Cymbeline ¿ or what I will.

This play was put on by Spotlight Music Theatre Ensemble in the architecture courtyard. The courtyard itself is rather beautiful and seems out of place in the midst of all the typical buildings on campus. It was the perfect place to perform this parody like production of Shakespeare because it had all the benefits of a traditional outdoor theater in an intimate setting. The first thing I noticed about this play was the way all ¿The Britons¿ were dressed in all white without shoes. The white shoes were actually hanging on what looked like a clothes line that stretched from two trees on both sides of the stage. Imogen, daughter of the Queen Cymbeline, is a young girl who is married to Posthumus Leonatus. Her husband is banished, and the Queen tries to get her to be courted by Cloten. ¿The Italians¿ are then introduced a group that is mega hip and cool dressed in black and white. The only scenery was white chairs on the white stage which were moved around to portray different settings. Also later a chest was brought in that Iachimo hid in Imogen¿s room. The play was a spin off portrayal of Shakespeare told in a non traditional way. The text was the same, but the actions of the characters were downright funny at some parts pointing fun at the past as well as at modern times. The characters were sarcastic and silly at times, but serious at others. Iachimo attempted to court Imogen, and ended up just stealing her belongings to try and prove that women do not stay true to their vows. In the end Iachimo finds her husband and they are reunited and eventually Cymbeline lets them be together. The lost sons of the queen are also found out in the forest and reunited with their parents. The play was a great experience because it was unique look on Shakespeare and really made a classic come to live from a different perspective. It really relates to this class in that we often take a different spin on classics. We may read the actual texts, but as PlanIIers we throw ¿Victorian Days¿ and create our own parodies. I don¿t think we have read any text that we have not discussed and turned in our own way. A parody is simply looking at something from a different perspective and though our discussions we have done that with everything we have encountered this year. This is perhaps the best thing I will take from this class, the idea of interpreting everything into something that is personal to you. It is far more important how you see things rather than just how the author expected you to see things. You opinion matters, in Cymbeline and in life.