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Not a "comedy" in the contemporary sense, Cymbeline falls into this category due to the happy ending. Cymbeline revolves mainly around the King's daughter Imogen,her poor but noble husband Posthumous, and the characters who wish to sabotage their love. Throw in some cross-dressing and a battle with the Romans, and you have the basics of Cymbeline.
As part of Court Theatre's Romance Cycle, you can catch this one alone, or make a day of it and see Pericles, the second half of this double bill. If you are up to seeing both in one day, patrons receive a Mediterranean lunch between shows on Saturdays. The theatre itself has been redone with wall-to-wall white carpet, and the audience is encouraged to leave their shoes at the door and enjoy the show in their socks.
REVIEWS:
Chicago Tribune
Chicago Sun-Times
New City
When the Sheriff decides to outlaw pre-marital sex and watches the result from afar as a friar, Isabelle's brother is imprisoned for getting his girlfriend pregnant and is sentenced to death. Isabelle (who happens to be a nun) goes to Angelo (the Sheriff's replacement) to beg for his life. Angelo falls for the beautiful Isabelle, and tells her he will spare her brother's life in exchange for one night of passion. Horrified, Isabelle flees. The Sheriff/Friar decides to help her by coming up with a plan. All is resolved by the end in this tale of morals.
Next Theatre's production of Measure for Measure takes an unconventional approach to this show by doing some heavy double-casting, where nuns also play whores and upstanding men double as johns.
REVIEWS:
Chicago Sun-Times
Also categorized as a "comedy" due to the happy ending, Pericles is every bit the Greek epic. Hunted by King Antiochus, Pericles begins his amazing journey. On the way he manages to take a wife and father a daughter, but fate splits the family apart. The play follows their paths and ultimately reunites them in the end.
Featured as part of Court Theatre's Romance Cycle. For more details on this production, see Cymbeline.
For REVIEWS, see Cymbeline.
A comedy in the Romantic sense, A Winter's Tale is chock full of misunderstandings. A friendship is broken between two Kings by a adulterous misunderstanding. One King's life is destroyed by this, losing both his wife and and daughter. The daughter is raised as a shepard girl and falls in love with the other King's son. Through their love all wrongs are righted.
REVIEWS:
Chicago Tribune
New City