Review: `What You Will’
Opened July 21 at American Conservatory Theater
Roger Rees performs a soliloquy from Richard II, one of many incredible moments in What You Will, a solo show about all things Shakespeare at American Conservatory Theater. Photos by David Allen
Laughs, brains, heart infuse Rees’ evening of Shakespeare
««««
Sometimes one actor is plenty.
Roger Rees may be alone for the duration of What You Will, but he brings with him 400 years’ worth of English history and literary criticism as well as some of Shakespeare’s most beautiful verse.
One of those great British-born actors who makes it all seem so effortless, Rees is best known on these shores for his TV stints (”Cheers,” “The West Wing,” “Grey’s Anatomy”), but in reality, he’s a Tony-winning former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company who knows a thing or two thousand about Shakespeare.
Rees’ abundant knowledge and humor are the focal point of What You Will, a 90-minute showcase now at American Conservatory Theater. He tells stories about Shakespeare, about what people think about Shakespeare, from George Bernard Shaw and Voltaire to kids in online chat rooms. He relates backstage tales, many of them bawdy, and makes fun of himself as a young spear-carrying actor.
And then he performs excerpts from Shakespeare. He sneaks Hamlet’s “to be or not to be” soliloquy on us at an amazing moment, and his most robust turn comes when he plays Juliet’s nurse from Romeo and Juliet. Rather than donning drag, Rees just puts on a backwards A’s cap and lets loose…
Read the complete review at my Examiner.com site HERE.
What You Will continues through Aug. 9 at American Conservatory Theater, 415 Geary St., San Francisco. Tickets are $29-$85. Call 415-749-2228 or visit www.act-sf.org.
I think anyone who loves Shakespeare as I do should see this show. His stories of the some of the great actors in the past is fasinating. I loved his story about the actor/manager and his actress wife who appeared in the Provences during the ’50s. Roger did not mention the name but it was the great Shakespearan actor Sir Donald Wolfit.
I had a chance to meet the actor and his wife Rosalind in the ’50s in England. I had seen his “King Lear” up in Manchester and I met them at a nearby pub after the show. After hearing his stories about touring, I began to wonder who was the biggest ham. Orson Wells who I worked with in the filming of “Macbeth” or Sir Donald. However don’t get me wrong, I like ham actors since they are damn entertaining who just love to talk and talk and talk.
Comment by Richard Connema — July 23, 2008 @ 11:59 am