goodbooks

This past weekend, I went to the Globe Theatre’s (located in Balboa Park - San Diego) production of “All’s Well that Ends Well,” and was incredibly impressed. While I’m going to discuss the production, I’m sure that a read through of this play would be highly rewarding and funny. I went in to the play with some hesitation, knowing that the AWTEW (my abbreviation because the title is entirely too long) is one of Shakespeare’s “problem plays,” a term created by Shakespeare scholars to delineate plays that don’t fit squarely into his typical genres (history, tragedy, comedy, etc…). My only other experience with a problem play was “Measure for Measure,” which truly disturbed me, as nuns were being seduced. Anyway, my hesitation was calmed the moment I walked in the theatre, as the space is small and open, creating an ambiance of intimacy and vastness - with the sky opening up above. Once the play started, I was engrossed, each actor being excellent (although some of my friends thought that Helena overacted), and the costumes and set appearing tangibly vibrant. The play itself is - well - problematic. It vacillates between humor (there are plenty of sexual puns) and sad circumstances, both centering around the question of love. The female heroine (the first ever literary female doctor) goes after her beloved with cold intent, paying no heed to his feelings, and describing love as a sickness. As a result, the audience is always unsure about whether or not they want her to succeed. Likewise, the second storyline follows a braggart, who is hilarious, but whose outcome is tragic - again leaving the audience emotionally confused. With the title, Shakespeare seems to suggest that the important thing is the outcome, that the ends justify means. But, of course, the entire play is about the means, implying that Shakespeare was not actually as interested in the outcome. Ultimately, AWTEW is a play that forces the audience to think about the purpose of love, and whether it leads people into or away from war (both literally - the hero is a soldier - and personally). It’s a play to think over, not because it’s so problematic, but because it’s so aware.

(Also, if you do see or read it, keep in mind, that “to die” in the Renaissance carried a double meaning of “to orgasm,” a play on words that forms the ending riddle of the play. This double meaning existed because Renaissance scientists believed that when a person orgasmed, he or she shaved 15 minutes off of his or her life.)

Trackback URI | Comments RSS