What magic we have here. Such stuff as dream are made on.
Tim Crouch’s latest Shakespeare adaptation is at first glance, incredibly traditional; for those expecting immediate subversion, think again. Instead, the subversion comes more subtly; indeed the first moments of it feel so organic, I questioned whether it was planned or real….As the silliness of the plot unfolds, the commentary from within the production grows and grows.
Despite this irreverence, there is a magical and respectful quality to the choices; the language is paramount, at times repeated by multiple characters, or whispered by one as it is spoken by another. This is a story we’ve heard over and over again, one that echoes in our memories even if we don’t remember every beat.
In particular, the use of the Wannamaker Playhouse space is ingenious; Crouch’s direction uses every inch of the building, the echoes, the angles, the height….creating a world where the audience feel they too could jump up and participate.
This production isn’t about reverence to the Bard; it is about reverence to communion, to coming together. To breaking down barriers and exclusions. To joy.