Berkshire on Stage

Typically, I resist reviewing Shakespeare’s plays. I question my understanding and knowledge of the breadth of the Bard’s work to adequately assess a performance. However, I just finished Jodi Picoult’s latest novel, By Any Other Name, which questions whether Shakespeare was the sole playwright of all his plays and sonnets. Brian Dykstra’s Polishing Shakespeare at the Bridge Street Theatre addresses the need to make Shakespeare understandable for all. John Sowle, as Director and Artistic and Managing Director of the theatre, calls the play, “Shakespeare adjacent.” I approach the preview of this play less intimidated.

Ms. Branch (Yvonne Perry), artistic director of a struggling regional theatre, opens the play accepting a huge donation from Dotcom billionaire, Grant (Steven Patterson). Yes, there is much wordplay about a grant from Grant. The stipulation, however, is that 30 playwrights rewrite all of Shakespeare’s plays in words that are ‘friendly’ and less ‘flowery.’ Ironically, Polishing Shakespeare is done in complete iambic pentameter. Janet (Angelique Archer), a young playwright of color, is brought in to make these “adjustments.”

Both Grant and Ms. Branch enthusiastically try to convince Janet, through endless alliteration. that just as plays are translated into other languages, adjusting Shakespeare’s language makes his plays more accessible. Initially, Janet resists Grant’s piled on charm and arguments, refusing to ‘dumb it down.’ Yet, when Grant offers to pay off her student loans, Janet changes her tune. In a soliloquy, she admits she is a sellout who will take the cash and find a rationale afterward.

All three actors master the swift poetic dialog, going back and forth in argument and humor. We see the age-old conflict between money and art. Can art exist without money? Must art be altered if money is received? Perry, Patterson and Archer are well-matched, playing off each other. Patterson exudes southern wealth and entitlement. Perry demonstrates both self-assurance and desperation as the artistic director. Archer shows a playwright with integrity, who eventually can be bought. Act One leaves me breathless and smiling.

Act Two, considerably longer than Act One, results in the play going in many directions, with constantly changing alliances amongst the actors. Janet writes a play that Grant adores but Branch fears will offend board members. A re-write results in Grant becoming furious. A play-reading leads to a play within the play, blurring the lines between reality and theater. Arguments happen over and over, becoming repetitive and more confusing. Shakespeare is all but lost. I become a little lost as well. The play questions where is the art? Or is art imitating our lives?

The rhyme and rhythm of this play, along with the actors’ incredible memorization and speed of delivery reminds me of the delight of watching Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, without the music. Dykstra does a masterful job with the dialog.

The set and sound, designed by Carmen Borgia, leaves me a little confused. We see a contemporary office with a simply made desk on top of a platform covered in astroturf (?) with two plush ottomans on either side. While used in a scene, ottomans look unusual in an office. At different times (I am not sure why), this platform moves and bends, to make the platform raked.  The backdrop appears to be an office window with a city skyline. The lighting, designed by Eric Leary, results in the color of the backdrop changing with various projections on the skyline, related to the dialog. Blackouts highlight soliloquies. Thunder and lightning, as seen through the window, change the mood.

Sowle directs a top-notch cast, including Bridge Street Theater co-founder, Patterson. The actors perform with energy, chemistry, and ease. The themes of integrity, art, authenticity, and money are well presented, sometimes over and over, but the conflict of what is most important remains unresolved. Head to the theater to determine if Shakespeare needs to be polished, or our priorities do.

“Polishing Shakespeare” by Brian Dykstra, directed by John Sowle, runs from April 17-27 at Bridge Street Theatre, 44 West Bridge Street in Catskill, NY. CAST: Yvonne Perry as Ms Branch, Steven Patterson as Grant, and Angelique Archer as Janet. CREATIVE TEAM: Assistant Director Tim Dakin-Dunn, sets and sound designed by Carmen Borgia, lighting design by Eric Leary, costumes design by Michelle Roger, stage manager Hannarose Manning.

Tickets:*Online in advance: $30. Ages 18 and under: $16
https://bridgest.org/polishing-shakespeare-tickets/