The Tempest  Saturday, October 12 2019   Synetic Theater, Arlington, VA  This was one of the best live performances I have ever seen anywhere, anytime.  Incredible staging, acting, and the splash zone seating will be something I'll never forget!  If this production is ever held anywhere again, I will attend and I hope you will, too. 

Romeo and Juliet  Saturday, October 19  Julian Fellowes wrote this version and the sets were lovely.  (Rented from BCPL)

Two Gentlemen of Verona  Friday, October 25, 2019  Tyler Butterworth, John Hudson   Trying to see if I can locate a live version of the 1971 Broadway production.  Amazon Broadway.

Macbeth  Thursday, October 31  Halloween. Terrific storm wreaking havoc outside. If ever there was a night to watch Macbeth, this was it.  BBC production directed by Jack Gold, starring Nichol Williamson and Jane Lapotaire.  The weird sisters and dark storms of the mind combined with the atmosphere surrounding my house made this a memorable viewing.  Sleep did not come easy. 

The King  Friday, November 1. An adaptation of Shakespeare's plays Henry IV, Parts 1 & 2 and Henry V.  This is not one of the official Shakespeare plays for my journey but I did have it on my watch list. Highly recommend for anyone who wants a good introduction to Shakespeare or struggles with the language of the plays.  We all need a Falstaff in our lives--someone we can go to the gutter with but who speaks truth to us when truth is needed. 

Julius Caesar, Friday, November 8. Full length production made in 1979.  2 hrs 40 minutes....I fell asleep. Will get back to it on March 15.

Othello     2001 modernized take on Othello.  Rodney King, Freddie Gray come to mind as a young black man is beaten to death by white cops and John Othello, the black constable steps in to save the day.  Jealousy and mind games abound as they did in the original. The iambic pentameter is missing but for a modernized version, it captured the essence of the themes.  

King Lear  Friday, November 29.  Anthony Hopkins plays King Lear brilliantly.  If you've ever known a person with dementia or some  other mental illness you realize making sense of things isn't the point. Preventing them from harming themselves is. But Lear's daughters (exception Cordelia) and most of the King's men prey upon his madness for their own benefit.   Much of what he does makes no sense but seeing how people around  Lear respond to his disease or mental affliction is what this is all about.  It's a gripping film and Jim Carter who played Mr. Carson in Downton Abbey plays the honorable Earl of Kent while Andrew Scott plays a noble Edgar, the Earl of Gloucester's son (famous for his Moriarty character in Sherlock Holmes).  

Much Ado About Nothing  Tuesday, December 3.  One of four modernized BBC Shakespeare Retold series.  Really funny and twisted with wonderful chemistry on set. That chemistry is the magic in this production.  A young Billie Piper plays Hero and absolutely lights up the screen.  Beatrice and Benedick are perfect in their roles as local TV newscasters.  These modernized Retold takes on Shakespeare are easy to watch and lose yourself in for a few hours.  I could easily watch again.

The Taming of the Shrew  Friday, December 6.  BBC Shakespeare Retold version.  Absolutely delightful.  Loved watching the story unfold between Katarina and Petruchio (Katherine Minola and Rufus Sewell).  Looking for more Shakespeare Retold from BBC.

The Hollow Crown Series

Richard II Friday, December 13 This kicks off the Hollow Crown series and Ben Whishaw plays an effeminate and unusually flamboyant Richard II. His acting contrasts beautifully with the action heroes around him- his cousin Henry Bolingbroke and Thomas Mowbray.

Henry IV Part I Friday, December 20 This is why you watch Shakespeare!! Jeremy Irons plays Henry IV, Tom Hiddleston plays the rascal Prince Hal and Simon Russell Beale plays the ne'er-do-well Falstaff. The costumes and settings pull you into this excellently made BBC production.

Henry IV Part 2 Friday, December 20 Shakespeare set us up for binging with these two episodes.

Henry V Friday, December 27 The first Henry V I ever saw was with Kenneth Brannagh and I still pull the DVD out occasionally to watch him act for a few minutes. I think I prefer that production.

War of the Roses The Hollow Crown BBC

If England could survive the War of the Roses, they will survive Brexit. Watching these plays makes me wonder how England didn’t dissolve into anarchy.

Henry VI Part 1 Friday, January 10 Henry VI is made King as an infant, eventually loses all that King Henry V had won in France (Joan of Arc!) but at least wins a bride in French Margaret but he and his Queen have absolutely no chemistry. Margaret steals the show and Somerset steals it with her. Once noble Gloucester is killed off, all faith in the system is lost. Mayhem is about to reign for the next xxx years.

Henry VI Part 2 Henry VI Friday, January 17 just wants to be left alone to pray and lead a normal life. Watching this just as Harry and Meghan are breaking away from their roles as royalty. Can anyone blame them? Wishing them all the luck and joy in the world. Being born into royalty is no blessing.

Richard III—Friday, January 31 During peaceful times, a deformed body and soul takes aim at the crown. Benedict Cumberbatch plays a perfectly wicked conniving brother and King. So hard to watch when you know what is going to happen. Can’t wait for the War of the Roses to end so I can move onto something else.