What is it about Shakespeare? Say the name and you typically get one of two reactions: Sheer pleasure or severe pain. Some of us enjoy the works and believe they are (for the most part) highly entertaining; much better than most of what passes for entertainment on television these days. The tragedies are filled with murder, intrigue and passion; the comedies are rich with fools, mistaken identities and love affairs.
It makes me wonder why people find the plays and sonnets long, boring and incomprehensible. Could it be lack of a proper introduction? Personally, I had wonderful High School and College English teachers – women who made the language sing. I’ve also had the pleasure of attending superb performances, locally and in the UK.
Before buying tickets for a live performance, consider the director and actors’ skill. I have nothing against community theaters and high school troupes who tackle projects, in fact, I applaud their efforts, but if you are a Shakespeare novice, or haven’t previously enjoyed the plays, a professional company may be a better start.
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Two companies I can highly recommend are The Shakespeare Theatre of NJ (at Drew University) www.shakespearenj.org and The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival (in Garrison NY), www.hvshakespeare.org. With the right play, talented performers and a skilled director, you may find that All’s Well That Ends Well.
