Shakespeare at the Sheraton
Shakespeare at the Sheraton
Rating* * * *
It seems impossible to think of Shakespeare extracts contextualising themselves in an American hotel lounge, and it is as yet doubtful if anyone except a Polish Scot could make it work, but Charles Nowosielski of Theatre Alba most emphatically provides premier service. The rapid-fire changes of part amid the chandeliers and coffee tables may occasionally leave the audience in dizzy fear that Lady Macbeth will spike the next. drink or Katharine the Shrew present the bill, all the more since both of them are devastatingly believable.
A highly professional Shylock discusses business with an offensive Antonio and lounge lizard Bassanio, whose provocations lead him
thrillingly to raise his voice only to be shushed from an indignant next table.
The three witches clink glasses with a bloodcurdling gentility which leads one to hope that Theatre Alba will some day produce a Morningside Macbeth. Rosalind adds a slight hotel-page touch to authoritative reprimands of Phoebe's scamperings from Sylvius. Paulina denouncing Leontes for his cruelty to his wife seems to defy him to fire her as manageress. ......it is surely the best hotel fare anyone can hope to find at this Festival
Owen Dudley Edwards
