Trivia with prizes!
Shakespeare! Bracelets! Rings! Join us on Wednesday, March 6 at kibbitznest as we explore Cymbeline with a cast of 10 that weave a fairy tale of Elizabethan proportions. Director Samie Jo Johnson has pared down the text to a re-telling that pairs well with trivia and trinkets. We'll bring the trivia, we'll bring some prizes, we'll bring the Shakespeare, you bring yourself and remember to check-out all the offerings kibbitznest has (kid-friendly and not-so-friendly beverages available). director's notes
Cymbeline has sometimes received the unfortunate title of “problem play” since it does not fit neatly into any one category. It doesn’t end in death or a wedding and the monarchs are mostly fictional, so it cannot be called, Shakespearean-ly speaking, a tragedy, comedy, or history. It’s all three. After all, there is a British King and it starts after a wedding and ends—well, you’ll see. Call Cymbeline what you like, a serio-comedy, a romance, a fairy tale, what have you. Personally, I like to think of it as a melodrama. Now, I know the historically inclined will point out that melodramas didn’t exist until the French Revolution, roughly a century and a half after Shakespeare’s time. But in retrospect, Cymbeline fits into the melodramatic defining feature of a clear partition of characters into “good” and “bad.” I recall learning in my theatre history course that this style of storytelling tends to be popular in times where political power problems need to be addressed. In today’s trying times, I cannot help but feel a draw to these melodramatic structures where the “bad” characters, the power hungry and entitled, must repent or get what’s coming to them. While I believe humans in the real world exist in the nuance between “good” and “bad,” it’s nice to lean into stories serving poetic justice, isn’t it? But when it comes down to it, Cymbeline is a story about love. And much like this genre-defying play, love has never been entirely one category, it’s a little bit of everything. |
kibbitznest: books, brews & blarney
Wednesday, March 6, 6:30 PM 2212 N Clybourn Ave Chicago 
The TALENT
Ensemble: Ann-Claude Rakatoniaina, Julia Stemper, Julianna Pullis, Kirstie Smith, Kristin Morris, Mark Maxwell, Nico Quinn, Phi Harkness, Quinton Sledge, Thomas Tong directed by Samie Jo Johnson Ann-Claude's favorite fairy tale is probably Cinderella - she loves a good story about resilience Julia loves The Never Ending Story. Julianna is totally intrigued by East of the Sun and West of the Moon. If we can spell Eurydice then Kirstie has her pick. Mark likes Pan's Labyrinth. There's something about the casual gruel catered to children in Little Red - the original Grimm tales version - that Nico is obsessed with. Winter is coming for Ophelia who's favorite fairy tale is Game of Thrones. Jack and the Beanstalk is Quinton's fave! Samie Jo's answer is Mulan...if that counts. A Christmas Carol jumps out at Thomas. Once upon a time...
...there lived, in Ancient Britain, King Cymbeline. He had two sons and one daughter. Sadly his two sons were abducted, leaving Cymbeline only with daughter, Imogen. Cymbeline's stepson, Cloten, became his heir, and Cymbeline expects Imogen to marry him to cement the ease of succession. Imogen however has another love, Posthumus Leonatus, and marries him secretly instead. Banished from court, Posthumus brazenly bets on Imogen's chastity, which leads to false evidence that she has betrayed him. He plots to have her killed, and starts by sending her on a journey. Meanwhile, still angry about Imogen's marriage, Cloten plans to find and rape her. Imogen—now disguised as a boy, "Fidele"—unwittingly encounters her brothers, who have grown up in a mountain cave unaware of their princely origins. The brothers kill Cloten, but Imogen, horrified, believes they have slain Posthumus. Cymbeline, meanwhile, refuses to pay a tribute to the Romans, who invade Britain. After the Romans are repelled in battle, Cymbeline agrees to the tribute, his sons are restored, and Imogen and Posthumus are reconciled. |
*This event is Free for everyone, we will be passing the hat at the end to help offset costs of the event and continue our fundraising efforts for the 2019 Tour. While we will be asking for your help, remember even if you can't afford to contribute we want to make sure you include us in your plans and never let your finances keep you from playing with us!