round house theatre: Last News

Comedy of Errors says, “We’re glad you’re here.” You will be entertained as if adored, yelled at with affection, and there will be no need to actually follow Shakespeare’s ridiculously convoluted shenanigans surrounding the reuniting of two sets of separated twins, although a pre-curtain read of the synopsis will help.Even better, you will be treated to Shakespeare delivered with a kind of natural energy, meaning you don’t have to be a die-hard fan of the Bard to fully understand the gist of what’s being said and why. Put simply, director Simon Godwin and this top-notch cast are out to give a warm and lovely embrace to anyone and everyone — and that’s a lot harder than it looks.Going for accessibility right out of the gate, Godwin opts for a flash-forward to the 1990s, cleverly predating cell phones (whose use would instantly thwart any “errors”) and allowing for a relatable vibe that invites everything from funky interludes to wittily-adapted asides.

The Seafarer is just as powerfully a contemplation on what it is to knock along in a life pot-holed with bad luck and dysfunction. Indeed, almost all of the first act is a fly-on-the-wall immersion in a certain kind of seedy male domesticity.Amid peeling wallpaper and rising damp, the house buzzes with bark, banter, and potted philosophizing as mismatched cups, milk possibly past its sell-by date, and a lifetime’s unhealthy relationship with alcohol arrive and depart.

American Dreams, directed by Tamilla Woodard, invites its online audience to participate as viewers of the nation’s “newest game show sensation,” where the ultimate prize for contestants is citizenship to the great U.S.A.Three hopefuls, from Palestine, Pakistan, and Mexico, try their luck and test their knowledge, while the live audience decides which of them earns the right to become a citizen. Outlandish as the premise might seem, the game show sharply examines who gets to decide what it means to be a citizen.“If that were really up to me, what would actually weigh into that decision?” says Buck.