Surfing The Channel

Posts Tagged ‘King James I’

In a city known for great theatre, great culture, great art, great dining, great shopping, okay the list could go on forever and the g-r-e-a-t keys on my keyboard might wear out so I’m just assume you get the idea. The point of all this greatness is to stress that in such an amazing city like New York only the best of the best make it to the top and stay there. So when you consider how long ago William Shakespeare wrote and how often he is produced all over the world, including New York, it becomes all the more astounding how great he is. His genius is frequently taken for granted and even dismissed but when considered in the context of all the theatres and festivals that are even named after him and college classes and professional workshops dedicated to him, it becomes impossible to ignore or refute.

One of the most famous theatrical associations to Shakespeare in New York is the Public Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park Series. The Public is one of the most respected companies in the city and is known for producing great new work. It’s simply another testament to Shakespeare’s brilliance that this theatre has an annual summer festival devoted to him. The Shakespeare in the Park series takes place in Central Park every summer and there are plenty of free tickets for it. There are frequently major Hollywood names starring in one or more of the productions and Al Pacino is on the cast list this year.

Shakespeare wrote during the late 1500s and early 1600s in London, England. His career spanned two English crowns, beginning with Queen Elizabeth the first on the throne and ended with King James I. Society and theatre productions were extremely different during those times and so was audience expectations and behaviors at the shows. They would frequently talk back to the actors and demonstrate their approval or displeasure physically and verbally. The theatre was more of a social occasion and the guests in New York’s finest four star hotels would be surprised at all of the goings on.