Writer William Shakespeare defends his own plays in the brilliantly entertaining "Shakespeare on Trial"
The performance that brought down
the house during its last visit is back: the hilarious comedy Shakespeare
On Trial returns to the Diana Wortham Theatre stage Saturday, November
23 at 8:00pm. This uproarious experience in “Shakespearian” theatre asks the
audience, the “jury,” whether writer William Shakespeare is guilty of
irrelevance in a modern world. Audiences
are treated to a buffet of hilarity as Shakespeare encounters four of his own
most famous characters (Macbeth, Iago, Hamlet, and Juliet) up-close, personal
and ticked-off. Writer/creator Jeremy Webb plays the four Shakespearian
characters along-side Simon Henderson who stars as the Bard. “Webb and Henderson are delightful to watch and
play off each other with the same energy as Tim Conway and Harvey Korman,” (The Coast). Shakespeare On Trial played
for a capacity audience during its last visit to Diana Wortham Theatre in
October 2011.
In this highly energetic play
featuring some of the Bard’s best quotes and speeches, an unwitting Bill
Shakespeare must stand up for his own writing as the four characters challenge
him to write in a more modern way, arguing that no one really understands his
plays anymore. As his characters “recreate” a variety of scenes to prove their
point — from hot-blooded and hilarious to passionate and poignant — Shakespeare
nobly defends the validity of his work. The audience helps make the case for
Shakespeare’s lasting significance in the last fifteen minutes as Shakespeare
calls upon the audience to help prove his point: “The play’s the thing…”
Shakespeare On Trial’s Asheville performance is made possible by Mainstage
Theatre Series Sponsors Carol & Bob Deutsch, Bill & Jerry McAninch, and
Bank of America, with additional support from Media Sponsors 880 The Revolution
and News Radio 570 WWNC.
In addition to the evening
performance, Shakespeare On Trial performances are also part of the Mainstage Matinee Series for Students and
Families, Friday, November 22, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. Performances
in the Matinee Series are open to school groups, homeschoolers, community
groups, and families. These performances of Shakespeare On Trial are
recommended for students in Grades 5-12. To obtain more information or to make
reservations, call the box office at (828) 257-4530.
The Mainstage Series is supported
by a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency. The Mainstage
Series 2013/2014 Season Sponsors are the Asheville Scene, Blue Moon Water, Creative Energy, Laurey’s
Catering and Gourmet-to-go, the North Carolina Arts Council, and the
Renaissance Asheville Hotel.
To obtain more
information on the Mainstage Series or to purchase tickets, call the theatre’s
box office at (828) 257-4530 or visit www.dwtheatre.com.
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