OCR Text |
Show 'MERRY WIVE B6 DELIGHTS AUDIENCE II I ITH HOLIDAY SHO The Grassroots Shakespeare Company's latest production, "Verry Wives of Windsor" entertained crowds with stylized physical humor, playful banter and the wit of clever women By KELLY CANNON Life Editor There is an old adage that states "Hell hath no fury like a women scorned." However, as the Grassroots Shakespeare Company's latest production illustrates, hell hath no fury like two clever women scorned. In its latest production over the holiday break, GSC performed "Merry Wives of Windsor," a story of what happens when husbands falsely accuse their wives of infidelity and a pompous oaf believes he can seduce any woman with the same letter. As with all GSC plays, "Merry Wives" was produced and performed in the traditional manner akin to Shakespeare's time. This means the cast only had about 18 days to rehearse, there was no director, no costume manager, no set designer and everything had to be provided by the cast. Often cast members played more than one role. Though the GSC is a bit more progressive by allowing women into their cast, the assigned roles don't necessarily stick to gender lines. Levi Brown, a tall built man with a red beard, played not only Master Page but also Mistress Quickly, donning a short brown wig and a purple dress. What set this production apart to ones in the past was the amount of physical humor the cast endured. While previous productions such as Macbeth have played special attention on the language of the play, this production often gained laughs by timed stunts accompanied by sound effects provided by the show mu- rolling with laughter in the sicians. While process. not all of the As for Caitlin Webb, her true stunts worked comedic chops shined when out precisely pretending to be distraught in as timed, they order to trick Falstaff, played still enter- by Daniel Anderson. Webb tained the au- seemed to channel an overdradience. matic Gloria Swanson from If a best ac- the late actress's portrayal of tor and best Norma Desmond in "Sunset actress were Boulevard." Everything Webb to be chosen did, from her stylized voice for the pro- to her angled hands and arms duction, it to her apparent "crazy eyes" would hands was done, again, with precidown be given sion and control, never going to Greg Lars- so over the top as to delve en for his role into the realm of the ridicuof the French lous. Rather, she allowed the Dr. Caius audience to get what she was and Caitlin doing and how she was doing Webb for her role as Mistress it, letting them enjoy her perFord. What made Larsen's formance without worrying performance so entertain- about being weirded out. ing was his dedication to his But perhaps the most special atrocious French accent. The aspect of the entire production role of Dr. Caius is suppose was in the camaraderie of the to be hard to understand and cast. While the audience did the source of ridicule. Larsen get to enjoy a wonderful proplayed the role perfectly with duction, they also got to enprecise timing and enough of joy an bonus sense of frienda garbled acship and love cent that he among the was not only cast. Not only FOR MORE INFORMATION: hilarious but were they all Visit http://grassrootsshakespeare.com/ also could be actors presentunderstood. ing their craft When he found the character but also gave off the aura of of Simple, played by William being a bunch of old friends Kalmar hiding in his closet, goofing off and enjoying one Mistress Quickly explained another's company. The feelSimple was an honest young ing is hard to explain but unman Larsen immediately ex- deniable when watching a claimed, "What shall de hon- production. These actors not est man do in my closet? Dere only love their craft but love is no honest man dat shall each other and love performcome in my closet!" Larsen ing together. Experiencing delivered the line with a more this feeling in person is well understandable version of his worth going to any GSC proaccent, having the audience duction. There was no director, no costume manager, no set designer and everything had to be provided by the cast. LETTER FROM B5 When Scholz was 15, it was decided that her mother was no longer fit to raise her children. With her youngest sibling already adopted to another family, Scholz's remaining four younger sibling's were given back to their perspective fathers. Since there was no record of Scholz's father, she was sent to foster care. She lived with two separate foster families, the second one becoming her permanent home. In this family, Scholz thrived. "They've stayed involved in my life," Scholz said. Not only did her foster family raise her and take care of her but also paid for her wedding and were present when her son was born. "They treat me like their own daughter," Scholz said. "They were everything a foster family should be." Scholz's letter of gratitude received national attention when it was republished in the Tampa Bay Times opinion's section. Robyn E. Blummer, a Times Columnist, contacted her. "She was really inspired by the message of gratitude," Scholz said. Blummer had recently survived breast cancer and connected with the feelings of thanksgiving. On Dec. 11, Scholz's letter was republished on the Tampa Bay Times's opinion section page. Though the response has been mostly positive to Scholz's letter, some have used to the letter to further promote their own political agendas. "I knew someone would use it as a way to express their political views," Scholz said. However, she reiterated the fact the letter was in no way political, rather just a way to thank those anonymous taxpayers for helping her when she needed it the most. TO READ SCHOLZ'S LETTER: Visit http://nickandkeira. blogspot.com/2011/11/dearamerican-taxpayers.html TO READ ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA BAY TIMES: Visit http://www.tampabay. com/opinion/columns/thankyou-us-taxpayers/1205370 WOODBURY FROM B5 The cast of "Merry Wives" put together the show in only 18 days of rehearsal, without a director, costume designer or set designer. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARK ORAM "You'll want to take the time just to read them, because they're really powerful," Hall said. "The first time I started reading them I was just about in tears." As usual, the Woodbury Art Museum displays their art in such a way as to engage the viewers on a physical, personal and emotional level. Some of the artwork can even be touched, gently, as it touches the viewers just the same. The opportunity to make prints using some of the sintra sheets carved by the featured artists will be available for museum patrons as well. Hempel added that while touching emotions is good, one of the main goals of the show is to widen awareness and deepen understanding about underrepresented populations. The show, lasting until March 3, allows viewers to make some of their own art, as well as be a part of the process of creation that the printmaking artists went through. For more information about Hidden Voices: Women in Printmaking, visit www.uvu.edu/museum . If you or someone you know needs help, please visit www.cwcic.com or www. uvu.edu/turningpoint. |