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Amazing!Cal
With so complicated a plot, a synopsis--or at least listing the characters in order of appearance in the program--would have been useful. Giovanna
Another fabulous production in the Glen. "All's Well" is considered a problem comedy but there is no problem with this production. Rachel Fowler is beautiful as the heroine, Helena. She brings empathy and pathos to the character while also delivering laughs in her "virginity" scene with Parolles (Allen Gilmore). Allen is also fabulous. His Parolles is arrogant and condescending in the beginning but reduced to a spineless shell of his former self in the end. Applause, applause to the cast. Thanks for another delightful afternoon in the Glen.Jean
By calling this play a comedy, Shakespeare sets his audience up to have certain expectations. He then proceeds to experiment, improvise and explore those expectations by creating a story that is complex, ambiguous and provocative. Tim Ocel has directed a production that bravely embraces this ambiguity, telling Shakespeare's story and presenting Shakespeare's characters honestly and clearly. The production and actor's performances ask us to think, and to examine our own assumptions about gender roles and romantic love, while leaving us deeply moved in the process.Lauren
I won't write about the plot of the play, because it's well known to be a "problem." But the cast of this production does a great job with the complex and interesting characters. And it was a great pleasure to hear them perform the beautiful dialogue. I especially liked the character of Helena, and the actress playing her. However troubled Helena's love and her pursuit of it may be, I enjoyed watching the story of her pilgrimage unfold. This production also featured excellent costumes, which helped tell the story and the changes the cast was going through. The costumes of the women in the scenes set in Italy reminded me of last year's "Much Ado about Nothing." I loved the Whitworth years at SSC, but I'd have to say that new artistic director Marco Barricelli is off to a great start with his first season.Vox T., San Francisco
As always, director Tim Ocel comes through with a profound and human production. Among other virtues, he always ensures his actors fully understand and deliver the complexities of the verse. Fine performances all round. For those who have problems with the social mores and conventions of the plot, it might help to realize that the play is more allegory than documentary.David Bolam
Tim Ocel did a fine job in uncovering the subtleties of the play so that the characters and their motivations make sense. Our hero Bertram starts out as a cad, but after witnessing Parolles disgraced and shunned for his bad behavior, Bertram grows up and accepts his marriage. Helena, our heroine, seems less inclined to trickery and more inclined to earnestly meet her husband's challenge. Also, thanks to all the actors for their excellent diction and delivery. I did not miss a word. Christine W.
All is definitely well with the production of this play. Erik Hellman manages to make Bertram comprehensible by giving him tremendous vulnerability. While he certainly is selfish, he manages to transcend simple shallowness and demonstrates a romantic, youthful zeal that almost makes us understand why Helena loves him. Rachel Fowler does a fabulous job with Helena, playing her with clear choices and exceptional vision. Allen Gilmore plays a masterful Paroles, with fabulous comedy and tremendous sensitivity.
There are a few times where the production drags perhaps more than it should, and, with all of the sensitive treatment this text got from the director, I was saddened by the inclusion of the Widow into Diana's monologue, turning what could have been a fabulous dramatic reading into comedy.
That being said, they managed to make the problem ending of this play work. While it strains our credulity, we just might believe the title thanks to the strong work by SSC.Daniel
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