CSM artist-in-residence to present commissioned Shakespeare-inspired play
含羞草视频 artist-in-residence Marshall B Garrett is putting the final touches on his Shakespeare-inspired production of 鈥�Sweet are the Uses.鈥�
Garrett spent the spring semester teaching theater production classes at CSM, sharing his experiences as a director trained in Shakespearean performances. He also incorporated some of that training into the student theatrical experience. Next week, Garrett will direct the theater production class students in 鈥�Sweet are the Uses,鈥� which he commissioned for 含羞草视频. The production was written by playwright Merlyn Q. Sell 鈥� and William Shakespeare.
鈥淚 almost always cast more women than a script that I鈥檓 doing inherently calls for, and that鈥檚 quite deliberate,鈥� says Garrett. 鈥淪o I loved when this opportunity came up, when one of the conditions that it was an all-female show.鈥�
Commissioning a feature that includes only female players was a perfect fit not only for the class, but for the CSM production, as well. It also contains some interesting and complex twists in the dialogue.
鈥淭he text of the play is really remarkable,鈥� says Garrett. 鈥淭he prologue is a mixed parody of both the opening speech from 鈥�Henry V鈥� and the theme song from 鈥�The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.鈥�
But he adds that most of the dialogue are lines from Shakespeare, sourced from the entire canon.
鈥淭here鈥檚 one particularly remarkable speech that begins with a song from 鈥�A Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream,鈥� moves to King Lear being reunited with his daughter, moves to Coriolanus鈥� mother, a brief line from 鈥�As You Like It鈥檚鈥� wrestler, then shifts to Juliet鈥檚 Nurse, Leonato at his daughter鈥檚 wedding in 鈥�Much Ado about Nothing,鈥� then back to 鈥�As You Like It,鈥� then back to the Nurse, and finally to the good Duke in 鈥�As You Like It.鈥�
Garrett says he鈥檚 probably leaving something out. But the entire play is structured that same way, he adds, 鈥渁nd it鈥檚 seamless!鈥�
The play is set in the Forest of Arden, where five of Shakespeare鈥檚 erstwhile heroines have sought safety after being banished from court by an authoritarian and corrupt Duke. The five meet in the forest and work to overcome obstacles, until they prove 鈥淪weet are the uses of adversity,鈥� a line from Shakespeare鈥檚 鈥�As You Like It.鈥� The finale provides a crescendo of forgiveness, redemption and joy.
Garrett has previously served as a guest artist, and has worked in artist-management positions but says that to be exclusively a guest artist-in-residence is a new experience. The theater director, Shakespearean scholar and instructor is excited to present the commissioned production with students and staff.
