We Are Arden
Theater review Norah Vawter Theater review Norah Vawter

We Are Arden

Do you need a break, but not too much of a break, from our political madness? The Folger Theatre, enacting the vision of Artistic Director Karen Ann Daniels, presents Shakespeare’s pastoral comedy As You Like It as a subtle parable for the multifaceted realities of life in Washington, D.C. The creative team is positing that vibrant cultural and community life has long flourished here, apart from, and often overshadowed by, the focus on federal government matters, and that we should appreciate and celebrate the qualities of this realm. Without being blatant, the production weaves in the notion that we can, and do, benefit sumptuously from these wellsprings of local identity.

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Getting into the magic
Theater review Norah Vawter Theater review Norah Vawter

Getting into the magic

What a moment for a show juxtaposing truth and deception. In Nothing Up My Sleeve … Simple Deceptions for Curious Humans, master illusionist and actor Dendy delivers a wondrous, multifaceted solo performance perfectly calibrated to confound your mind, tickle your fancy, and touch your heart. This world premiere runs through March 15 at Round House Theatre in Bethesda.

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A bold experiment at the Folger melds ‘Julius Caesar’ with Malcolm X
Theater review Norah Vawter Theater review Norah Vawter

A bold experiment at the Folger melds ‘Julius Caesar’ with Malcolm X

The Folger Theatre’s Julius X: A Reinvisioning of the Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare is a bold experiment: Shakespeare’s classic is not adapted here but rather reimagined and transformed into a new work that uses the motifs, themes, and some of the language of Shakespeare’s play to create something completely new. Notably, the central character is not a modern-day Caesar counterpart, or a tyrant at all, but a fictionalized version of Malcolm X.

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Making Shakespeare new again
Theater review Norah Vawter Theater review Norah Vawter

Making Shakespeare new again

There’s a fascinating new production of Twelfth Nighton stage at the Folger Theatre, running through June 22. It’s a lot of fun. It’s also a bit odd and messy, a surprising take on William Shakespeare’s classic comedy of twins separated by a shipwreck. Director Mei Ann Teo takes chances here with an overtly sexy, adult production that brings the inherent bawdiness of Shakespeare’s text to the surface.

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