A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth, two very different Shakespeare plays, are coming to Manila this Sept. 17 to 22. They’ll be performed by Shakespeare’s Rose Theater, courtesy of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, which previously brought in the shows Cats, Mamma Mia, and Phantom of the Opera, among others.
The choice to bring both Midsummer and Macbeth is a pretty good one. Those who love the bard (or took drama in school), know that he only has two modes: the humorous and farcical comedies, and the deeply intense and harrowing tragedies. (His histories often fall the same way as his tragedies). These two plays are very representative of Shakespeare’s modes.
Midsummer is one of Shakespeare’s most famous comedies, a lighthearted spectacle that toys with its four main characters: the lovers Hermia and Lysander, Demetrius (who’s in love with Hermia), and Helena (who’s in love with Demetrius). It’s got a love…square, disapproving parents, a tragic play-within-a-play (Ovid’s Pyramus and Thisbe, the inspiration behind Romeo and Juliet) as performed by a parody of bad actors, and meddling faeries with magic love dust. It’s weird and wacky and it’s my favorite Shakespeare play.
Macbeth, on the other hand, is a tragedy with deep psychological themes that sees its titular character’s descent to madness in pursuit of the throne. It, too, has magic in the form of three witches that prophesied Macbeth’s future role as king, but their witchcraft is dark and evil and their prophecy is what spurs on Macbeth’s violent path.
The September production in Manila will be Shakespeare’s Rose Theater’s first international production. It’s a fledgling theater company that started just last year in the city of York, UK. They’re already known for the unique environment they situate their plays in. Their theater house is modeled after the London Rose Playhouse, a historic Elizabethan theater that housed Shakespeare’s earlier plays. They also have a Shakesperean village outside the theater, where people can pretend to be in a Elizabethan village. Here’s to hoping that they’ll bring that unique kind of setting to Manila.
The show will be held at The Theater at Solaire. Tickets can be bought from Ticketworld. To learn more about the play, you can visit the Shakespeare’s Rose Theater’s website.
Featured photo courtesy of Shakespeare’s Rose Theater
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