Patti Abbott and I have expressed our longing for theater on this blog several times. Fortunately, Terry Teachout of the WALL STREET JOURNAL has provide some alternatives for theater lovers during the coronavirus pandemic. The first was the online availability of ACT ONE and next was THE DEEP BLUE SEA. Now, Teachout recommends the American Player Theatre (in Wisconsin) for two more online plays: Shaw’s Arms and the Man and Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.
Sure, some people might not find the ZOOM format appealing, but beggars can’t be choosers. If you have a hankering for theater, here are two plays that might delight you. Both plays are available for free at pbswisconsin.org/out-of-the-woods until July 26.
And Stratford has been making many of their plays available for free.
Patti, I’ll check out Stratford, too. These online plays are not ideal, but they’re better than nothing.
https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/
Patti, thanks for the link! I’ll check it out today.
ACT ONE worked well, I thought, but we watched the National Theatre revival (2019) of Sondheim and James Goldman’s FOLLIES and it was badly filmed and mediocre. I think we saw ARMS AND THE MAN in London back in the 70s, but I might be wrong. We definitely did see JULIUS CAESAR with Richard Dreyfuss at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) in 1978. (Incidentally, they followed this with WAITING FOR GODOT, which we also saw.)
Jeff, I am amazed at all the plays you and Jackie have seen! Astonishing!
Jeff alerted us to great performances and others on PBS. I’m now in the midst of Much Ado and Porgy and Bess. I have a big problem with Opera and the sopranos that hit excructiating (for me) to hear high notes. It’s that way with P & B. I like the guy playing porgy. Much Ado is much better, though I would loved to have had the language updated as well as clothing, setting etc. (I know, that’s blasphemy to fans of the bard).
It’s too late to catch it, but Hershey Felder did a one night show of his one man Beethoven. I saw it and Gershwin in the theater and enjoyed both. I don’t want to see any more as the theater he uses is not a pleasant experiences. Hard to get into the theater itself, ushers are snitty, and the seats are sooo uncomfortable. If it repeats, I’d recommend it, especially if you can see it in your home.
Early on I caught James Corden in one man 2 guvs, but it did a number on my poor computer, I think. I enjoyed the show.
Maggie, our PBS station has not started broadcasting those Friday musicals yet. We’re eager to see them!