Shows: Infinite Variety

Shakespeare’s Women: Real and Imagined
Adapted and Directed by Scott Palmer
Presented May/June 2008 at Glenn and Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center, Hillsboro and The Kingstad Center, Beaverton

Commissioned by Glasgow Repertory Company and Toi Whakaari, the New Zealand National Drama School
Original New Zealand Cast: Annie Ruth, Erina Daniels, Amanda Baker, Kate Prior
Original Scotland Cast: Rachel Colles, Jennifer Dick, Emma Larsson, Nicki Walsh

Directors Notes:

Rosalind, Queen Margaret and the Duchess of Gloucester in a fist-fight over Orlando? Volumnia, Hermione and Katherine of Aragon standing "shoulder to shoulder" against the men who betrayed them? Helena, Hermia, and all of the Princesses from Love's Labour's Lost reading Shakespearean love sonnets from their boyfriends? Lady Macbeth, Tamora and crazy cursed filled Margaret spending some quality time with the goddess Hecate planning bloody revenge?

None of these scenes sound familiar? Never happened in Shakespeare's plays, you say? Well, the have now!
Infinite Variety: Shakespeare's Women, Real and Imagined is an internationally acclaimed showcase of some of the Bard's best (and least) known female characters; more than 50 women from 24 plays, along with sonnets and Shakespearean poetry. Called "a rare theatrical gem" by The Daily Herald of Scotland, "funny, poignant and moving" by The New Zealand Herald and "the perfect play to introduce us to the beauty and power of the Bard" by The Scotsman Newspaper.

The Play:

Act 1, Scene 1: Prologue
Prologue, The Two Noble Kinsman
Enobarbus, Antony and Cleopatra

Act 1, Scene 2: Girl’s Night In Sonnets
Helena and Hermia, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Princess, Rosaline, Catherine, Maria, Love’s Labour’s Lost

Act 1, Scene 3: Stand By Your Man
Juliet and Nurse, Romeo and Juliet
Cressida, Troilus and Cressida
Rosalind, As You Like It
Pheobe, As You Like It
Duchess of Gloucester, Henry VI, Part II
Queen Margaret, Henry VI, Part II

Act 2: We Three Queens
First, Second, Third Queen, The Two Noble Kinsmen
Queen Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII (All Is True)
Volumina, Coriolanus
Hermione, The Winter’s Tale

Act 3: Something Wicked This Way Comes
Hecate, The Weird Sisters, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth
Tamora, Titus Andronicus
Queen Margaret, Richard III

INTERMISSION (15 Minutes)

Act 4: Wait a Minute Mr. Postman
Mistress Page, Mistress Ford, Merry Wives of Windsor
Hero, Beatrice, Ursula, Much Ado About Nothing
Rosalind, As You Like It
Katherine, The Taming of the Shrew
Emilia, Othello

Act 5: Be Absolute For Death
Lady Anne, Richard III
Cleopatra, Antony and Cleopatra
Constance, King John
Mistress Quickly, Henry V
Venus and Adonis

Epilogue:
Prologue/Epilogue, Henry VIII (All Is True)
Rosalind, As You Like It