The Nashville Shakespeare Festival has found interesting ways to expand its community presence in the recent era. Besides bringing the Bard to the younger set via its many in-school workshops, the company's "Shakespeare Allowed" reading program also continues its monthly performances at the downtown public library. (Next up is Love's Labors Lost on June 7, rendered with a "y'all come" spiritedness.) Now comes this innovative project, co-created by NSF artistic director Denice Hicks, education director Claire Syler and noted actress Nan Gurley. For 60 minutes, the master playwright and his esteemed works go on trial, accused of contemporary irrelevance and verbal inaccessibility. Shakespeare, played by Brian Russell, takes the stand to refute all charges, and his sustaining evidence includes his own characters and dialogue, along with pertinent props and costumes. You the jury will decide: Is the Bard innocent or guilty of being boring and confusing in the 21st century? Gurley plays the prosecuting attorney; Jon Royal is the complaining witness; and Hicks is the judge. (Cue that familiar Law & Order sound effect.)
Fri., May 29; Sat., May 30, 2009
