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Goodnight Desdemona
Shawnigan performers rediscover Shakespeare
A comedy is revealed on stage, as Shawnigan presents Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet).
Written by Canadian playwright Ann-Marie MacDonald and directed by Brydie Thomas, this play follows literature professor Constance Ledbelly (Amelia M.) on a journey through the plays of William Shakespeare.
After suggesting to her supervisor that Othello and Romeo and Juliet are actually comedies, Constance becomes desperate to find the manuscript that will prove it. Her despair prompts a surrealist turn, as Constance finds herself transported into the world of these eponymous characters.
The result is hilarious, as Constance becomes entangled in canonical literature. Suddenly, she herself is enmeshed in Shakespearian love triangles, confronted by the indecision and immaturity of iconic characters, and inadvertently changing their fate. For anyone familiar with the Bard, it's a recasting of classic tales ideal for a smart, contemporary audience.
Running May 4-5 with a special advance preview on May 3, Goodnight Desdemona starts at 7:30 each night in Shawnigan's Hugh Wilkinson Theatre.
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