Freebie #5: Hamlet at the WFC

This is a SUPER delayed review of my latest freebie, mostly because it is April, a.k.a. finals, a.k.a. Grad Student Hell. I actually took in this freebie last weekend and truth be told, I even now don't really have time to be writing this little post... shhhh... don't tell my profs!

Thanks to The Village Voice, I found this latest gem of a freebie waiting to be discovered at the World Financial Center. Yes: it sounds odd, I realize -- Shakespeare in the Financial District??? But wait! It gets even odder. This is not just "Sit-Down-and-Veg-Out" Shakespeare (well, like you're gonna veg out watching Hamlet anyway). This is "Sit, Watch, Get up, Walk, and Repeat" Shakespeare. What I mean by this is that every scene of the play is in a different section of the venue -- in this case, the World Financial Center. So, Act 1, Scene 1 was just upstairs above Starbucks, where we sat on the floor, and then we all got up and walked 200 meters to another floor space around the corner for Act 1, Scene 2. And this repeated for the entire play.

What this means is:

• I got a really nice tour of the WFC, which was kind of good considering I had never been there before.
• I often became really confused as to where in the building we were.
• I got some exercise.
• My seat -- and the stage -- changed every scene. Once or twice I was up front, a few other times I was at the back, and most of the time I was somewhere in the middle. 
• My butt and legs were a bit sore by the time I finished.

However, do not let any of these things stop you from going to see the show, which runs until the 18th (see the webpage for details).  It was really an excellent performance. I can say this with some authority because I've seen a LOT of Shakespeare in my 30+ years on this earth; I love Shakespeare. I've taught Shakespeare plays, I've directed them, I've acted in them, I've read them, and I've watched several of them in both stage and film versions. I am quite opinionated when it comes to Shakespeare because I'm passionate about his work. So when I tell you that this was a good show, you can really take my word for it. (And for what it's worth, I'm not a purist, either.)

New York Classical Theatre knows what they are doing. Justin Blanchard takes control of the character of Hamlet -- never an easy role to play, let alone when you're doing it in a dynamic setting like this one, where settings and costumes are simple, and the actor must truly grab the audience. He was marvelous and captivating. Stephen Burdman directs and does well to use the space effectively, again, in a challenging environment. The other highlight for me was the actress Rita Rehn, playing Gertrude. Her role was convincing and engaging.  I have plenty more I would like to say but, honestly, in the interest of time I must wrap up this post.

While it's a bit odd to see Shakespeare in a mall-like setting (at one point there were advertisements on a screen directly behind Polonius), and to move around with every scene (some audience members take this to mean it's the Kentucky derby and you are the horses), it's definitely still enjoyable. One friend who joined me had never seen a Shakespeare play before. I told her she was very brave, starting with Hamlet! But she loved it and found it remarkably accessible, which I think is one of the NY Classical Theatre's goals. Bring a cushion to sit on -- you'll be on the floor -- and some energy and you'll be fine! You may also find it useful to read the company's suggestions [PDF] before attending.

New York Classical Theatre does ask for a donation at the end of the show, but you're under no obligation. They do this very non-obtrusively and it works.

And now... back to paper-writing...

[image respectfully borrowed from The Village Voice event page]

Freebie Post #2: Village Voice B-Sides Show

Freebie Tip #1: Enter Contests

Why do I say this? Because so far -- even before I began this blog -- I have won tickets to free shows all around town. How? By entering contests, my friends. And, it seems that no one really enters these contests, because this weekend's exploit marks the 3rd set of tickets I've won and been able to use (out of a total of 7 wins - yes, folks, it's true). These tickets to a Saturday night show came courtesy of the good people at the Village Voice, and more specifically, their Voice Street Twitter people. Tweet on, I say!

So, with my name on the list and a guest by my side (one who was willing to follow The Rules), I made my way over to the Gramercy Theater, not really knowing what to expect. But hey - free show, right? If it sucks, we can leave!

But sucketh it did not.

The show was actually excellent! We took in three bands -- each of which I've covered briefly below, with a video clip of each, for your further exploration.

1. Robert Poe - I would describe him as bluesy rock -- the kind of music I'd expect to hear in Houston or Dallas, maybe even Tennessee. He has a nice voice and a groovin' band. While I liked his original music, I also liked the Johnny Cash cover (I'm a sucker for nostalgia).
2. The Scarlet Ending - What an unusual sound! Firstly, I must say that the fashion lover in me appreciated the coordinated red highlights in the band's attire. Nice work, kids. Secondly, I will say that my friend and I exchanged gasps and giggles of disbelief when one of the lead singers said in between songs, "Yeah, so we've been together 10 years... blahblahblah" -- say WHAT?! So, did you, like start your band when you were 3? Seriously, these guys look young young young. But they rocked the house with their unique sound, I will give them that much. I wanna say they sounded a bit like early No Doubt, but with Tori Amos on vocals. A nice blend. They'll do well, I predict. 
3. Kara Suzanne - the headliner of the show and definitely the highlight for me. Why did I like her so much? For starters, she's got a killer set of pipes. Secondly, she has a tight band -- they are seriously good musicians. Third, I love her song lyrics. They are sincere, honest, and a bit earthy. She reminded me a bit of Bonnie Raitt and a grittier version of Feist, and at other times I thought of Tracy Chapman. I wanted to be drinking red wine or whiskey while listening to her music, or dancing in a hall stinking of stale beer. I loved her, and immediately went home and bought her recent album, Parlor Walls. My friend didn't like her quite as much as I did, but I think part of that is because I've grown up with music like Kara Suzanne's, so it's comfort food for me (and, as a Canadian, I find it highly amusing that her genre is labeled as "Americana" on her MySpace page, as it seems so... exclusive).

All in all, we left the event highly entertained and pleased. Both of us commented on how much we liked the venue -- really a cool, intimate spot, and one in which I hope I have the pleasure of seeing future shows!