Lord Chamberlain wore an outfit befitting royalty from the 15th century as he declared,
"Two women placed together makes cold weather!"
All of a sudden I was back in my seat at the open Elizabethan Stage/Allen Pavilion under twinkling stars, watching the Tony awarding-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival production of Henry VIII unfold with its magnificent ornate period costumes and a gorgeous set.
Until that moment, I didn't feel the play's drama. As a result, my mind filled with scenes from driving on windy Mt. Shasta cliffs earlier that day.
But now. Now the play grabbed me. It was a light-bulb moment, the sort that occurs with good acting and good lines. And empathy embraced my wavering attention as I recalled the freezing weather imposed on women I've known by another motivated by money, control, jealousy.
Yes, indeed two women placed together can make cold weather!
Human nature is eternal and that's why Shakespeare lives on, particularly in Ashland, Oregon home to one of the oldest and largest non-profit theaters in America with a $26 million budget, which is currently showcasing 4 Shakespearean and 7 non-Shakespearean plays in order to offer great variety to those who attend festival in a season that lasts 8 1/2 months!
Back to Henry VIII!
Actress Vilma Silva, playing Queen Katherine, Henry's first wife, walked on stage and stole my attention and the show with unequaled, superb acting!
Here is Queen Katherine in a photo by Jenny Graham, urging King Henry (Elijah Alexander) to cease the heavy taxations on his subjects.
A little backstory about her role.
Queen Katherine was the first wife
of Henry VIII (this is a historical play) and Henry was
a jerk. Conceded. Full of himself. An arrogant fool. Not
dissimilar to your average American investment banker in the years 1980-2005. Henry
wanted a boy to inherit his throne. When it turned out that Katherine couldn't
give him a son, only a daughter named Mary, Henry wanted to annul his marriage. When the Pope said, "No!" Henry got rid of the Pope's decree by changing religious mores in
England. He annulled his marriage to marry Anne Boleyn, who didn't
love him and didn't want him, and, in time, failed to sire a son. So off with her head. Anne was 1 of 2 of Henry's 6 wives that he beheaded. Though this unhappy fact was not part of the play.
Meanwhile in the play, Queen Katherine--seemingly strong and beautiful--upon learning her husband was leaving her for a younger woman, lamented,
"My lord, my lord, I'm a simple woman, much too weak."
Oh my! What was she saying?
I was absorbed something only a good play and excellent acting can do.
How far women have come, I thought, for some but not all of us.
I thought about women like Queen Katherine, who lost their sense of worth when their husband or boyfriend left them, rather than focusing on developing their own beauty and worth instead.
I wish more women believed in their worth, with or without a man.
So while Henry VIII's story-line didn't grab me, Henry's wife's character did. The unfolding of events didn't seem organized with a crescendo like a typical drama, rather the defeated first wife Queen Katherine died, and, in play time, about 10 minutes later, the young second wife gave birth to a baby girl, confetti fell from above in celebration, and the play ended. It seemed as if the king were supposedly redeemed but I thought he was a still a jerk, and the pace and climax of the play felt unnatural.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed Henry VIII, especially the acting of Vilma Silva, and I appreciated that I finally experienced Ashland's legendary Oregon Shakespeare Festival! After the play I walked half a block to my hotel, The Ashland Springs Hotel, which I highly recommend for its beauty, charm and service. Location.
Ashland is one city alive, vibrant, and colorful with Shakespeare.
Mozart is to Salzburg as Shakespeare is to Ashland. Indeed, with the help of Artistic Director Bill Rauch, Shakespeare's spirit and words live on year after year in this lush green city of high intellects and trees.
If you or someone you know loves Shakespeare, Ashland's Oregon Shakespeare Festival is a must see. MUST SEE! Truly.
I met several people that go to this Shakespeare Festival every year, seeing most or all of the plays. I met folks from Seattle and San Francisco who were thrilled to see every one. One of these play-goers told me his favorite this season was The Servant of Two Masters. Maybe I'll be lucky to see it when I return this way again.
If you love Shakespeare, plan to see one or more of Shakespeare's plays currently playing at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland--8 1/2 months each season-- ending November 1, 2009 this year.
For more information, click here.
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