American Players Theatre Presents CYMBELINE Review — Womansplaining the Bard

The action begins as eight actors position on to the stage, six of whom we look back to realize have taken especially manly-style strides to get there. These six settle into similarly masculine poses that disguise their wider hips. We initially register this on a subliminal level, as they and the other two actors rotate to give us the fast clip abridged synopsis of the pre-action in this Cymbeline adaptation by Henry Woronicz, directed by Marti Lyons. This rapid delivery prelude sets the pace of all that follows.

For those who don’t know this Shakespeare play well, the story goes like this--- The title role King is bent out of shape to learn that his daughter Imogen has married Posthumus, mucking up his plans—or rather those of his scheming wife and stepmother to Imogen—to marry the Queen’s son Cloten. King banishes Posthumus. Imogen and Posthumus aver their eternal love and he departs. Imogen rejects crude and buffoonish Queen’s son Clotid, who in turn plots his revenge on her. Meanwhile, Posthumus meets Iachimo, an Italian rake and schemer and accepts the bet that Imogen’s chastity cannot be compromised. He loses (*sort of) —and Imogen might have in turn lost her life to Posthumus’ vengeance, were it not for his loyal servant Pisanio, who refuses to murder Imogen, as Posthumus had directed, but instead helps her to disguise as a boy so she can go M.I.A. The boy (i.e. disguised Imogen) happens upon a father/son men of the forest duo, who take to him/her immediately. Wouldn’t you know it—the son is really the title King’s son, and the father is also a banished and wronged one-time servant to the King, who had kidnapped the King’s son as a babe. All these mistaken identities and motives come out in the wash of what is a very Hollywood-ending neat-as-a-bow wrap up.

Sound like a pretzel-knotted plot that is hard to follow? Not so, in this writer’s view, mainly because of the talented all-female cast who transform this performance into one that might be subtitled—Hell hath no fury like a man scorned. For mankind Posthumus bellows, “I thought her as chaste as unsunned snow. O, all the devils!”, soon burying his rage in a plot to kill his one-time love interest. Really Posthumus??– in a snap you went from undying love to murder-the-strumpet just because you thought she gave someone else a tumble? How inconstent is this thing called man!

Cymbeline is a play with no shortage of such oft-quoted misogynistic snippets from the Bard’s pen. Now though, they are said by women-as-men, often coming off—at least for this reviewer – as irony-soaked lampoons of macho. It’s not so much their words but their manly postures and frequent warrior stride gaits that seem to deftly turn the 17th Century-style stereotypes of womankind on their head. How especially perfect that Iachimo is always man-spreading his legs as he goes on and on about womankind’s inconstancy!

American Players Theatre’s Setting Spikes Your Interest Before the Curtain Rises

The adventure of this production—or any American Players Theatre (APT) play-- actually begins long before the imagined curtain rises, or at least on a rainy day in Spring Green, Wisconsin, when weather reports seem to change by the hour. You too may find yourself making a mad dash to the home supply store to load up on poncho rain gear, not knowing if the show will go on. APT won’t cancel until the last minute—or, we learn, can sometimes wait until 45 minutes after curtain time to decide if it’s a go or no go.**

If it is a similarly windless night, as you climb the gravel path hill in the fast setting sun to get to your seats, you find several bug spray stations along the way. If you didn’t stop at the first one, by the top of the long hill you likely will want these chemical weapons to keep the swarm at bay. Then, as you scramble to get in the theater space, the usher hands you paper towels to dry off your seats. You sit and wait—enchanted by the forest surrounds.

You’ve already invested a lot of energy to get there. When the ten-minute late curtain eventually rises, you too might find yourself still mesmerized by the beauty of the giant forest backdrop behind the stage, but then feel the fast-paced energy of the performers as a snap to attention. It’s riveting! Two+ hours later, you turn to your partner and say, “Yet again, the Bard hits a homerun.”

Those allergic to adventure might stay away. Most of us will instead seek time to see more APT outdoor performances before the winter sets in.

Cymbeline by William Shakespeare
Adapted by Marti Lyons & Sara Becker
From an original adaptation by Henry Woronicz
Directed by Marti Lyons

CAST: Tracy Michelle Arnold, Gina Daniels, Sarah Day, Alys Dickerson, Elizabeth Ledo, Colleen Madden, Melisa Pereyra and Lisa Tejero.

CREATIVE TEAM:
Photos by Liz Lauren
Written by William Shakespeare
Adapted by Marti Lyons and Sara Becker from an original adaptation by Henry Woronicz.
Directed by Marti Lyons
Voice & Text Coach: Sara Becker
Costume Design: Raquel Adorno
Scenic Design: Takeshi Kata
Co-Lighting Design: Jason Lynch
Co-Lighting Design: Keith Parham
Co-Lighting Design: Michael A. Peterson
Sound Design & Original Music: Mikhail Fiksel
Fight Director: Jeb Burris
Choreographer: Mollye Maxner
Stage Manager: Evelyn Matten

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Photos: Liz Lauren

WHEN:

Thru September 11, 2021
Curtain Times and Schedule Varies.

WHERE:

American Players Theatre
5950 Golf Course Road
Spring Green, Wisconsin

TICKETS:

$29.75+

For tickets visit the American Players Theatre website or call the box office at 608-588-2361.

**Editor’s Note—You will get a refund if the show is cancelled.