I have tremendous respect for Jesse Green as a critic, which makes all the more painful his breezy and snotty remark about Stratford work generally being of a B+ quality. This is just Mr. Green's third year at a Festival that's been around for seven decades; it's the first year he's seen more than a handful of plays. He has no business making such a categorical assessment on the basis of such an extremely limited sample size. And he's just plain wrong, even in terms of that sample size. Donna Feore, who regularly does work here as a director and choreographer that's better than anything I see in New York or Chicago, has given us a BILLY ELLIOT this year that's better than the New York original. Two of the plays opening next week -- THE CRUCIBLE and a brilliant Stratford adaptation of THE FRONT PAGE -- are also as good as (in the case of THE CRUCIBLE) or better than (in the case of THE FRONT PAGE) any production of those two works that I've seen (and yes, I include Ivo Van Hove's CRUCIBLE in making this assessment). These aren't B+ productions (defined by Mr. Green as a gauge measuring a production in relation to others of the same play); ditto Martha Henry's H8 or the excellent production here of NATHAN THE WISE. And I'm only speaking of this year! I could make a similar case for many preceding years during which Mr. Green wasn't here.
Mike Fischer
Chief Drama Critic for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2009-18
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Over the years, many prominent stage actors have come to Stratford, Ont. to tread the boards. I had the privilege and delight to see both Maggie Smith and Brian Bedford in “Private Lives”. I’m very spoiled.
The old musical extravaganzas were spectacular, too. A seldom performed “Satyricon” was one of the most sensational, vulgar, flashy, hysterical and memorable shows I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen practically everything by everyone, everywhere. Also up there, the G and S operettas, especially “The Mikado”, which was a stunning production in all respects. I wish they’d dig up the old costumes and resurrect this theatrical triumph.
One of the best versions of “Into the Woods” I’ve seen (saw many, including Broadway) was performed a few summers ago. The staging and costumes were exceptional, as were the performances.
We were very lucky to have this venue so close to home.
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I’m surprised at Mr. Greens slightly tepid praise for the offerings at The Stratford Festival.
I’ve been spending a week in Stratford every year for several decades and I state, unequivocally that have RARELY seen better theater than is offered there.
Exceptions include the time that THE Royal Shakespearean Company came to Ann Arbor and performed “Midsummer’s Night Dream” among others; when I saw “Midsummer’s Night
Dream in Avon, GB; when I saw Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward in “Our Town” in NYC, when I saw Jeff Daniels and Celia Keenan-Bolger in “To Kill a Mockingbird” - also in NYC; and when I saw Al Pacino star in “Merchant of Venice - also in NYC.
There may be a few others that do not come to mind at the moment. But, in general, there are NO BETTER plays offered anywhere else that I have traveled in my 76+ years!
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I too winced at the B+ remark. I have been going to Stratford for over 20 yrs and have never seen anything less than an A+.
Bruce Dowd in Guys and Dolls, The King and I, last year Long Days Journey into Night. Anything I've seen is as good as anything on Broadway. Canadians are a lot nicer too.
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I winced at the B+ crack, but Mr. Greene is a relative newbie at the Festival and, truth be told, this season has been lackluster.
This is my eleventh season at the Stratford Festival and I have a long list of "bests": Shrew, Lear, Tempest, Cymbeline, Beaux Stratagem, and so forth. If Mr. Greene keeps coming, he will too.
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I'm not sure how this article "reveals the surprising root of our longest-lasting stories." Or even discusses it. At all.
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I love that Jesse uncovered the theme: "the paranoid need of men to regulate women’s sexuality, as a source of both pleasure and progeny."
At Stratford there is always much going on between the theatres, so it was wonderful to see him capture that most unique facet of a trip to the Festival.
If you are considering visiting Stratford I curate a website that includes all the reviews, similar to the website Rotten Tomatoes, but all about the Stratford Festival. https://stratfordfestivalreviews.com/
Safe travels!
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I was born and raised in Stratford Ontario. As far as I am concerned the best they do is the seen from the beginning of Macbeth, the 3 witches around the cauldrun.
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This is a magical place in North America. Yet, so few outside of metropolitan area are familiar with it. The town is charming, the people kind, the food outstanding at a number of venues and the productions are even better than B+.
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My first trip to Stratford was in 1980 when I went on a high school trip. My last trip was last week and I have been several times in between. Last season's production of Napoli Milionaria! was my all-time favorite. Stratford is the only place I have ever been where a set was applauded after it was unveiled; The King and I in 2003.
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The last time I saw Othello at Stratford, the theatre was a converted ice hockey arena with a long and very narrow stage running almost its length. Some of the venues are interesting.
That week, I saw three tragedies in two days. I also saw The Merchant of Venice, in a preview performance in the main theatre: The audience applauded the end of the play before the last lines could be spoken, like an audience applauding before a piece of music has finished. Then, in a preview of Macbeth, the palace of "Scone" was pronounced "skoan" (not "skoon," as I should be).
Yes, B+, but a wonderful place to be for a couple of days.
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Re: your comment that the theatre was one of the first professions open to women: I'm sure you know that women were banned from the theatre and that boys played the female parts Shakespeare had written. Perhaps you were thinking of the Music Hall?
We attended outdoor theatre at Stratford in the merry long ago with a picnic beforehand. It was lovely.
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@Elizabeth Meredith He's thinking of the Restoration period (1660s) when women, at long last, were allowed on the stage.
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@Elizabeth Meredith
Yes, a bit of an overstatement. Women were business people, have always done all kinds of things (define profession). So far as the entertainment industry, opera was being developed in Italy with female stars . Interesting the contemporaneous theater in Spain featured female actors -- but there were proscriptions as to their costume. When cross-dressing was needed for a role, nonetheless, she wore a skirt. (The audience would know!!)
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Bill Alexander directed a Merry Wives for the RSC in 1985 that also took place in 1950s Windsor and opened with the wives getting their hair dried under those beehive driers. It was delightful.
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Other wonderful productions I remember are William Hutt - brilliant in two productions in one day: Long Day's Journey into Night, in the afternoon, and Merry Wives of Windsor, in the evening. He was also great in The Tempest. Also loved Cynthia Dale in South Pacific.
Other memories are of Stratford, CT, where our high school took outings: King Lear was a standout.
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My family and I were delighted by the stellar production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s, “The Mikado,” many years ago. We were especially entertained by The Canadian actor, Richard McMillan, as Pooh Bah. This was our first exposure to the zany theatrics of Gilbert and Sullivan.
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As many are aware, the Shakespeare Theater in Stratford, CT burned to the ground several months ago. It would be wonderful if a new theater could be built and a similar program of Shakespeare's works could be offered again in the US.
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@smithtownnyguy
good luck getting around the stratford official lethargy that has made some noises but taken no substantive action concerning the theatre...no reason a school and both resident and transient companies cannot thrive there...leadership, local (reporter tom patterson) and artistic (tyrone guthrie) did the job in canada, its effort in league with local citizens could be emulated here.
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@smithtownnyguy Cincinnati. Chicago (where I recently saw an excellent Hamlet). Kentucky Shakespeare. Staunton, VA. Etc.
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@Jack Heller The Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, OR, is one of the great repertory theaters in the U.S. and has won several Tony's for their productions. The usual season (Feb. - Oct) includes Shakespeare, usually one musical (this year "Hairspray") and works from emerging and minority playwrights.
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I've seen many terrific performances at Stratford. The best Lears in my life: one with Christopher Plummer, the other with William Hutt who I chatted with on line waiting to attend a lecture. All the stars are approachable. Other standouts: Macbeth, Cymbeline, Measure for Measure, King John, Henry V, The Importance of Being Earnest, Merry Wives of Windsor--these just off the top of my head.
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@Lev Raphael
The lights came down one night and the seat next to me on the aisle was suddenly filled. I took a sidelong glance and realized it was William Hutt.
It was a comedy, so I got to hear his laugh. It seemed to well up from inside him, and emerge as a deep, pleasurable growl, like a big cat savoring prey.
I could have said so much to him. I'd seen his Lear at the Patterson twice. The second time, Peter Donaldson was off attending to his daughter's birth. There were no understudies, so director Robin Phillips 'read', in plain dress, script in hand, the part of Kent. The most unforgettable night I've spent in a theatre.
In the end I said nothing, and let him enjoy the play.
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@Steve Paradis:
good for you!!