PLAYBOT: It’s Shakespeare time!
One point in favour of teaching Shakespeare in schools and putting on Shakespeare festivals every summer – if we’re still arguing about this – is that almost everyone knows Shakespeare.
Sure, he came from a distinctly white male European point of view, but his stories persist to this day because, well, they’re good. Think of classic rock songs, or Beethoven – if it was good then, it’s good now, goes the slogan. Not proven, but it sounds good.
For instance, you’ve heard of a guy named Hamlet? He was a troubled fellow, suicidal, haunted by traitors, assailed by assassins, and on top of that prone to being emotionally hijacked by hallucinations. It didn’t help that someone killed his dad. Could’ve used some therapy and the story would’ve turned out differently – but King Duncan wasn’t enough to save Hamlet, despite good advice, “There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face. He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust!” That doesn’t help at all – and also it’s from the wrong play. It’s Hamlet we’re talking about! Hamlet, damn it!
Spoiler alert: it doesn’t end well for Hamlet.
On stage as part of the Freewill Shakespeare Festival in Hawrelak Park’s Heritage Amphitheatre until July 15, the tragedy of Hamlet will run on even dates and be balanced by comedy on the odd dates and matinees – Comedy of Errors, to be specific, one of Shakespeare’s great comedies. Why, it’s right there in the title!
Forever Plaid
What could’ve been a horror story has been turned into a delightful jukebox musical. A quartet of musicians calling themselves The Plaid get into a fatal car accident on the way to their first big gig – their ghosts doomed to walk the Earth forever, singing close-cropped harmonies of 1950s pop hits while presumably wearing plaid.
At least they seem happy about it: Getting one more chance in the afterlife to perform the gig that never was, and take their place in the history books alongside The Four Freshmen, The Four Aces, The Four Coins, The Four Lads and of course The Kirby Stone Four.
Forever Plaid is the latest show at the Mayfield Dinner Theatre, playing until July 29.
Into the Woods
We know this one because Meryl Streep and a who’s who of Hollywood stars were featured in the 2014 feature film based on the Stephen Sondheim musical – the story a manic mash-up of several different fairy tales, and of course all set to music. With a witty script and well-drawn familiar characters, it’s actually a good musical for people who claim not to like musicals.
As part of their annual summer festival, Opera NUOVA presents Into the Woods at Sherwood Park’s Festival Place June 24-30.
Wedding Bells and Bombshells
This is an original script by Meghan Schritt and Laura Blackwood of Edmonton Musical Theatre, and it deals with a wedding gone wrong. Seems that the groom had never met any of the bride’s family – which you think would’ve set off warning bells long before the guy proposed – and apparently they don’t see eye to eye on a number of things. A wedding from hell ensues, though we suspect there’s a heartwarming message in there somewhere.
At the Westbury Theatre in the ATB Financial Arts Barns June 21-30, Wedding Bells and Bombshells is a full-blown musical featuring a cast of 35 performers, almost big enough for a real wedding party.
Improvaganza
Scripts? Who needs scripts? We don’t need no steenkin’ scripts! As long as the memory bank is filled with pertinent pop culture references, creating theatre off the top of your head is a piece of cake – and now you’re thinking of cake. On top of your head. Mmm, cake.
That previous paragraph was completely improvised, for example – just a hint of the possibilities found in Rapid Fire Theatre’s Improvaganza, an entire Edmonton festival devoted to comedy improv. Continuing at the Citadel Theatre until June 23, featured attractions include the award-winning British troupe Showstopper: The Improvised Musical, special showcases, public workshops, bouts of Theatresports, and the closing gala edition of The Big Stupid Improv Show – where anything can happen. Because, you know, improv!
