Shakespeare's Comedies in Chicago: A Tale of Two Productions
Two Shakespeare comedies have opened in Chicago, each with its own unique challenges and interpretations. "The Taming of the Shrew" at Court Theatre and "Much Ado About Nothing" at Chicago Shakespeare Theater offer contrasting approaches to staging these classic plays.
"The Taming of the Shrew," directed by Marti Lyons, takes a bold approach to tackling the play's problematic themes. However, this daring effort often results in confusion rather than clarity. The production's attempt to explain its concept is unclear, and the use of contemporary "guests" participating in an immersive experience falls flat. The result is a show that aspires to be thought-provoking but ultimately feels frustrating and dull.
In contrast, Selina Cadell's direction of "Much Ado About Nothing" at Chicago Shakespeare Theater takes a more nuanced approach. With a focus on emphasizing the airy make-believe world, Cadell creates an immersive experience that draws the audience into the Sicilian setting. The set design by Tom Piper is beautiful, and the costumes by Kotryna Hilko are witty. This production prioritizes careful balance and understated honesty, making it a fantastic exercise in subtlety.
While both productions demonstrate the challenges of staging Shakespeare's comedies, they also highlight the importance of execution. "Much Ado About Nothing" succeeds where "The Taming of the Shrew" fails, thanks to Cadell's thoughtful attention to the text and character. Ultimately, these two productions offer a reminder that Shakespeare's plays can be interpreted in many ways, but the quality of their staging is what ultimately matters.
The contrast between these two productions is striking, and it serves as a reminder that staging a Shakespeare comedy is not simply a matter of choosing one approach over another. Rather, it requires careful consideration of the text, character development, and the overall artistic vision.
Two Shakespeare comedies have opened in Chicago, each with its own unique challenges and interpretations. "The Taming of the Shrew" at Court Theatre and "Much Ado About Nothing" at Chicago Shakespeare Theater offer contrasting approaches to staging these classic plays.
"The Taming of the Shrew," directed by Marti Lyons, takes a bold approach to tackling the play's problematic themes. However, this daring effort often results in confusion rather than clarity. The production's attempt to explain its concept is unclear, and the use of contemporary "guests" participating in an immersive experience falls flat. The result is a show that aspires to be thought-provoking but ultimately feels frustrating and dull.
In contrast, Selina Cadell's direction of "Much Ado About Nothing" at Chicago Shakespeare Theater takes a more nuanced approach. With a focus on emphasizing the airy make-believe world, Cadell creates an immersive experience that draws the audience into the Sicilian setting. The set design by Tom Piper is beautiful, and the costumes by Kotryna Hilko are witty. This production prioritizes careful balance and understated honesty, making it a fantastic exercise in subtlety.
While both productions demonstrate the challenges of staging Shakespeare's comedies, they also highlight the importance of execution. "Much Ado About Nothing" succeeds where "The Taming of the Shrew" fails, thanks to Cadell's thoughtful attention to the text and character. Ultimately, these two productions offer a reminder that Shakespeare's plays can be interpreted in many ways, but the quality of their staging is what ultimately matters.
The contrast between these two productions is striking, and it serves as a reminder that staging a Shakespeare comedy is not simply a matter of choosing one approach over another. Rather, it requires careful consideration of the text, character development, and the overall artistic vision.
I mean, what's the point of even trying to stage these old plays if you're just gonna mess it up? The Taming of the Shrew is like a trainwreck that you can't look away from - it's all over the place and completely confusing. And don't even get me started on the guests thing... who thought that was a good idea? 
. But, let's be real, it's not like either of these productions is gonna change the world or anything... they're just two different ways to fail at a classic play 
. On the other hand, "The Taming of the Shrew" just didn't click with me... I felt like it was trying too hard to be clever but ended up being confusing 
. i mean, "The Taming of the Shrew" is already a tough one to get right, with its whole power dynamic thing going on 
. but at least the directors were trying to be bold and make some statements about it. and hey, even if it didn't quite work out, that's what makes theatre so interesting, right? 
. "Much Ado About Nothing" is a perfect example of that, with its beautiful set design and witty costumes 
. and can't we just give Selina Cadell a round of applause for her thoughtful attention to the text? 
. has anyone seen them yet? 
I think both productions have their own strengths and weaknesses, but what's really interesting is how they show us that Shakespeare's comedies can be interpreted in different ways... 
On the other hand, the production of "Much Ado About Nothing" feels more balanced and thoughtful. I mean, who doesn't love a good set design 
? It's all about execution, right? And it's cool to see different approaches to staging these classic plays... 
like i know they're classics but wow how different the directors are approaching them!!! 
i love how it feels so immersive and real! 
gotta give props to kotryna hilko on those costumes tho! 
what a difference good execution makes...i'm def gonna check out both productions ASAP!!! 
. It's like they're hiding something behind the beautiful set design and witty costumes 
. What's really going on there? Are they trying to tell us something that's not being said? 
. And don't even get me started on the timing of their release - what a coincidence! 
. But, oh man, "The Taming of the Shrew" just didn't quite land for me...it felt like they were trying to explain too much and lost the magic in the process 
. I love how both productions showed us that Shakespeare's plays can be super flexible and open to different interpretations - it's amazing to see how one director's vision can make all the difference