Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s 2012 Season
Our intent in posting these reviews (see below) is to provide insight to the OSF productions. Hopefully this will help our guests when making decisions on what plays to see when visiting Ashland. Keep in mind that these reviews are unavoidably biased even though based in our own theatrical knowledge and lifelong experiences of attending plays. In an effort to give you alternative views you may wish to visit www.ASHLANDPLAYREVIEWS.com . Not only will you find Alan “Rosey” Rosenberg’s reviews of OSF’s plays, but also his reviews of plays for all other theater companies in the area. His passion for theater is equal to our own. Enjoy and see you at the theater.
Don’t forget to visit the Oregon Shakespeare Company’s website (www.osfashland.org) for more information, cast lists and video clips relating to the OSF 2012 Season’s plays.
ROMEO AND JULIET By William Shakespeare
Directed by Laird Williamson Theater: Angus Bowmer Theatre
Performances: February 17 - November 4
Opening the 2012 OSF season is this excellent production of Romeo and Juliet. Set in Spanish Alta, California in the late 1840’s, this R&J is the best stage production I’ve ever seen. I have to admit, going into it, I was not looking forward to it. I’ve seen it way too many times (as most of you have as well) and almost always it has been a disappointing experience. Usually the weakest link is either or both Romeo and Juliet. It is so difficult to find young actors that reasonably represents the characters ages and at the same time have the chops to pull off the raw emotions of these love-sick teenagers. This production finally hit the high mark. I was riveted the entire time.
THE WHITE SNAKE – World Premiere
Based on the classic Chinese fable
Directed & adapted by Mary Zimmerman
Theater: Angus Bowmer Theatre
Performances: February 18 - July 8
I have a fondness for Asian fables and fairy tales perhaps because the ancient truths that they struggle with are the same that we still struggle with today. Apart from the morality tale aspect of these fables is the wonderful imagery that they almost always invoke. This adaptation, fleshed out in rehearsals, brings forth the absurdity and serious nature of the story played out in a dream like setting. High production values would be and understatement. It is a wonderful retelling of this delightful ancient Chinese story. 
ANIMAL CRACKERS
Book by George S. Kaufman & Morrie Ryskind; Music & lyrics by Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby; Adapted by Henry Wishcamper
Directed by Allison Narver
Theater: Angus Bowmer Theatre
Performances: February 19 - November 4
Animal Crackers is totally hilarious and entertaining. The Jokes were god-awful, as expected, butlaughable nonetheless. I honestly felt like I was watching the Marx brothers performing at times. The acting was uniformly excellent.
If you want a wild romp where the jokes and gags are relentlessly served up, don’t miss this production. You will leave the theater with a big smile on your face.
SEGULL by Anton Checkhov
Adapted by Libby Apple from Anton Checkhov
Literal translation by Allison Horslely
Directed by Libby Apple
Theater: New Theatre
Performances: February 23 - June 22
Okay, here we go. Yes it is Chekhov; and for those that know me know that I am not a fan by any stretch of the imagination. I’ve struggled with Chekhov for as many years as I’ve been interested in theater (almost my entire life). For a long time I felt Chekhov was overrated – it was always painful to sit through one of his plays. Somewhere along the way I discovered that it’s not Chekhov or his plays that are out of step. It is, all too often, the directors and actors that don’t get it and that is why we all (most of us) collectively groan when we here the name Chekhov. That brings us to this production of Seagull, adapted and directed by Libby Appel. For those of you that avoid Chekhov, this is the production that you must see. It is lush, beautiful and so skillfully directed by Libby in such a way to weave the humor, sadness and sexuality seamlessly into the complex human tragedy that Seagull is. Set in one of Christopher Acebo’s exquisite designs with a cast that is able to bring forth all nuance and volumes between the text, this is about as good as it gets. Bill was last seen leaving the theater drinking the Cool-Aid…
MEDEA/MACBETH/CINDERELLA – World Premiere
Adapted by Bill Rauch and Tracy Young from Euripides, Shakespeare and Rodgers & Hammerstein
Co-directors: Bill Rauch and Tracy Young Theater: Angus Bowmer Theatre
Performances: April 19 - November 3
Review will be available shortly after the first preview.
HENRY IV, PART TWO by William Shakespeare
Director: Lisa Peterson
Theater: Elizabethan Stage / Allen Pavilion
Performances: May 31 - October 7
Review will be available shortly after the first preview.
THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE by W.S. Gilbert and Sullivan
Director: Bill Rauch
Theater: Elizabethan Stage / Allen Pavilion
Performances: June 1 - October 8
Review will be available shortly after the first preview.
LOVE'S LABOR'S LOST by William Shakespeare
Director: Shana Cooper
Theater: Elizabethan Stage / Allen Pavilion
Performances: June 2 - October 9
Review will be available shortly after the first preview.
GHOST LIGHT by Jonathan Moscone and Tony Taccone
World Premiere
Director: Amanda Dehnert
Theater: New Theatre
Performances: June 28 - November 5
Review will be available shortly after the first preview.
THE AFRICAN COMPANY PRESENTS RICHARD III by Carlyle Brown
Director: Seret Scott
Theater: Angus Bowmer Theatre
Performances: July 20 - November 5
Review will be available shortly after the first preview.
Offstage Events
WILLFUL devised by Michael Rohd and Shannon Scrofano
Director: Michael Rohd
Site-specific special project
Performances: August 7 - October 9
Review will be available shortly after the first preview.
OSF's 2012 Season
ANGUS BOWMER THEATRE
ALL THE WAY – World Premiere
Robert Schenkkan, directed by Bill Rauch
First Preview:
Opens: July 25
Closes: November 3
NEW THEATRE
SEAGULL
Adapted by Libby Appel from Anton Chekhov;
literal translation by Allison Horsley
Directed by Libby Appel
First Preview:
Opens: February 23
Closes: June 22
TROILUS AND CRESSIDA by William Shakespeare
Directed by Rob Melrose
First Preview:
Opens: March 21
Closes: November 4
PARTY PEOPLE – World Premiere
Universes (Steven Sapp, Mildred Ruiz-Sapp, Gamal Abdel Chasten & William Ruiz, a.k.a. Ninja)
Directed by Liesl Tommy
First Preview:
Opens: July 4
Closes: November 4
ELIZABETHAN STAGE/ALLEN PAVILION
HENRY V by William Shakespeare
Directed by Joseph Haj
First Preview:
Opens: June 5
Closes: October 12
THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, IOWA – World Premiere
Alison Carey, adapted from William Shakespeare
Directed by Christopher Liam Moore
First Preview:
Opens: June 6
Closes: October 13
AS YOU LIKE IT by William Shakespeare
Directed by Jessica Thebus
First Preview: June 3
Opens: June 7
Closes: October 14
read the 2012 season announcement press release
San Francisco, CA
