Spent my Friday night in belltown, where I got to see the new police presence they are hoping will magically change the character of a neighborhood gone to the bars. The reason I was there was a board meeting for the Open Circle Theater, followed by a showing of their newest show, Terry Pratchett’s Wyrd Sisters, one of my favorite of his tales.
The handsome prince from Poona played the evil duchess, part of a gender-role reversal in casting, with a female playing the duke…presumably to over-emphasize the overbearing-ness of the duchess, and the meekness of the duke. I didn’t spot the shrub in any position. I found it odd that they threw in two extra players to play pieces of the set, without a dedicated fourth-wall-breaking-dialogue for them. They performed as chairs for the duke and duchess, and as walls with shelves in other scenes.
It’s odd to see a performance by someone new, of something I’ve seen and read so many time before, and so already have strong expectations of. With Poona, I knew nothing of the play, or the players, and so took it as it came. I felt much more critical at this performance, comparing it to the cartoon, and the way I’ve always seen the story play out in the theater of my mind. It was still a great performance, and if you are in Seattle with an evening to spend, I recommend it highly.