Shakespeare in the Arb
Juniors direct one of Shakespeare's "sex plays"; freshmen join annual tradition
Liz Essley
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: Arts
Twenty actors took advantage of both spring and Shakespeare last weekend to perform "Love's Labour's Lost" in Slayton Arboretum. This year's production of Shakespeare in the Arb, directed by juniors Matthew Taylor and Sam Wiley, was a contemporary rendering of what Taylor called "one of Shakespeare's sex plays."
"The basic thesis of the play is that four men gather together and commit themselves to abstinence, chastity, and intellectual study, which is like what everyone comes to Hillsdale to do," said Taylor. "At some point in freshman year, everyone becomes besotted with love to some degree. This play makes fun of that."
Junior Tom Cox, who played Don Adriano De Armado the Fantastical Spaniard, called the play "freakin' hilarious" but also said the comedy both delights and teaches.
"The whole lesson of the show is that what you think is love is not love,"?he said. "True love comes through suffering."
The play, produced entirely by students, showcased some returning talent from last year's production, but also some new faces, such as freshmen Rachel Ogden, Brooke Tonne and Theodore Harwood.
"The basic thesis of the play is that four men gather together and commit themselves to abstinence, chastity, and intellectual study, which is like what everyone comes to Hillsdale to do," said Taylor. "At some point in freshman year, everyone becomes besotted with love to some degree. This play makes fun of that."
Junior Tom Cox, who played Don Adriano De Armado the Fantastical Spaniard, called the play "freakin' hilarious" but also said the comedy both delights and teaches.
"The whole lesson of the show is that what you think is love is not love,"?he said. "True love comes through suffering."
The play, produced entirely by students, showcased some returning talent from last year's production, but also some new faces, such as freshmen Rachel Ogden, Brooke Tonne and Theodore Harwood.
Be the first to comment on this story