For this show, we had to drive a whopping 200 miles. The Wooden O theater company (www.seattleshakespeare.org/woodeno) is based in Seattle, and their productions are staged all around the area. This show was in a lovely park in Lynwood, about 45 minutes North of Seattle but only 15 minutes from where we were staying at my brother's house in Mount Lake Terrace.
Since we hadn't been to the venue before, we decided it would be better to get there a little early, rather than later. But we even with a few missed directions, we were 90 minutes early. All this meant though, was that we got prime seats in a very small amphitheater tucked away in a wooden glen. Very pretty and added great atmosphere once the sun started to go down and the shadows grew long. Watching the set up, Amanda was dismayed to see large speakers being tested. In Portland, none of the outdoor shows are amplified which sometimes adds to the fun because people in Portland will always let actors know when they can't hear the dialogue. Apparently, the standards are different in Washington. Amanda was also puzzled to see the clearly very expensive fight gear, being more accustomed to a more DIY vibe back home (a stick for a sword). This company was obviously well funded.
The show itself moved at a brisk pace with no intermission and wrapping up at just about one hour. This meant much of the show as written had been cut, though they managed to leave in every possibly violent scene. The killing of McDuff's family, always shocking, was particularly so in this productions as Lady McDuff had her throat slit onstage mere feet from many small children in the front row. Good thing they didn't spring for blood packs. Though there was plenty of blood: on the fighters, on the witches, on Lady Macbeth.
The role of Lady Macbeth was competently played but Amanda couldn't disagree with her underlying motivation more. There is little in the script to explain her actions so this show decided to go with that old chestnut, "Her baby died, so she went nuts." It didn't work on any level as far as Amanda was concerned.
Wendy rated the venue a 6 because it wasn't big enough to accommodate the audience. As a result we were packed in like sardines. The production earned a 8.5 because, Lady Macbeth's motives aside, and the fact that they cut so much out aside, it was a good production. The set was really awesome-a two tiered set on a scaffold. The costumes and props were "really top-drawer." She always likes a good fight scene and appreciates how difficult they are, and she thought they did really well, even with all the throat slitting. She also like Lady Macbeth as she enjoys a good crazy lady, and with the obsessive hand washing, the actor portrayed her insanity very well. She aspires to be a crazy lady some day (in the theater only, of course).
Amanda rated the venue a 7 for easy, ample parking and a lovely place to sit for 90 minutes. She also appreciated the fellow playgoers who, though some we overheard had never been to a Shakespeare play, were respectful of each other. The set scaffold was amazing to look at, and the actors appeared comfortable on it, but it wobbled a bit too much for Amanda's comfort. This is listed in the venue rating as each stage is dependent upon the venue-dirt, concrete, wooden platform all play differently.
As for the show itself, a rating of 4. Primarily for the level of gratuitous violence in an admittedly violent show. She thinks they went overboard, much to Wendy's disagreement who is shocked at Amanda's low rating. Points were also taken off for the liberal cuts to the script at the expense of character development. Sure, why not kill off Mcduff's family? We never got to know them in the first place. She also vehemently disagreed with Lady Macbeth's motivation (see above), though the actor did a fine job with what she was given. The acting overall was adequate but Macbeth seemed to be a one note wonder who, after rising to a fevered pitch in the first scene, had nowhere to go. And in a fit of pique, Amanda was also bugged by the guy playing Malcolm who looked just like Seth Green and that was distracting. Wendy does agree on this point also, but nothing else.
We had planned to see two other shows while in Seattle but were rained out both nights. Still managed to have a lovely picnic dinner in Amanda's parent's house though, so that was nice.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
A Midsummer Night's Dream: Second Show Of The Season
For our second show we had a special treat; a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, on Midsummer Night. Once again, we went with our friend Rachel to the highest point in Portland. A park where neither Wendy or Amanda had been, but luckily Rachel had. Sometimes the hardest part of going to Shakespeare In The Park, is finding the park. (Side note: for one show this summer Amanda and Rachel and our friend Ruby hiked for 45 minutes before finding the show, figuring out later that it was just two blocks from where they had parked the car.)
This show, in Council Crest, was being staged by The Original Practice Theater (www.opsfest.org). At OPT they do not practice before the shows and it is just like when Shakespeare was first being produced in the 1600s. Each actor is given only their part and their cues, on a little rolled up script. This is where the term "roll" came from. Apparently the actors decide that day who is going to do each roll, though some actors keep their same rolls production after production. And clearly the women who were playing Hermia and Helena had played those parts before, they knew their lines awfully well.
Since it was on the Solstice, the show started at ten o'clock at night to a very good sized crowd of very enthusiastic Shakespeare lovers and a lot of hungry mosquitos. We arrived early enough to see the fight and dance choreography being worked out before the show, as well as a spectacular sunset from the most beautiful view in Portland.
The show itself was a "rollicking good time". The audience had been primed preshow to feel free to talk, eat, laugh, boo, interact with the actors as they saw fit. At OPT shows, there is always a referee who interferes whenever the actors get lost and helps to get everyone on the same roll. (Pun intended!) The referee is like an onstage prompter and he or she will stop the show if there is environmental interference (a plane, train, or drunken party bus) that could make it hard to hear the actors. This show was particularly fun for Wendy because she knew the referee. His name was Andrew and he had worked with her on Grant High School's production of The Sound Of Music.
Amanda would rate the venue a 7. The only drawback being getting lost on the way there and on the way home. Council Crest is not a nice place to be lost on at one in the morning. We saw a rabbit, a coyote and possibly Bigfoot before we found the main road back to civilization. She would rate the production to be an 8 as well because this was the best Bottom that she has ever seen. She liked that he relished in the roll. Part of her rating goes to the "Memorable factor", because the company had set up lights that went out in the last 20 minutes of the show. She liked that instead of stopping the show to fix the lights, they kept going and finished the play to the light of the audience's cell phones and the occasional flashlight. "It is one production that I will not soon forget." she says.
Wendy would rate the venue to be a 9 because even though she does not particularly like nature, she liked seeing the sunset. She also liked that there were enough people sitting around her who were wearing bug spray so she was not eaten alive by mosquitoes. Wendy felt that the production deserved a 9 as well because all around the actors did a fantastic job and as an audience member she was not able to tell that they had not practiced (with the exception of the dance and fight scenes).
This show, in Council Crest, was being staged by The Original Practice Theater (www.opsfest.org). At OPT they do not practice before the shows and it is just like when Shakespeare was first being produced in the 1600s. Each actor is given only their part and their cues, on a little rolled up script. This is where the term "roll" came from. Apparently the actors decide that day who is going to do each roll, though some actors keep their same rolls production after production. And clearly the women who were playing Hermia and Helena had played those parts before, they knew their lines awfully well.
Since it was on the Solstice, the show started at ten o'clock at night to a very good sized crowd of very enthusiastic Shakespeare lovers and a lot of hungry mosquitos. We arrived early enough to see the fight and dance choreography being worked out before the show, as well as a spectacular sunset from the most beautiful view in Portland.
The show itself was a "rollicking good time". The audience had been primed preshow to feel free to talk, eat, laugh, boo, interact with the actors as they saw fit. At OPT shows, there is always a referee who interferes whenever the actors get lost and helps to get everyone on the same roll. (Pun intended!) The referee is like an onstage prompter and he or she will stop the show if there is environmental interference (a plane, train, or drunken party bus) that could make it hard to hear the actors. This show was particularly fun for Wendy because she knew the referee. His name was Andrew and he had worked with her on Grant High School's production of The Sound Of Music.
Amanda would rate the venue a 7. The only drawback being getting lost on the way there and on the way home. Council Crest is not a nice place to be lost on at one in the morning. We saw a rabbit, a coyote and possibly Bigfoot before we found the main road back to civilization. She would rate the production to be an 8 as well because this was the best Bottom that she has ever seen. She liked that he relished in the roll. Part of her rating goes to the "Memorable factor", because the company had set up lights that went out in the last 20 minutes of the show. She liked that instead of stopping the show to fix the lights, they kept going and finished the play to the light of the audience's cell phones and the occasional flashlight. "It is one production that I will not soon forget." she says.
Wendy would rate the venue to be a 9 because even though she does not particularly like nature, she liked seeing the sunset. She also liked that there were enough people sitting around her who were wearing bug spray so she was not eaten alive by mosquitoes. Wendy felt that the production deserved a 9 as well because all around the actors did a fantastic job and as an audience member she was not able to tell that they had not practiced (with the exception of the dance and fight scenes).
The Tempest: The first show of the season
Portland is a wonderland of free Shakespeare for those who are willing to deal with all that this entails. Our first show of the "season" (which runs from about the second week of June through late Aug) was The Tempest. Generally, Amanda is not fond of this play, for no particular reason, other than it seems to drag in the final third and few of the characters or their actions are very interesting. Wendy feels that there are parts of the show that are hard to follow, but that is standard for Shakespeare, part of the package.
Regardless, Wendy enjoyed the show, as did Amanda. We went with our friends Coyla and Rachel, plus met up with Rachel's roommate Natalie at Lovejoy Park, a grass-free downtown park/fountain. Over the years, we have learned to bring foldable chairs, a large sheet for ground cover and various picnic foods to keep us busy while we waited for the show to start. Usually we arrive about an hour before the show starts to scope out a good spot. This often gives us an opportunity to see the actors set up the stage, arrange the props and do their sometimes freaky warmups. This time, however, we also got to hear a local park resident play the harmonica. Thankfully, he was quite good.
Most Shakespeare in the park in Portland are held away from residential areas, but this time we were, basically, in the front yard of a large urban apartment house. One of the residents did not like being disturbed by the Bard's work and showed his displeasure by shouting down from his balcony such things as "Shut up!" and "Go away!" and various random noises. The best was him screaming during the scene where the shipwrecked sailors were lying on the ground, "I pee'd there!" The whole audience cracked up but the actors carried on as best they could, and soon Mr. Grumpy Pants went back inside.
Another distraction was the harmonica player, who was very drunk. Not belligerent or rude per se but just a bit too enthusiastic with his guffaws and laughter. We mean, he was really loud. But totally enjoying the show. There is a speech near the final act where The Fool gives that classic speech on drunkenness and the evils of liquor. While he did so, he indicated the man who by this point was not able to realize that he had become the butt of the joke. It wasn't mean-spirited but more ironic than anything.
We are still figuring out a rating system for the plays we see but have devised a scale of 0-10 quills (aren't we clever?) Zero quills means we left before the show was done (not due to weather or other circumstances) because we couldn't stand to watch any more. Eight quills rates good enough that we would go back to see the show again, and ten means it was the greatest show ever. We will rate the venue separately from the production. We will each rate each show.
Wendy rated this production a 6.5 because of the special effects (cool parachutes with light up cubes inside that fell into then floated around the fountain), and that the actors were really good. She especially like Prospero, who she thought was amazing. As for the venue, Wendy gave it a 5 because the fountain and the sets were good, but some of the people were distracting, including the drunk guy, the shouter and the gang of disaffected street youth who wandered through the park three quarters of the way through the show.
Amanda gave the production a 6.5 also for the creative use of the fountain, especially during the shipwreck that opens the show, and for the cool things that lit up, making use of the fact that this was a night show. Most of the acting was adequate with special kudos to the drunken sailor. She rated the venue a 4, for being a concrete wasteland that must have been uncomfortable for those without chairs, and for the lack of parking.
Regardless, Wendy enjoyed the show, as did Amanda. We went with our friends Coyla and Rachel, plus met up with Rachel's roommate Natalie at Lovejoy Park, a grass-free downtown park/fountain. Over the years, we have learned to bring foldable chairs, a large sheet for ground cover and various picnic foods to keep us busy while we waited for the show to start. Usually we arrive about an hour before the show starts to scope out a good spot. This often gives us an opportunity to see the actors set up the stage, arrange the props and do their sometimes freaky warmups. This time, however, we also got to hear a local park resident play the harmonica. Thankfully, he was quite good.
Most Shakespeare in the park in Portland are held away from residential areas, but this time we were, basically, in the front yard of a large urban apartment house. One of the residents did not like being disturbed by the Bard's work and showed his displeasure by shouting down from his balcony such things as "Shut up!" and "Go away!" and various random noises. The best was him screaming during the scene where the shipwrecked sailors were lying on the ground, "I pee'd there!" The whole audience cracked up but the actors carried on as best they could, and soon Mr. Grumpy Pants went back inside.
Another distraction was the harmonica player, who was very drunk. Not belligerent or rude per se but just a bit too enthusiastic with his guffaws and laughter. We mean, he was really loud. But totally enjoying the show. There is a speech near the final act where The Fool gives that classic speech on drunkenness and the evils of liquor. While he did so, he indicated the man who by this point was not able to realize that he had become the butt of the joke. It wasn't mean-spirited but more ironic than anything.
We are still figuring out a rating system for the plays we see but have devised a scale of 0-10 quills (aren't we clever?) Zero quills means we left before the show was done (not due to weather or other circumstances) because we couldn't stand to watch any more. Eight quills rates good enough that we would go back to see the show again, and ten means it was the greatest show ever. We will rate the venue separately from the production. We will each rate each show.
Wendy rated this production a 6.5 because of the special effects (cool parachutes with light up cubes inside that fell into then floated around the fountain), and that the actors were really good. She especially like Prospero, who she thought was amazing. As for the venue, Wendy gave it a 5 because the fountain and the sets were good, but some of the people were distracting, including the drunk guy, the shouter and the gang of disaffected street youth who wandered through the park three quarters of the way through the show.
Amanda gave the production a 6.5 also for the creative use of the fountain, especially during the shipwreck that opens the show, and for the cool things that lit up, making use of the fact that this was a night show. Most of the acting was adequate with special kudos to the drunken sailor. She rated the venue a 4, for being a concrete wasteland that must have been uncomfortable for those without chairs, and for the lack of parking.
Monday, July 25, 2011
The Prologue To Our Quest
For years we have been going to Shakespeare; in the park, in the theater, at the movies. Amanda started bringing Wendy to Shakespeare In The Park before she could read. We always had an agreement that if the show was too boring (or too hard to follow) we would leave at intermission. Only once did we leave a show, but that was because it was over 95 degrees outside. Sorry Taming Of The Shrew.
In 2009, we went to Ashland for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for the first time together. We saw four plays in two days. And had a blast. We have been back every summer since. The first year we went with two of Amanda's friends; the second year we went with one of Wendy's friends; and this year we are going again, but just the two of us, thanks to a generous sponsor (Hi Rachel!).
We decided to attempt Shakespeare's Canon; seeing all 36 plays attributed to Shakespeare, together the first year that we went to Ashland, and have been working on it ever since. To date, Amanda has seen 29 of the plays and Wendy has seen 14. We've decided that seeing the movie of the play doesn't count toward the Canon list, it needs to be a professional theater company, no matter how small.
This is the blog of our efforts.
In 2009, we went to Ashland for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for the first time together. We saw four plays in two days. And had a blast. We have been back every summer since. The first year we went with two of Amanda's friends; the second year we went with one of Wendy's friends; and this year we are going again, but just the two of us, thanks to a generous sponsor (Hi Rachel!).
We decided to attempt Shakespeare's Canon; seeing all 36 plays attributed to Shakespeare, together the first year that we went to Ashland, and have been working on it ever since. To date, Amanda has seen 29 of the plays and Wendy has seen 14. We've decided that seeing the movie of the play doesn't count toward the Canon list, it needs to be a professional theater company, no matter how small.
This is the blog of our efforts.
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