19th-century theatre

The Comedy of Errors is a lesser known Shakespearian tale, of two sets of brothers in a not-so-familiar setting. Two sets of identical twins are separated at birth – Egeon, a merchant, Emilia, his wife, his two twin sons (both named Antipholus), and the two slaves (also twins, both named Dromio) to the merchant’s sons are hit by a tempest and one son and slave stays with the Duke of Ephesus while the other son and slave are with his wife. It is a story of reunion as Antipholus and Dromio of…

From a young age, I've always known that musical theatre was the profession for me as I was an exceedingly theatrical youngster in every sense. Listening to every cast recording iTunes had to offer, seeing plays as frequently as humanly possible, and keeping myself up to date on the latest new plays and musicals coming to Broadway (and beyond). It was not until my first production (Willy Wonka Jr) when I realized that this theatre thing was pretty exciting and had the ability to spark something…

pain in all its various forms, a true to life depiction of the life that goes on around us. Through my research into her work, I have discovered that she is a playwright I truly love, I just hadn’t known it yet. Her talents span different styles of theatre and she creates a resounding truth in her works that reach out and grab the audience by the heart. It is through her skillfully constructed text and heart wrenching characters that there is a chance we find a piece of ourselves within them.…

The film’s budget for special effects, costumes, sets, etc., was exceptionally greater than that of the theatrical production, so its overall aesthetic is much more polished and credible. The whole experience is immersive and the visuals impressively believable to behold. The overall effect, regardless of the magical elements, is much more realistic, and the setting looks like part of the real world, not a fictional land. Taking this into consideration, it is not surprising that the film had to…

Storytelling is a social and cultural art of telling stories through generations. Theatre allows the act of storytelling to connect the actors, director, playwright and the audience all as one. This connectivity forms a communication between the original artist's intent and the interpretation of those who read and observe the play. Theatre is a way to interpret a literary work from a person’s unique cultural background and develop a refined intellectual and artistic appreciation for it. This…

unique design. The Globe, built in a spherical shape, had 20 sides and three levels of seating. Furthermore, many backstage rooms were built for the theater along with trapdoors on the stage and balcony. Built in 1599, the theatre used wood from the remains of an earlier theatre in the same location. Because of its creative design and efficiency, the playhouse has inspired many replicas around…

In Livermore High School’s rendition of “The 39 Steps,” originally an Alfred Hitchcock movie turned theatrical production in 2005, the lively actors successfully bring to life a comedic twist on the classic Hitchcock style. “The 39 Steps” is riddled with clever references to famous Hitchcock films, making the rendition very playful. The theatrical play of “The 39 Steps” differs mostly from the movie because, unlike every Hitchcock film, it does not take itself seriously. The play is meant to be…

In November of 2016, I saw the play All in the Timing put on by the Wachusett Theatre Company.The play is comprised of a series of short skits, none having to do with next one. Some skits having to do with different time streams, washing machines, or monkeys, the play was very entertaining. The problem with plays that don’t have a cohesive plot is the transition from one skit to the next. But with the organization of the skits and well timed blackouts the transitions were seamless. One thing I…

Americans take personal interest in performing arts, whether it be in film or live theatre. Despite this, a rift had formed with some critics of theatre expressing their concern for the shift in demand toward cinema. This raises an issue in examining the difference between the audience’s personal experiences amongst film and live productions. The most prominent groups noted this issue include actors in film and theatre, playwrights and directors, critics, and the American audience. Three main…

On the evening of Wednesday November 9th, I attended a performance of The Antigone Project: A Play in 5 Parts by the University of West Georgia Theater Company in the Black Box at the Townsend Center for the Performing Arts. Idealized from Sophocles’ original play Antigone, this production had some gut-wrenching moments, as well as moments that left me as an audience member befuddled. One major aspect that caused confusion was deciphering each new scene. Other than a few props, the scenery for…