The Importance of Being Ernest was one of the most enjoyable plays we had ever seen.  Our comparisons include Broadway, off Broadway, SF, LA, etc.  The acting was spectacular, perfectly cast and performed.

I enjoyed Twelfth Night very much and I recommend that everyone go see it. More specifically, I want to say that Alexandra Matthew has been excellent in everything I’ve ever seen her in. I first saw her in 2001 at Marin Shakespeare, and I remember telling people I thought she should play the lead in future productions. I was happy to see her last year in Amadeus and Winter’s Tale, though there wasn’t enough of her. I am happy now, this year, to have seen her in Earnest and Twelfth Night. She can do everything, perfectly. I look forward to seeing her in Julius Caesar. I look forward to next year when I am sure she will play the lead in all three of your productions — thank you in advance for casting her….

FAR OUT, MAN!!! I have seen several excellent (traditional) performances of Twelfth Night, and I must say I had my doubts (along with many many others apparently) that this would be anything other than a lame mockery. I could not have been more WRONG! Your production was FABULOUS!!! From Sgt. Orsino’s lonely Hearts Club Valentines to a Fool such as Bob Dylan, to a well-laid fairway wood in the 4th, the interpretation and subsequent applications of Summer of Love subculture and music were both inspired and reverent. Never was respect for the bard set aside, indeed I believe he would have roared his mirthful approval from the back row.I have to disagree with a few previously tendered opinions. First, regarding the quality of the opening band, I thought it played like an impromptu and spontaneous street performance on Haight, setting well the mood. Also, it was easy to understand and forgive the lip-syncing given the venue, and I found I enjoyed the flash-back feeling brought on by the original tracks/artists. The skill and performances of all the players were superb, and combined with her consummate timing, Cat Thompson’s tats in my opinion added a playful “vampiness” to Olivia.I could go on and on and on… but so could the Funky Chicken. I will just finish by saying that if you Shakespearean virgin who isn’t sure you can follow the story, SEE THIS PLAY! If you are a purist who is willing to suspend your idealism for an evening, SEE THIS PLAY! If you are just wandering around San Rafael looking for a groovy place to spark up a doob, SEE THIS PLAY! (just keep the smokes outside the theater)

Take Bob Dylan and the Beatles and others and dump them into the middle of Shakespeare’s poetry? I had my doubts. But it worked, and worked brilliantly. The 20th century musical selections were perfect. I am somewhat of a purist when it comes to Shakespeare, but last night’s show blew me away. You guys are the best!

Two Steps Away From Ashland…I would rate this performance very “high!”  The concept is great, the interpretation of 12th night form a 70s perspective is wonderful. The acting was flawless - everybody was great. I only noticed once or twice when Sir Toby stumbled over his lines instead of his feet.  The choreography was also perfect. Especially the “Valentines.”  Another added bonus was the on-stage (what I will call for lack of a better term) “bricolage” at the end of the intermission. Brilliant in more ways than I have time to tell.  The music was wonderful - the schticks were amusing - without fail. OK - now for the harsh negatives.First, the on-stage band during the pre-show was way too loud. And, the quality of the performance was way too low. This is not a rock concert - recorded music would work just as well. A band might be added later - if one of suitable skill could be found - to play a tune or two at the start of the play - leading to the duke’s opening line.Second, there was an annoying inconsitency to the songs… some performers sung along while others were lipsynching. One or the other - please. Along those lines, we were seated near the front. And, as such, it was very strange to see actors moving their mouths in front of us, while the sound of the music came from the speakers behined us. Any way to move the speakers to the front so the picture matches the sound?On a smaller note, the Duches was a little distracting. Her costume (and tats) gave the impression that she was more into bondage and discipline than peace and love - something not reflected in that character. Striking and sexy - sure… but not in sync with the rest of the performance. I was distracted from enjoying the play when I found myself trying to read her thigh.Addressing the two big issues will make a strong step in the right direction.For the next interation of this brillian adaptaction, you should (as I’m sure you’ve considered) make it a full-blown musical using performers who can both sing and act!Many Thanks for a wonderful performance!

“Shakespeare…was a walking, talking, breathing sexual pun. His name meant Wanker - to shake one’s spear. His Christian name was a pun on prick, cunt and sexual desire. But the names also meant someone strong and courageous. And with this particular Will Shakespeare, they stood for someone unafraid to shake others out of their complacent assumptions about sexual identity, politics, war, and morality.”  Filthy Shakespeare, by Pauline Kiernan, p. 9Shakespeare’s work is timeless, largely because he addressed such fundamental aspects of humanity, including all that is human sexuality. Don’t miss this season’s Marin Shakespeare performances, you’ll become a fan for life of this particular company’s renditions of the plays by the greatest “Wanker” of all time.

We’ve been bringing our children and their friends since our children were 6 and 9 (10 seasons ago).  Not being very cultured or well-read ourselves, we were skeptical but figured “What could we lose at a Pay What You Will performance?!” We got hooked with the first performance we saw!!! And we’ve been telling friends and converting youth into Shakespeare fans ever since.  So many of the plays stand out, as do many of the performers, the talented direction, the fabulous sets, creative costumes….But I must tell you that one actor never fails to convert even the person(child or adult) who believes s/he will never like Shakespeare (and, of course impresses every last one of the ardent fans …. He is Darren Bridgett. Whether in comedies or tragedies, something about the way he delivers his lines and the pauses and the inflections and the movement of his hands and eyes and every facial feature, something about his total immersion in the character even as he breaks to eat audience members’ snacks, communicates the meanings of not only his lines but the entire scene to even the youngest audience members, even the most reticent, even those who don’t speak English fluently (much less Shakespearean English). Whenever he’s in a play it’s a must see for the whole family and everyone we know!! Others who stand out as having a special talent for playing these roles in a way that makes them accessible to today’s commoner (like us) include William Elsman, George Maguire, Scott Coopwood, Jack Powell…hmmm there are so many and I certainly don’t wish to offend by leaving someone out ….Every year the whole troupe is fabulous, I wish we had had the opportunity to “blog” since the beginning when the performance were fresh in our memories (or maybe you’ve saved some of the comments submitted on the audience survey sheets so you could transfer them to this website… we always wrote comments of praise on ours…we have never been disappointed!!!  Thanks for everything!

The arts are SO important to humanity, especially in such confusing times as we are currently living. Even if you think you don’t like or don’t understand Shakespeare, you should attend at least one of Marin Shakespeare Company’s performances.  This year’s non-Shakespeare performance (they always do one) is The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde and it was a RIOT!!! Our children and our whole family have been laughing at these comedies for over 10 years and we’ve been moved by their tragedies for just as long. The actors are so skilled at portraying the humor and the tragedy that even people who don’t speak English fluently thoroughly enjoy themselves at these performances.   Attending Marin Shakespeare Company’s summer performance should be a staple family tradition in every family!!!!

2007’s Complete Works was an All-Star cast!  Darren Bridgett, Jarion Monroe and Ryan Schmidt could not have been surpassed in their perfect execution of comedic timing, inflection, mannerisms… just everything… it was perfect!!!  Thank you!!!  Encore, Encore!!

To this day, when my children’s friends say “Oh I hate Shakespeare… we have to read Romeo and Juliet and blah blah blah….” My children respond ‘then you haven’t seen it performed as it should be”… like in Marin Shakespeare’s 2005 rendition with Andy Butterfield and Julia Motyka….and it’s not just because they were impressed at how long Andy could simultaneously hang from that balcony and play his lines so perfectly.  I admit that most of the kids we bring to the Shakespeare performances prefer the comedies, but all the preteens and teens who were with us at Romeo and Juliet understood every nuance, every sentiment of the play and enjoyed the whole thing!!!Thank you!!!