years, Shakespeare is pretty much the best choice, especially when you look at his compatriots. I know I would be less-tan-thrilled id it was John Donne or some French Neoclassicist that was worked at least once into every regional theater season anywhere one looked.
I guess what I'm trying to say is cautionary. If the theater world gets too set on one repertoire, one body of work, who knows what we might overlook? The Met and its cycle of four over-performed operas is a warning.
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