I have loved, loved, loved the shows that I saw this year at the Shakespeare Festival.
When I came back from the few months I was at home, the first show on the docket was Moliere's "The IMaginary Invalid." I've said it once, I'll say it again, I love seeing the same actors in numerous roles. The main character, the invalid, was played by Mr. Parravachini from the Mousetrap, and the main maid, who was essentially the other main character, was played by the same actress who did Miss Casewell. "The Imaginary Invalid" was a classic Moliere play, with lots of mistaken identities, mix-ups and happily resolved endings- except for one. This production was set in the 70s and although the costumes were absolutely hysterical and wonderful, there were some weird dance scenes that I didn't quite understand how they fit into the play but funny nonetheless. The play was fabulous until the final scene which left you with a sad pit in your stomach, despite everything else happy that happened at the end.
"A Winter's Tale" was the next production and the costumes and setting seemed to be 18th century European, with heavy brocade, military uniforms and majestic kings and queens of Austria, Prussia and France. I have never seen or read "A Winter's Tale" before, but they had a synopsis at the beginning which helped to clear things up. It was certainly one of the weirder plays of Shakespeare- bear attacks, sheep shearing dances, a statue that comes to life, just so bizarre, but at the same time, incredibly enjoyable. I really did love the costumes and the changes between the two cities were as different as night and day, dark and light, depressing and uplifting.
Finally, last night, Niki, April and I went to see "Noises Off". We had a little issue with the tickets but ended up getting new seats and free chairs to sit on the lawn, right in the middle of the house. "NOises Off" looks at the trials and tribulations of putting on a stage production. The first act is the actors and director trying to get through the dress rehearsal of the play. The second act takes up backstage and lets us see the backstage antics, situations, problems and insanity while they also put the play on "backstage" (to us....). The third act is their final performance, and everything that goes wrong having dealt with each other as actors for the last few weeks. By this point, the audience knows what the show should be like and the comedy comes from seeing how things keep getting screwed up. I literally as laughing so hard I was crying. Comedy was amazing- it's so hard to do and they actors were absolutely spot on with their physical comedy, their lines, their facial expressions, etc. I would see that show again and again, it was that good. If you are in Idaho and can get to see it before it closes next week, GO! You won't regret it!
