Mike Dooly News

A Shakespearean tale of one of the most famous couples in all of history performed by some of the best actors in town and directed by one of Seattle's best directors. You'd think it'd be a slam dunk success wouldn't you? Well, you'd be right. And even with a few moments that missed the mark for me and a show that could still use a little tightening, this almost three and a half hour production of "Antony and Cleopatra" from Seattle Shakespeare Company grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA by William Shakespeare is directed by John Langs at the Intiman Playhouse, 201 Mercer Street, Seattle, Wash. The show opened last night, Friday, November 2, 2012 and will close on Sunday, November 18, 2012. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Seattle Shakespeare Company opens its new season at the Playhouse at Seattle Center with the epic romance Antony and Cleopatra. Director John Langs, who staged the company's block-buster production of Hamlet, helms the legendary and tragic affair of two charismatic world leaders caught between their own desires and the duty they owe their country.

Seattle Shakespeare Company opens its new season at the Playhouse at Seattle Center with the epic romance Antony and Cleopatra. Director John Langs, who staged the company's block-buster production of Hamlet, helms the legendary and tragic affair of two charismatic world leaders caught between their own desires and the duty they owe their country.

Whether or not we are cheering for a certain character in a play needs to come from more than just being told that someone is the protagonist or good guy. We must feel something for the character based on the feelings the actors put toward that character. And ultimately I think this is why Seattle Shakespeare Company's current production of "Coriolanus" fails so miserably.

The citizenry are revolting and political power is concentrated in the hands of the rich and powerful. Shakespeare points up the parallels to current headlines and shows that politics are a nest of vipers more dangerous than an enemy's sword in Seattle Shakespeare Company's production of Coriolanus. Director David Quicksall stages a lean, action-packed adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy about a warrior without equal who discovers he is nothing without his sword.

Bred for the battlefield, the triumphant soldier Coriolanus discovers he is out of his depths when elected to the Roman Senate where the politics can be twice as treacherous as warfare.

The citizenry are revolting and political power is concentrated in the hands of the rich and powerful. Shakespeare points up the parallels to current headlines and shows that politics are a nest of vipers more dangerous than an enemy's sword in Seattle Shakespeare Company's production of Coriolanus. Director David Quicksall stages a lean, action-packed adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy about a warrior without equal who discovers he is nothing without his sword.

Two sets of long lost twins unknowingly cross paths, and set the stage for an evening of mistaken identity, mixed up confusion and mayhem! This comic master piece is full of slapstick and sight gags, puns and pratfalls. Keeping track of which twin is which is only half the fun, as Shakespeare also stacks the deck with some of his most outrageous characters, including a jealous wife, a seductive courtesan, a hapless old man seeking his sons, a zany conjurer attempting an exorcism, and even a nun who's not all she seems to be!

Seattle Shakespeare Company launches their 20th anniversary season with the uber-Shakespeare classic, "Hamlet". I'll admit I was hesitant to go see it. "Yet another production of 'Hamlet'." But, this production with its "less is more" mentality is a near note perfect production and one to be remembered for years to come.

Seattle Shakespeare Company launches their 20th anniversary season with the uber-Shakespeare classic, "Hamlet". I'll admit I was hesitant to go see it. "Yet another production of 'Hamlet'." But, this production with its "less is more" mentality is a near note perfect production and one to be remembered for years to come.

Neil Simon's classic coming of age story "Lost in Yonkers" is currently playing at Village Theatre in Issaquah. And while the show may be a little tired, there are certainly some wonderful performances in this production.

ArtsWest starts the 2009-10 season with DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE, a wildly imaginative new work from Sarah Ruhl, September 9 - October 3.

ArtsWest starts the 2009-10 season with DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE, a wildly imaginative new work from Sarah Ruhl, September 9 - October 3.

ArtsWest starts the 2009-10 season with Dead Man's Cell Phone, a wildly imaginative new work from Sarah Ruhl, the playwright behind The Clean House and Eurydice. When Jean answers the cell phone of the corpse at the next table, she unwittingly embarks on a quirky odyssey that takes her from grief to the black market to the afterlife. With unfailing empathy, she sets the dead man's bizarre life to rights and on the way resurrects her own. ArtsWest favorite Carol Roscoe returns to direct this Seattle premiere.

ArtsWest starts the 2009-10 season with DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE, a wildly imaginative new work from Sarah Ruhl, September 9 - October 3.