Women of Will

TINA PACKER. TINA PACKER. TINA PACKER. I can’t stop talking about Tina Packer. What can I say about Tina Packer? Well, truly everything I can say will fall short of expressing the extraordinary woman, artist, scholar and teacher she proves to be. As the founder of Shakespeare & Company, a group that I hold in high esteem, Ms. Packer is an advocate for exposing the truth in Shakespeare’s language. She believes that the words tell the story, a concept that is often overlooked by contempory theatre artists interested in embodying a character.

Women of Will, directed by my favorite theatre artists, Eric Tucker, investigates Shakespeare’s text through the eyes of his female characters. At the Kirk Douglas last tonight, audiences only saw an overview of Ms. Packer’s 5 part series, but our short time together proved inspirational. With years of experience, Tina Packer is like a fine wine, she only gets better with age. Ms. Packer posses the ability to transform herself into any age, accurately depicting the love struck Juliet as easily as the words can be produced from her lips. Assisted by Nigel Gore, Ms. Packard explores such characters as Kate (Taming of the Shrew), Joan of Arc (Henry VI, part i), and Desdemona (Othello), among others.

Though Ms. Packer has been shaping and expanding Women of Will since the mid-1990s, it still feels like a work in progress. Watching the production unfold is somewhat like watching a workshop or rehearsal. However, watching Ms. Packer work is probably the most fantastic vision I have ever seen in my life. Directly addressing the audience in between segments, Ms. Packer gives audiences an insight into her very important approach to Shakespeare. Eric Tuckers direction creates imaginary space on a bare set and perfect transitions from one dialog to another.

I wish I could explain in words Ms. Packer’s use of breath, body and voice in a way that could accurately relate her visceral impact on my body when she performs. Her energy and voice are felt in my soul. Yet such a feeling can only be experienced in person. Therefore I urge you to look for Women of Will as it tours across the county. Chances are you will see Shakespeare like you have never seen or understood it before.

Women of Will will be performed Saturday March 5th at 8pm, and Sunday, March 6th at 7pm. The show runs 2.5 hrs including intermission. Tickets are $35 General Admission, $20 Students and Seniors. The Kirk Douglas Theater is located at 9820 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90232.

"I will preach to thee: mark."

Tonight I had the privilege of attending Shakespeare Orange County’s production of King Lear. Founded by Thomas Bradac in 1992, Shakespeare Orange County is the only professional performing arts organization in Orange County solely dedicated to producing classical theatre.

I hold SOC close to my heart, as it utilized the talents of Chapman University’s faculty and students, where I completed my undergraduate training. It is always a marvel to me to walk through those iron gates at the Garden Grove Festival Amphitheatre and be greeted by so many familiar faces. More importantly, this production features Dennis Krausnick as King Lear – a founder of Shakespeare & Company, talented actor, and master teacher.

I first met Dennis at a weekend Shakespeare & Company intensive, where I receive one-on-one instruction as he helped me work through an Isabella monologue from William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure.

Dennis not only changed the way I approached the text, but he also helped my over a hurdle in acting career where I doubted my ability to perform my craft.

I stood before him uttering the words of Isabella, “To whom should I complain? Did I tell this? / Who would believe me…” when he abruptly stopped me. “You don’t think you are good, do you?” – He emphatically stated. I started to cry because I felt that he had stared right through me into my soul and saw my fears. He put his hand on my shoulder and said, “You are good. Now tell yourself and do it.”

The following year I played Isabella in Measure for Measure with the Redlands Shakespeare Festival under the direction of one of Dennis’s colleagues, Eric Tucker. I channeled Dennis’s words before every rehearsal and every performance. It is amazing that such a simple validation could change my outlook forever.

So there I was on Thursday night, watching my mentor on stage—A man, who probably will never know what an immense impact he has had on my life—and having the most intense catharsis as Lear lost everything he held dear to him.

Together Dennis Krausnick as Lear and Michael Nehring as Gloucester bring the audience on a torturous journey through melancholy. Perhaps the most powerful moment it in this production is when the two reunited – Lear in his madness and Gloucester in his blindness. Suddenly two strong men comfort each other as s literal and figurative storm rages over their heads.



KING LEAR
If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes.
I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloucester:
Thou must be patient; we came crying hither:
Thou know'st, the first time that we smell the air,
We wawl and cry. I will preach to thee: mark.

GLOUCESTER
Alack, alack the day!

KING LEAR
When we are born, we cry that we are come
To this great stage of fools: this a good block;
It were a delicate stratagem, to shoe
A troop of horse with felt: I'll put 't in proof;
And when I have stol'n upon these sons-in-law,
Then, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!

Shakespeare Orange County’s production of King Lear is honest and terrifying. It glimpses into the phantoms of human nature, striping each character down to the core of their humanity. This powerful production is sure to leave you breathless.

King Lear. Sept 2-18 (Thurs – Sat). All performances start at 8:15pm at the Festival Amphitheatre, 12740 Main St., Garden Grove. Tickets are $27-$32. Call 714-590-1575 or visit the SOC website for more information: http://www.shakespeareoc.org/