2008 Woodie Awards
Shakespeare Festival: witty and entertaining
Katherine J. White
Issue date: 10/11/06 Section: Features
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Shakespeare may have seemed to some to be class conscious and sexist, but he understood human nature.
Shakespeare evidently understood the double standard held by men, because his character, the marriage-shy Benedick (Don Kruszka), from "Much Ado About Nothing," quips about his future wife's qualifications, "She must be virtuous, or I'll never cheapen her."
Shakespeare also understood the battle between the sexes because Benedick's love interest, Beatrice (Cory Rickard), remarks wryly when she is asked if she will ever be ready to marry, "Not 'til God makes men of another mettle than earth."
The universal appeal of Shakespeare's understanding of human nature is undeniable, yet the modern viewer cannot ignore Shakespeare's class-consciousness and sexism.
Nevertheless, to enjoy his plays, the modern viewer must be somewhat forgiving and focus more on Shakespeare's witty insights into human character.
With this in mind, one can enjoy "the skirmish of wit between" Benedick and Beatrice in "Much Ado About Nothing."
Furthermore, before the viewer goes to see either "Much Ado" or "The Tempest," also showing at Bakersfield College's Outdoor Theatre, and directed, respectively by Randy Messick and Bob Kempf, he or she must bear in mind that the witticisms are the most important part of the plays since plays of earlier eras were written more to be heard than to be seen; this concept is very difficult for the modern spectator to grasp, since modern entertainment is geared more toward visual, rather than auditory, perception. In earlier times, theater goers went "to hear" a play, rather than "to see" a play.
Nevertheless, Kern Shakespeare Festival spectators are not deprived visually; the stage for "Much Ado" is charmingly designed with a wooden trellis covered with flowers, a water fountain and benches.
The stage and the costumes of the soldiers along with the country gentlemen and gentlewomen in "Ado" evoke an image of an 18th- century Napa Valley-like setting.
Shakespeare evidently understood the double standard held by men, because his character, the marriage-shy Benedick (Don Kruszka), from "Much Ado About Nothing," quips about his future wife's qualifications, "She must be virtuous, or I'll never cheapen her."
Shakespeare also understood the battle between the sexes because Benedick's love interest, Beatrice (Cory Rickard), remarks wryly when she is asked if she will ever be ready to marry, "Not 'til God makes men of another mettle than earth."
The universal appeal of Shakespeare's understanding of human nature is undeniable, yet the modern viewer cannot ignore Shakespeare's class-consciousness and sexism.
Nevertheless, to enjoy his plays, the modern viewer must be somewhat forgiving and focus more on Shakespeare's witty insights into human character.
With this in mind, one can enjoy "the skirmish of wit between" Benedick and Beatrice in "Much Ado About Nothing."
Furthermore, before the viewer goes to see either "Much Ado" or "The Tempest," also showing at Bakersfield College's Outdoor Theatre, and directed, respectively by Randy Messick and Bob Kempf, he or she must bear in mind that the witticisms are the most important part of the plays since plays of earlier eras were written more to be heard than to be seen; this concept is very difficult for the modern spectator to grasp, since modern entertainment is geared more toward visual, rather than auditory, perception. In earlier times, theater goers went "to hear" a play, rather than "to see" a play.
Nevertheless, Kern Shakespeare Festival spectators are not deprived visually; the stage for "Much Ado" is charmingly designed with a wooden trellis covered with flowers, a water fountain and benches.
The stage and the costumes of the soldiers along with the country gentlemen and gentlewomen in "Ado" evoke an image of an 18th- century Napa Valley-like setting.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
JenniferSanders
Jennifer Sanders
posted 11/06/06 @ 10:38 AM PST
I think that some of your criticisms are a little unfair. While I note and appreciate the humorous Anton LaVey reference, I believe that Warren's portrayal of Don John was intentionally farcical. (Continued…)
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