"Shakespeare's Journey" offers too much drama

While "Shakespeare’s Journey" provides a thrilling escape into the life of one of the world’s greatest playwrights, it devotes too much of the show to drama and not enough to comedy, and errs on the side of inaccurate. Put on the OSU University Theatre, the performance employs humor, drama, and a wonderful a Capella quartet to show both Shakespeare’s struggles and triumphs.

Highlights of the play include music sung by the Madrigals, a group of four student singers (Marissa Addicott, Josh Randall, Katie Wolf, and Zeke Pitney) who help narrate the play with beautiful songs, and rousing scenes where actors Will Kempe (played by L.B. Hind, whose performance stole the show) and Nicholas Tooley (Robert LaFever) humor the audience with clever puns and raunchy quips worthy of the real Shakespeare’s approval.

The emotional center of the play lies in the rocky marriage between Shakespeare (played by Bryan Bernart) and his wife Anne (played by Maarika Teose). Anne is a particularly sympathetic character during the play as she struggles to raise a family alone to the disapproval of the local church while her husband conducts an elicit affair with The Dark Lady (Anastasia Bumbar).

However, it is in this marital drama the play loses some of its appeal. While the play is cleverly written in a sort of “Shakespeare for Dummies” style, it doesn’t seem to have a clear direction. Although the production has many of the elements of tragedy (the loss of Shakespeare’s son, an arranged marriage, the dissolving relationship between a husband and wife), the play ends with Shakespeare and Anne finally beginning to mend their relationship, which as a happy ending would mark the play as a comedy. Unfortunately, while it’s unrealistic to assume Shakespeare’s life could play out as a comedy, the production doesn’t use enough humor to keep the audience from being overwhelmed by the play’s heaviness.

The play also ends during a brief time of peace between Shakespeare and his wife, giving audience members who know little of the playwright's life the impression that their relationship problems resolve themselves. Historically, things ended unhappily; Shakespeare died leaving his wife nothing in his will except for the “second best bed.”

Overall, the play is a thoughtful, interesting look at Shakespeare’s life with some fantastic acting performances and lovely music, but if you’re looking for something light and comical or meticulously accurate in detail, you may want to skip out on this one.

The play runs from May 7-9 and May 14-16 at 7:30 p.m. in Withycombe Hall. Tickets are available online and at the OSU Theatre Box Office in Withycombe Hall.

Photo Credit: Image by Maya Lazaro.

Who: The OSU University Theatre
What: A performance of "Shakespeare's Journey"
When: May 7-9 and May 14-16 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Withycombe Hall located at 30th and Campus Way
Why: Come if you're interested in the life of one of the world's greatest playwrights

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What Swine-!

If Porky the Pig were real, he'd be on America's Most Wanted list. Why? Two words: swine flu.

But is it really the fault of pigs that we're getting sick? In an interview with Anthony L. Komaroff, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, Newsweek reported that swine flu is actually a mix of flu genes that contain human, swine, and avian components. It's likely that this virus arose from humans working in close quarters with livestock, which themselves are bred in cramped spaces, creating a fertile breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. Because humans and livestock share the same space, viruses are able to adapt, evolve, and transmit their genetic material much more easily.

According to the Center of Disease Control, the virus cannot actually be spread through eating pork or pork products. It can, however, be spread from human to human through coughing and sneezing by people with influenza.

So, why hate on pigs? Sure, they contributed to this soon-to-be pandemic, but we were ultimately the ones who caused it. By caging livestock in close quarters with one another, and working so closely with them without proper protective gear, we created the perfect environment for flu viruses to form and spread. Instead of blaming and slaughtering innocent swine, as though these animals have somehow consciously created this virus in an effort to harm humans, we should focus on containing the virus, educating people on how these viruses form and spread, and reforming the way farmers and corporations handle livestock so that we can prevent new viruses from spreading in the future.

Photo Credit: Image by Bearman2007, courtesy of Flickr.com.
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Romanticism 101

Romancing your partner isn't as hard as it looks. Even if being sentimental and thoughtful isn't really your thing (I may or may not have once thrown-up on a date), here are some tips anyone can use to make their loved one swoon and gush, "That's so romantic!" (Yes, even a man.)(Especially a man.)



1. Know the things that make you partner smile. Listen to them when they talk and watch their body language. If their face lights up when they talk about baby seals, then maybe it's time to schedule a trip for Alaska. Unless of course they're talking about clubbing baby seals, in which case, disregard this post entirely and seek your partner some psychological help. I can't be held responsible for cases of seal-murder.

2. Not everything romantic is necessarily a cliche. Think outside the box. Don't have the money for exspensive chocolates? Make your beau a giant heartshaped cookie instead. Don't have a sunset? Why not paint one and present it as a gift instead?

3. Nostalgia and sentiment are key. Think of a memory that's meaningful to you (in a positive way, of course). Now imagine yourself sharing that memory with your partner. For example, instead of buying your girlfriend exsensive jewelry, give her a piece of your grandmother's heirloom jewelry instead. It will mean a lot to your partner if you include them in your past.

Image by Bob.Fornal, courtesy of Flickr.com.

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