Richard III and Titus Andronicus Deliever Bloody Good Performances at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival

It wasn't until last year that I knew anything about the Stratford Shakespeare Festival and its amazing performances. It was a rare thing that we came upon the festival and I'm glad to say that we can't stay away for very long. I've always loved Shakespeare's works, no matter how gory, historical, tragic or comedic they may be and every visit to the festival leaves me wishing I lived in Canada and could attend every Shakespeare (and non-Shakespearean) performance of the festival season. We made another trip yesterday to see one of Shakespeare's most famous historical dramas and his lesser-known first violent tragedy.


RICHARD III

I've never read Richard III and didn't know much about the show beforehand. I'd watched the clips that Stratford posted on Youtube and only knew that it was a story of murder and doing anything to come into power. It was exciting to see the show in the Tom Patterson Theater, the only theater we had not been in besides the Studio Theater. Only 50 ft long and 19 ft wide, the theater has little space and is much like the Riverwalk Theater in downtown Lansing, having three sections of seats surrounding the stage, hallways for the actors to enter and exit and hidden spots for the actors to appear and scare the pants off the audience.

Besides a new stage, I was most excited to see Richard III played by a woman. Because I knew nothing about the show and what it called for, I didn't know how much of a difference a woman could make in the role. I was blown away from the first time Seana McKenna came onstage slightly hunched over and in the creepiest wig I have ever seen. I had read in an article just before the show of an interview with McKenna who said she sees Richard as an actor who just wants to be somebody and uses sarcasm, cunning and humor to win people over. Her portrayal of Richard in this way shone through her brilliant performance and made Richard a very likable yet unlikable character who will do anything to become King. Along with the rest of the amazing cast, they made one great show.

One of the things I've always loved about Stratford productions is the level of creativity when it comes to the sets, costumes and especially staging. The Patterson Theater being very long but not very wide proved no challenge and everything ran smoothly. The stage was flat and had only one small raised platform near the front which gave a creepy feeling off as the main set of the Tower where the murders take place. For such a small space, its use was excellent. The set was very simple, as the stage had to be a two different throne rooms, a church, a tower and a battlefield. It was cool to see that above the set were white and red roses signifying the War of Roses that sets the two families against each other in their quest for power.


My two favorite moments of the show came in the second half of the production. When Richard sleeps the night before the final battle, in his dreams he is visited by the ghosts of all he's killed, who remind him of what he's done and end with the same curse "despair and die". The staging of such a creepy turning point was wonderful and showed how Richard is more vulnerable and weak than he thinks. The other fantastic moment was the ending where Richard fights Henry the Earl of Richmond. The final moments with Richard in the battle were done in slow motion, showing the ghosts helping Henry and bringing Richard to his death. The last few words of the show are a prayer and end with a ghostly "Amen".

Richard III was such an amazing show and one of the best I've seen at Stratford so far, and for me, Richard will always be one hell of a woman.


TITUS ANDRONICUS

It was at the very last minute that we decided to make Titus Andronicus our second show of the day. I had been talking about it for weeks and was excited when I convinced the committee to go see it. Shakespeare's most violent show and first tragedy is not very well-known and is so unusual it seems hard to believe that it belongs to the Bard. The theme of the play is revenge, and as it is heaped upon one character after another, the result is nothing short of a horrific bloodbath.

There are many characters in story of Titus which can make it difficult to keep track of who is related to whom, but when it comes to theme of revenge, the result is the same. One side is wronged, they exact brutal revenge on the other side who returns the bloody favor. Who will be left standing? In the play Titus Andronicus, the answer is "not many". The cycle begins when Titus brings home the last few prisoners of the Goths; the queen Tamora, her lover Aaron and three sons Chiron, Demetrius and Alarbus. The Romans immediately call for a sacrifice and without thinking Titus give Alarbus back to the Gods right before Romes eyes. It is from here that Tamora vows revenge on his family and the horrific cycle of revenge is set in motion.

The staging of Titus Andronicus was significantly different than that of Richard III. The main piece of set and prop used was a large cage that in the first scene held the imprisoned Goths, was the scene where the eldest son of Tamora is slain and finally used by Aaron to set up a crime and falsely accuse two of Titus' sons and condemn them to death. Besides using the main stage, portions of the show took place among the audience. Members of Tamora's family often interacted with audience members on the lower levels while the Andronici utilized the hidden spots above the stage, one of the two just a row behind us. Being so close to the actors made certain points of the show more powerful, even though the final scene on stage was the most powerful of all.

To pull off a show like Titus you need a spot-on cast who together can create a true ring of revenge. John Vickery played the man himself Titus Andronicus. He was perfect for the role, having the true Shakespeare voice and embracing his characters purely evil side. Alongside Vickery was Amanda Lisman who played Titus' beautiful yet early on violated daughter, Lavinia. Her performance as Lavinia was breathtaking and mesmerizing from beginning to end. Her character goes through such pain throughout the show, being raped by Tamora's remaining sons and having her hands cut off and tongue cut out. Lavinia is silent most of the show but even in silence Lisman delivered a chilling performance as a mute who will get her revenge. Completely opposite of Titus but just as perfect was Dion Johnstone playing Aaron. It was interesting to watch him in this production after watching him in our first Stratford show last year as Caliban in Shakespeare's last play The Tempest with the famed Christopher Plummer. His performance was much like The Tempest as he crawled all around the stage and used his body to show the simplest things. Together the cast worked well together and were not afraid to get their hands dirty.

Ironically, many members of the company were main characters or appeared in Richard III just a few hours earlier and had not one show of murder, but two. Watching these two shows on the same day was amazing since each have a very different story to tell and told them in very different ways. These shows back to back takes a lot of stamina and a true love for Shakespeare's tragic side.


CLIPS:

• Richard III: King Richard (Seana McKenna) testifies his love to a resentful Lady Anne (Bethany Jillard)

• Titus Andronicus: Tamora (Claire Lautier) and her two sons (Bruce Godfree, Brenda Murray) torment and abduct Lavinia (Amanda Lisman) after the death of Bassianus (Skye Brandon)

A Germany Story - Day 2

Our second day in Germany, started off with our first two hour orchestra rehearsal. Walking into the school all the 'Americans' moaning about how early we had to be there but everyone was excited. The rehearsal flew by and after we'd finished our families came to pick it up. The rest of the day was free time and none of it went to waste. We drove back home to drop off my instrument and music and such and realx for an hour or two . After a few more hours of sleep, GermanSisterTuna and her family took me to the neighboring towns to see some of the most famous things in Germany.


Our first stop was in Durkheim. A small town close to Maxdorf, we drove through the village until we came to some castle ruins on a tall hill. After the (very steep) climb, we went inside the ruins where the tourist in me came out for the first time. I took lots of pictures of the ruins and loved seeing a castle that was once famous hundreds of years ago. In the same town, I got to see the largest wine barrel in the world. The barrel was a restaurant and if it were filled with with wine, it could hold 1,700,000 liters.

We then made our way to another town, where I saw a famous building called The Saine. The Saine is a wooden building that produces a special kind of salt water that is said to good and healthy to breathe in. A few years ago, it caught fire and it burned down. The people wanted to rebuild it and since then it has been a big project. When we visited, most of the building was rebuilt but GermanSisterTuna said it would take some more time to complete.

Next, we went to Battenberg where we saw another set of ruins. High on a hill, the ruins overlooked a large area with four or five villiages including Maxdorf. The view was beautiful and the tourist side of me came out once again.

Our last stop was in Freinshiem, an old city that was once completely surrounded by a wall. Today, only sections of the wall are still there and are the reminder of what once protected the city many years ago. GermanSisterTuna told me that the town is famous for making wine and had many special houses for winemakers. We saw parts of the wall, the center of the town and walked down some very narrow streets along the way. By the time we had seen everything, it was already six o'clock and we made out way back to Maxdorf.

A few hours later, me and GermanSisterTuna left for another adventure. She took me to a special youth dance club where you could dance with other kids. I expected it to be like an American dance club where all we would do is dance wildly and jump up and down. When we got there, she told me that the dances included Tango, Salsa, Cha-Cha, Disco and many others. She taught me some steps and introduced me to some of her friends (who asked me questions about America and my stay in Germany). Some time later when I had learned more of the steps, GermanSisterTuna told me that one of her friends wanted to dance with me. We danced and we talked with some of her friends until it was time to go back home.

Another wonderful day in Germany was over...but there were still nine more days of adventures to be had.

A Germany Story - Day 1

It's a shock that I look at my blog everyday, and haven't realized until now that I haven't posted since August. Since my last post about Stratford, many things have happened Since long before summer, I had been waiting for the big trip of Junior year to come in November, Germany!!! My blog over the next few days, will tell of my tales across the sea's and the wonderful memories I left with to come home to America.

The day that we left for Germany was most exciting. After sitting impatiently in school for two hours we loaded the luggage, boarded the buses and waved to the few parents that were there to say good-bye. We then began our three hour bus ride to the airport. After we had gotten inside the airport, checked everything in and gotten through security.....we had over five hours to wait in the airport. The other plane carrying the other half of the students had left two to three hours before us and were already on their way, while we sat waiting in the airport. By the time, we began boarding we were so tired of the airport that everything was funny and we were all slap-happy with excitement. Needless to say, the seven hours that followed on the plane helped destroy everything that had been slap-happy in the airport.

We finally landed in Germany early in the morning; exhausted, hungry and excited to be back on the ground. After we went through everything airport wise in Germany, we boarded buses that took us to a school in Ludwigshafen where our host students would meet us. When we arrived at the school we were welcomed, found our host student and got our pictures taken. After I found GermanSisterTuna, we went to her home in Maxdorf so I could unpack, get settled and eat.

The rest of the day (according to our itinerary) was left to us. GermanSisterTuna took me around Maxdorf to see some of the homes and meet some of her family who lived nearby. The few hours that we had when we got back, I spent sleeping (for the lack achieved on the plane).

Later that evening, I went to her choir rehearsal and youth bible group. I got to sing and play games with many of her friends (although I was the only American, I needed everything to be translated and explained).

My first day in Germany was exciting, relaxing and wonderful.
The first of many to come....

Customs, Christopher Plummer, Shakespeare and Canada

Last week, i took my very first trip to Canada! We went up on the weekend to Stratford (Canada) for the annual Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Every year, Stratford attracts tons of tourists for the festival that has yearly productions from Shakespeare to modern plays. We stayed in Canada for a day and a half, and along with all the sight seeing, shopping and eating we saw three performances.

PETER PAN (The Boy Who Never Grew Up)
The first we saw was "Peter Pan". The story tells of a boy who never wants to grow up and takes back three children with him to Neverland, one of them Wendy Darling to be the lost boys and his new mother. When the children realize that they've forgotten their real life and parents they decide to return home, but run into problems with pirates along the way. Peter Pan was the first show we saw in Stratford to ease us into seeing two more Shakespeare plays in those 48 hours. The Avon Theater was jammed with many children who (throughout the show) made their opinions and comments well known to the others in the theater.

EXAMPLES:
1. Peter Pan: (Addressing audience) "Where's Tinkerbell?"
Kid: "She's up there!"
2. (The Darling children have flown off with Peter) Kid: Mommy! It must be magic, I can do it to!

Peter Pan was the oldest boy who never wants to grow up that I've ever seen! He was alright, but Captain Hook and Smee had my vote (as well as one lost boy whose voice cracked the entire time and sounded like a Monty Python character). The show was great to start with and after it was over, we had a few hours to shop, eat and be on our way to the next show!

THE TEMPST
For our second play of that day, we went alongside the river at sunset to the Festival Theater to see Shakespeares, The Tempest. The Tempest was the last play that Shakespeare wrote during his life and many think that some of the lines and concepts are things that Shakespeare wanted to "get across" to "certain people". This production was especially special because of its star actor, Christopher Plummer!! Christopher Plummer played Prospero, a man who once was Duke but banished (along with his daughter Miranda) by his brother to gain power. While on the island, Prospero sees a moment to shipwreck his enemies on his island and take his revenge. But what revenge will he take on his enemies? The show was sold out, and for good reason! Along with Christopher Plummer (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001626/) a truly amazing cast put on a spectacular show. The set was great and the costumes phenomenal! Every moment left you either with goosebumps out or wanting more, but by the time it was over you it seemed we couldn't stop clapping. It was something that I'll never forget.

The next morning before our third and final show, we took a small trip to the Shakespeare Costume Warehouse. We had bough tickets to take a tour of the warehouse where after every show 2 or 3 costumes are selected, stored and never worn again. Instead, they're put on display for others to see and sometimes re worn in other productions. We went to the earliest tour they had and was happy when we found out that it was to be a private tour! We walked through seeing old costumes, props and sets that were used once in a production. It was a great way to start the day and appreciate everything that makes a production possible (besides the actors).

AS YOU LIKE IT
Our final show, As You Like It, was in the same theater at Tempest but instead was a comedy. The show follows Rosalind, a girl who is banished from the court and flees along with her cousin Ceila to the Forest or Arden. While she is in the forest, she learns that the man She loves, Orlando has also flown the court and lies somewhere in the forest. Wanting to take advantage of the opportunity, Rosalind becomes a young man and meets Orlando in the forest to find out how he truly feels for her. The show is most famous for the quote "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women, mealy players". The show has many great monologues and memorable scenes that weave magic into the story of two girls and a boy who fall in love.

As soon as the show was over, we jumped back in the car and drove home to Michigan. In almost two days we had made it to Canada, through customs, shopped, geocached, seen three shows and made it back to Michigan and already wanting to go back for more.

Day of Wrath Born Scorpion Need

By my interesting title choice, yesterday I returned from my fourth year at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.

Blue Lake is a music camp that runs during the summer, that draws many student from around the world to come and learn something new in their field. Majors can range from things in music (band, orchestra, choir, jazz etc.) to art, Shakespeare, musical theater and music composition. With every new year, comes new people. What makes or breaks you year depends on two things; you cabin mates and your counselor. If everyone in your cabin hates each other (or your counselor), it doesn't help to make it a fun experience. Thankfully, this year I had a wonderful cabin as well as two counselors!

Every day at camp starts at the crack of dawn (usually 6 AM) and goes until about 9:30. At camp you work on your major for about 6 hours and every night you go to some sort of concert. There are two periods of break time; Minor and Rec. During minor time you can either take an extra class or use it as a rest hour. If people have a minor class, they're usually glad when Rec comes around. EVERYONE has Rec and a free hour and people usually stay in their cabins or go to main camp to talk to friends or stand in the very long food lines to buy ice cream.

Blue Lake is an Internationally known camp that hosts campers from many other countries. This year, there were many campers from Germany and France. I was very excited to have a German student in our cabin and my bunk mate. Students receive scholarships (either full or part) to come to camp for a session, and for many they come to America for the first time. They get to come to learn not only about music, but also how crazy America is....

On the final Sunday of camp, every major group has a final performance. The concerts are spread out through the day and after they're done, the campers are released.

Every year is an adventure, every year is filled with fun, every year you learn something new and at the end of every year you don't know how to be normal again

At the Tonys, Tony Awards!!

I accidentally deleted my last blog, so I made another just like the first!
I haven't blogged in a while, so I at first find myself with a new blog but without a topic.
Then I remember that the Tony's were on a few weeks ago and how much of a theater dork I am...

The Tony Awards are the equivalent of the Oscars. Instead of awards for movies, the awards are for either musicals or plays and all the people that help to make them happen. The awards include famous stars presenting and live performances. This year, almost (if not all) the nominees came from shows that are all fresh on Broadway. Every show has something different, and every year I want to see all every single one.

In my other blog, I did a post with the list of the 2010 Oscar winners, and so, here's the winners of the Tony Awards for 2010!

Best Play - Red
A new play by John Logan, involving the meaning of art and the artists that create it

Best Musical - Memphis
A new musical about a white DJ who wants to change the world and its music and a black club singer looking for her break. Her BIG break.

Best Book of a Musical - Memphis

Best Original Score (Music/Lyrics) - Memphis
Only heard a few songs at the actuall awards...I want them all now!

Best Revival of a Play - Fences
The story of a man torn between two paths, but is determined to make life better for his son and the many generations to come

Best Revival of a Musical - La Cage aux Folles
A story about a family staying together and their bonds put to the test

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play- Denzel Washington (Fences)
Movies, TV and Broadway....there is nothing that he hasn't done

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play - Viola Davis (Fences)
Really want to see this show!!!

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical - Douglas Hodge (La Cage aux Folles)

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical - Catherine Zeta-Jones (A Little Night Music)
A Sondheim musical and story of love

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play - Eddie Redmayne (Red)

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play - Scarlett Johansson (A View from the Bridge)
A show about obsession, secrets, love and the loss of everything

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical - Levi Kreis (Million Dollar Quartet)
A story of four future famous stars (Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins). Four men who made up a million buck group

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical - Katie Finneran (Promises, Promises)

Best Direction of a Play - Red

Best Direction of a Musical - La Cage aux Folles

Best Choreography - Fela!
A mix of music and dance from Africa, talking about political and social issues of the country

Best Orchestrations - Memphis

Best Scenic Design of a Play - Red

Best Scenic Design of a Musical - American Idiot
A musical based on the life and songs of the band...American Idiot

Best Costume Design of a Play - The Royal Family

Best Costume Design of a Musical - Fela!

Best Lighting Design of a Play - Red

Best Lighting Design of a Musical - American Idiot

Best Sound Design of a Play - Red

Best Sound Design of a Musical - Fela!