There is no more perfect setting for Shakespeare under the stars than Topanga’s gorgoeus outdoor woodland venue Theatricum Botanicum.

There is also a sense of relief that the company there have managed to stage such an entertaining version of one of the Bard’s problem plays.
Infrequently performed and with a plot packed with often unfathomable logic, the story follows heroine Helena as she falls in love with Bertram, a nobleman who doesn’t want her. But instead of taking no for an answer she devises a plan to make him hers and, as the title suggests, it all works out at the end.

Willow Geer creates a Helena we can root for, Max Lawrence finds some comedy in the thankless role of Bertram while Alan Blumenfeld is the most fun to watch as mischievous and lusty comic relief Lavatch.
Talking of casting, this staging makes an interesting and welcome break from tradition of past productions by having all the aristocrats played by black actors and making all the commoners white.

This very well done All’s Well That Ends Well is part of Theatricum Botanicum’s all Shakespeare season in celebration of the Bard’s 450th birthday and there a few better ways to spend a midsummer night than watching one of these classy productions.

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL
By William Shakespeare
Co-Directed by Ellen Greer and Christopher W Jones

At Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum
1419 North Topanga Canyon Blvd
Topanga, California
Performs Saturdays and Sundays until September 27, check www.theatricum.com for showtimes
Tickets $37 and $25, discounts for seniors, students, veterans and children.
Tickets purchased from 310 455 3723 or Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum

CAST includes Willow Geer, Max Lawrence, Melora Marshall, Earnestine Phillips, Alan Blumenfeld, William Dennis Hunt, Mark Lewis, Nicole Pacent, Wayne Stribling Jr

Stage Manager – Kim Cameron
Costume Designer – Ben Kahookele
Sound Designer – Ian Flanders
Lighting Designer – Zach Moore
Publicity – Lucy Pollak

Photo of Sandro Monetti by Dawn Bowery from the book California Dreaming: Brits in LA Book

Thespian Thoughts is a theatre review article on Actors Entertainment, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.

Pepper Jay Productions LLC

 

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