Shakespeare’s plays contain a number of female characters, and the roles of these characters have been analyzed, reanalyzed, dissected, and discussed for over 400 years. In fact, the depiction of characters like Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing), Hermione (A Winter’s Tale), Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), and Katherina (The Taming of the Shrew) are still discussed today by students and scholars alike. However, one of the things that many people forget is that all of the female characters on stage were actually played by men during Shakespeare’s time. As a result, the portrayal of women in Shakespeare has become a fascinating topic for discussion not only for the way Shakespeare originally described his characters, but also for the way that male performers have traditionally portrayed them. Fortunately, there is no longer a taboo against women performing on the stage, and there are now a number of theatre troops that would be more than happy to provide you with a very different, and quite possibly a much more true-to-life, depiction of the women in Shakespeare’s plays.
First, if you’re looking for a Shakespearean comedy that is on the darker side and addresses issues like cruelty, gender politics, and gender roles, the Brown Box Theatre Project has you covered. This is because the Brown Box Theatre Project is performing The Taming of the Shrew from now until September 20th. This show, which is performed by an almost entirely female theatre troop (there is one man and nine women in the troop) will allow you to see a re-imagined version of Shakespeare’s play about a nobleman tricking a tinker into thinking he’s a nobleman watching a play about “taming” the strong-willed but often difficult Katherina. For more information on the Brown Box Theatre Project’s production of The Taming of the Shrew, which will be performed free of charge at 7:30 P.M. in Andover tomorrow night (Saturday, August 22, 2015) and at 7:30 P.M. in Boston on Sunday (August 23, 2015), please visit the Brown Box Theatre Project’s website.
Secondly, if you’re looking for a Shakespearean comedy that drastically shifts from dark drama to lighter comedy at different points throughout the play while, at the same time, depicting a number of strong, intelligent women facing many of the same family issues and societal problems that women face today, the Maiden Phoenix Theatre Company has the show for you. This is because the Maiden Phoenix Theatre Company is performing The Winter’s Tale from now until August 30th. This show, which is performed by an entirely female theatre troop, will allow you to experience a re-imagined version of Shakespeare’s play about the families of two kings caught up in the arrogance, paranoia, and jealousy of their patriarchs. For more information on the Maiden Phoenix Theatre Company’s production of The Winter’s Tale, which is scheduled to take place free of charge at Nathan Tufts Park in Somerville at 2:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. tomorrow and Sunday (August 22 and 23, 2015), please visit the Maiden Phoenix Theatre Company’s website.
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