Shakespeare's heavy local rotation continues with Boston Theatreworks' new version of A Midsummer Night's Dream, opening this weekend at the BCA. Director Daniel Elihu Kramer has thought up a novel approach for his 8-actor version of this perennial crowd-pleaser: instead of merely double-casting Theseus and Hippolyta and Oberon and Titania, he's cross-gender-cast them. That's right: Paula Plum will essay Hippolyta and Oberon, while Timothy John Smith will handle Theseus and Titania. The director has standard-issue ideas about sex and power, but these two talented performers just might make his conceit work.
Friday, February 2, 2007
Bless thee, Bottom . . . thou art transgendered!
Shakespeare's heavy local rotation continues with Boston Theatreworks' new version of A Midsummer Night's Dream, opening this weekend at the BCA. Director Daniel Elihu Kramer has thought up a novel approach for his 8-actor version of this perennial crowd-pleaser: instead of merely double-casting Theseus and Hippolyta and Oberon and Titania, he's cross-gender-cast them. That's right: Paula Plum will essay Hippolyta and Oberon, while Timothy John Smith will handle Theseus and Titania. The director has standard-issue ideas about sex and power, but these two talented performers just might make his conceit work.
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