A Theatre-Goer's Thoughts

  Ben Turner as Iago and Wendell Pierce as Othello in The Shakespeare Theatre Company production of Othello . Photo credit: Teresa Castracane. Back in March (which now seems like many months ago), I reviewed Folger Theatre’s As You Like It , noting that I had seen eight productions or adaptations of Shakespeare, but what plays the productions all had in common is occurring in contemporary or familiar places, but not a single one in what I would consider a “classic” Shakespearean location. Now, with the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s production of Othello , currently onstage at STC’s Sidney Harman Hall, make it nine: six at STC and three at Folger, including two adaptations/updates, one at each venue. In this production, according to the program,  the play takes place,   in “a modern capital,” with the time designated as “now.” Othello , the shortened name of what Shakespeare titled The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice , could well have been titled The Tragedy of a ...

  Barzin Akhavan, Peregrine Teng Heard, and Nancy Robinette in The Motion at Arena Stage. Photo credit: Kian McKellar. Is it ethical to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to research a review about a play that, in part, takes AI as its subject matter? That is one of many questions about the subject of AI, which seems to be increasingly asking for our attention. In this instance, I was searching for definitions of “motion,” given that The Motion is the new play by Christopher Chen currently being performed in the Fichandler Theatre space at Arena Stage, directed by Arena artistic director Hana S. Sharif. At the beginning of the play, “motion” takes on the second of two primary definitions: a proposal for a discussion or resolution at a meeting. As The Motion begins, the motion up for discussion is whether animals should be used for medical testing. Two “debaters” from each side make their cases, with a moderator keeping the discussion focused and balancing the time afforded to ea...