#ariel bock

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REVIEW: "Macbeth" at Shakespeare & Company

REVIEW: “Macbeth” at Shakespeare & Company

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REVIEW: "As You Like It" at Shakespeare & Company

REVIEW: “As You Like It” at Shakespeare & Company

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REVIEW: "Twelfth Night" at Shakespeare & Company

REVIEW: “Twelfth Night” at Shakespeare & Company

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Shakespeare & Company Announces "Sense and Sensibility" for the Holidays

Shakespeare & Company Announces “Sense and Sensibility” for the Holidays

“To wish was to hope, and to hope was to expect” ― Jane Austen, Sense & Sensibility 

(Lenox, MA) – Shakespeare & Company proudly presents a costumed reading of Sense and Sensibility, written by Kate Hamillbased on the novel by Jane Austen. The lively reading is directed and staged by longtime Company member and Producing Associate Ariel Bock. This funny, warm-hearted classic tale will have a…

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by Macey Levin

  First came the earthquake, then the tsunami that devastated villages, inundated farms, caused massive beach erosion and flooded a nuclear power plant along the English coast.  All this occurs before the beginning of Lucy Kirkwood’s The Children, a provocative play currently enjoying an intelligent and engrossing production at Shakespeare & Company’s Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre.

  Hazel and Robin, former scientists at the power plant now in their mid-60’s, live in a small stone cottage close to the seaside and down the road from the nuclear complex.  Rose, a former colleague, suddenly arrives for a visit after a thirty-eight year lapse. She stands in the middle of the floor suffering a nosebleed which Hazel tends to. These are the beginning moments of a series of conversations and revelations that plumb the relationship of the three old friends.

  Hazel (Diane Prusha,) though courteous, appears to be somewhat wary of Rose’s (Ariel Bock) presence and proceeds to make small talk while Rose is not forthcoming about the reason for her unannounced visit.  They trade superficial information about their lives over the years until Robin (Jonathan Epstein) returns from the farm at the old homestead where he goes every day. Gradually the secrets and angers of the past are revealed.

  The first hour-plus of the play is a domestic comedy/drama until the reference to their time at the plant and what has been wrought by nature and mankind.  When Rose informs them of the reason for her visit intense arguments follow regarding climate change and the potential dangers of nuclear power plants as occurred at Fukushima in 2011.  These scenes bring the levity to a halt and emphasize the profundity of the ecological changes the planet is experiencing which segues to the question of man’s responsibility to man.

  The play makes a seamless transition from one tone to another; credit Kirkwood for creating a convincing debate within the structure of a seemingly mundane play.  She does, however, use a stage device when each character leaves the kitchen so that the remaining two can have a personal conversation. She has also included a scene in which the three giddily dance together suggesting the camaraderie they once shared.

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What carries the play are the performances by three of the major actors in the Berkshires.  Prusha works the emotional levels of Hazel intelligently. Her attitudes may change moment to moment but they arise from a logical reaction to what is happening to and around her.   Her voice is honeyed with tinges of suspicion or frustration. The scenes with Epstein sound like a married couple though there is a sense that not everything is what it should be. He too moves smoothly from one stance to another as he wends his way through the connection he has with the women.  Bock’s Rose is enigmatic, skillfully avoiding committing herself to describing her mission; then she is resolute in defending her actions.

  Director James Warwick has paced the production carefully so that the audience is aware that something is amiss amongst the three, keeping their secrets until another puzzle piece drops into place.  He maintains interest by making the characters likable though they are apprehensive about what is occurring. The laughs permeate the conversations while he readily builds into the final conflicts. Set designer Patrick Brennan has created a homey cottage that ultimately contrasts with the tensions and recriminations that evolve.  James W. Bilnoski’s lighting complements the varying moods of the play.

This is a solid production of a difficult play that finds its truth in the hands of the hard-working actors and director.

  The Children by Lucy Kirkwood; Director: James Warwick; Cast: Ariel Bock (Rose) Jonathan Epstein (Robin) Diane Prusha (Hazel); Set Designer: Patrick Brennan; Lighting Designer: James W. Bilnoski; Costume Designer: Deborah A. Brothers; Sound Designer: Amy Altadonna; Choreographer: Kristin Wold; Stage Manger: Sandy Cleary; Running Time: Two hours, fifteen minutes including one intermission; 7/18/19 – 8/18/19; Shakespeare & Company Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre, Lenox, Massachusetts shakespeare.org

REVIEW: “The Children” at Shakespeare & Company by Macey Levin First came the earthquake, then the tsunami that devastated villages, inundated farms, caused massive beach erosion and flooded a nuclear power plant along the English coast. 

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by Jenny Hansell

  Cross-dressing, mistaken identity, unrequited love, bawdy humor, and a few heart-stopping moments of darkness and deep emotion:  Shakespeare & Company’s hugely talented and appealing company works hard to make every word of Twelfth Night breathe as if freshly written.

  Sticking with the play pretty much as written (recent productions in New York and New Haven have included full-on musicals, casts of puppets, fully modern language and many other variations)  this production, directed with energy and style by Allyn Burrows, is set on a boardwalk at the beach in 1959. The plentiful music, which winds throughout, draws on jazz, early Motown, and classic 50’s harmonies.

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A young woman named Viola washes up on the beach at Illyria after the shipwreck that swept away her beloved twin brother Sebastien. She disguises herself as a young man, Cesario in order to work for the local nobleman, Duke Orsino. She quickly falls in love with the Duke, who is in love with Lady Olivia. Olivia in turn falls for Cesario when “he” is sent to plead the Duke’s case. In addition to this trio, we have another: Sir Toby, Olivia’s drunk Uncle; Toby’s friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek, and Maria’s lady-in-waiting, Maria, who tease and taunt one another and Olivia’s uptight steward, Malvolio. The clown of the house, Feste, hovers around, offering songs and silliness.

  A theme of real trauma underlies the comedy: Olivia (Cloteal L. Horne, passionate and very funny) is in mourning for her beloved brother. Malvolio (Miles Anderson) is truly devastated by the cruel prank Maria and Toby play on him.  Viola’s brother Sebastien, when he reappears, is stunned to be reunited with his lost sister – Deaon Griffin-Pressley is particularly moving as he realizes she is not dead after all.  And as Viola, the superb Ella Loudon finds new shades to a young woman who is struggling with her own identity: she doesn’t want to shed her man’s clothing at the end (and this Duke is fine with that).  Nigel Gore stood out as the absurd suitor Aguecheek, and as Toby, Steven Barkhimer was a bit more low-key than his drinking buddies, but he played at least three instruments in the clever songs (mostly performed by Gregory Boover as Feste.)

The sharp costumes were designed by Govane Lohbauer; the 1959-accurate dancing and battles overseen by movement director Susan Dibble.

  Twelfth Night is funny, moving and hugely entertaining –in a crowded Berkshires summer of theater, it’s a real standout.

  Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare, through August 4, 2019 at Shakespeare & Co., Tina Packer Playhouse, 70 Kemble Street, Lenox, MA. Tickets at www.shakespeare.org. Director: Allyn Burrows. Voice Coach: Ariel Bock. Movement Director: Susan Dibble. Set Designer: Cristina Todesco. Costume Designer: Govane Lohbauer. Lighting Designer: Deb Sullivan. Sound Designer & Composer: Arshan Gailus. Music Director: Gregory Boover. CAST: Martin Jason Asprey (Antonio/Sea Captain), Steven Barkhimer (Sir Toby Belch), Gregory Boover (Feste), Nigel Gore (Andrew Aguecheek), Deaon Griffin-Pressley (Sebastian), Cloteal L. Horne (Olivia), Ella Loudon (Viola), Bella Merlin (Maria), Miles Anderson (Malvolio), Bryce Michael Wood. (Duke Orsino)

Tickets for Twelfth Night are available online at shakespeare.org, or by calling Shakespeare & Company’s box office at [phone]. The Tina Packer Playhouse is air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible. Shakespeare & Company is located at 70 Kemble St. in Lenox, Massachusetts. Twelfth Night is generously sponsored by Dr. Donald and Phoebe L. Giddon.

  Additionally, Shakespeare & Company invites audiences to participate in a Free Pre-Show Talk on Tuesday, July 9th at 6:15pm as we provide insight into the plot and characters of the play to enhance your experience. Join Artistic Director Allyn Burrows and cast members for the Director’s Panel on Saturday, July 20th at 11am for a discussion of the creative journey of bringing Twelfth Night to the stage. Adult tickets for the Director’s Panel are $10 for adults and free for students. For tickets and more information visit shakespeare.org.

REVIEW: “Twelfth Night” at Shakespeare & Company by Jenny Hansell Cross-dressing, mistaken identity, unrequited love, bawdy humor, and a few heart-stopping moments of darkness and deep emotion:  …

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Shakespeare & Company Presents Lucy Kirkwood’s Timely Play "The Children"

Shakespeare & Company Presents Lucy Kirkwood’s Timely Play “The Children”

(Lenox, MA) – Shakespeare & Company presents Critics Circle and Susan Smith Blackburn Award-winning playwright Lucy Kirkwood’s timely play The Children, directed by James Warwick, back for his second season with the Company after last season’s acclaimed Mothers and Sons. The Children runs from July 18 to August 18 in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre,  and was a 2018 Tony Award Best Play nominee.…

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Shakespeare & Company Presents Presents “Twelfth Night,” Directed by Allyn Burrows

Shakespeare & Company Presents Presents “Twelfth Night,” Directed by Allyn Burrows

Performances Run July 2 – August 4, 2019

“What relish is in this? How runs the stream? Or I am mad, or else this is a dream!” – Twelfth Night: Act IV, Scene I

(Lenox, MA) – Shakespeare & Company presents William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, directed by Company Artistic Director, Allyn Burrows. This classic showcases a rich, affecting, and deeply funny story of longing, love, and laughter which…

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