Years ago I was on a panel discussion about school reform when another panelist, a local union leader, wondered why schools still make their students read Shakespeare. “Who uses Shakespeare?” He asked.
At which point I popped up and said “I use Shakespeare all the time.”
Being a liberal editorial writer, said use was practically mandatory.
Another time I was having a conversation with my clueless boss when I referred to a mutual acquaintance as a “hail fellow well met.”
The blank stare I got in return was priceless. Even better, a reporter who overheard us popped up and said “As You Like It.” (We ink stained wretches have to stick together.)
But here’s the thing. If I can claim a nodding acquaintance with The Bard, Shamrock McShane harbors an infatuation bordering on obsession with the big guy.
The Gainesville actor and playwright has occupied the heads and bodies of more Shakespearian characters than anyone I know. And when I once chided him that something he wrote bore definite Shakespearean overtones he shot back “If you’re gonna steal, steal from the best.”
I only bring all this up to tell you that you ought to get yourself over to GNV’s Theater Of Memory on Saturday evening, August 17. And for two compelling reasons:
First, Theater Of Memory is an awesome place to be and…
…second, Shamrock McShane is going to be there to perform his original, and equally awesome, play “The Seven Sides Of Shakespeare.”
Here’s a review I wrote for The Sun when McShane’s one-man play was staged at the Crosstown Repertory Theater in early 2020 (as a historical note, it was one of the last on-stage performances before Covid closed everything down.)
And here’s a blog I did when McShane teamed up with Tom Miller to produce a film version.
Long story short, “Seven Sides” isn’t just a look at several of The Bard’s most celebrated characters. It is also a brutal examination of McShane’s own life – his career disappointments, his failed marriage and more – through the eyes of those seven Shakespeare icons.
It is compelling theater. And McShane assures me that this version will be “different than anybody’s seen” from both the original play and the film.
Seriously, don’t miss it. There will be much ado about something. Ticket info here.
On a related note
Last week I posted a blog about Tom Miller’s and Lauren Warhol Caldwell’s “Jack & Jill II: Alone Together” at downtown’s Black C Gallery. Being nothing if not nostalgic, the duo have decided to do a “command performance” of their original, 2022 production “Jack & Jill Go Downtown” also at the Black C. This on Thursday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. Ticket info here.
Not just an oldie but a goodie. A central theme of the original J&J was about downtown parking problems. Back then parking was free. But now the City has installed paid metering downtown, so I suspect there will be even more J&J ado about something this second time around.
Go see it. If you can find a parking spot.
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