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Posted on Sat, Nov 27, 2010 : 5:52 a.m.

'New' Shakespeare to celebrity bios: Blackbird Theatre hosting Raw Weekend II

By Jenn McKee

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The Blackbird Theatre’s Raw Weekend II is upon us.

No, the event doesn’t involve sashimi and steak tartare. Rather, it aims to lay bare the writing found in plays and, new this year, celebrity memoirs.

On Friday, December 3 at 8 p.m., the Blackbird will offer Michigan’s first fully staged reading of “Double Falsehood,” which, after inciting years of debate, was finally included in the most recent edition of “The Arden Shakespeare.”

“It was thought to be a hoax for years,” said Blackbird co-founder Barton Bund. “It’s fabulous play. … If it had been around for the last 500 years, people would probably consider it up there with best of Shakespeare’s tragedies.”

Officially, “Double” was written in 1727 by a lawyer/writer named Lewis Theobald, who claimed to have three different manuscripts of an otherwise lost Shakespeare play called “History of Cardenio,” which focuses on one section of Cervantes’ “Don Quixote.”

“Double”’s story focuses on an aristocratic scoundrel who ruins a low-born woman while also attempting to woo a high-born woman who’s engaged to his friend.

“I would say that in tone, … it’s got a toughness that’s like ‘Measure for Measure’ or ‘Othello,’” said Bund. “There’s a real rawness, frankness, and straightforwardness about it. And it’s plot is a little bit like ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona,’ where two friends let their feelings for women get in way of their friendship. … If ‘Two Gentlemen’ became a tragedy, it would be this.”

Jeff Thomakos will direct the reading, which will feature Guy Sanville, Dennis North, Bund, James Kuhl, Michael Brian Ogden, Julia Garlotte, and Hallie Bee Bard.

“One of the cool things about it is, the audience is seeing the first real run-through, … when we’re still discovering a lot of things,” said Bund.

PREVIEW

The Raw Weekend II

  • Who: Blackbird Theatre Company.
  • What: On Friday night, actors present Michigan’s first staged reading of “Double Falsehood,” a play now believed — after years of debate — to have been written by Shakespeare; and on Saturday night, “Celebrity Autobiography” will feature local actors reading (unintentionally silly) passages from published celebrity memoirs.
  • Where: 325 Braun Court.
  • When: “Double Falsehood” happens Friday, December 3 at 8 p.m.; “Celebrity Autobiography” happens, Saturday, December 4 at 8 p.m.
  • How much: “Double” costs $25 (with proceeds benefitting Shakespeare West, the Blackbird’s outdoor theater festival, happening in 2011), and “Celebrity” costs $15-$25. Info: 734-332-3848 or the Blackbird Theatre website.

And for something completely different, patrons need only come back to the Blackbird on Saturday, December 4 at 8 p.m., when a handful of actors will present a program called “Celebrity Autobiography.”

As you might guess, the event will be comic and lighthearted, with actors reading (unintentionally) silly passages from published celebrity memoirs.

“We thought we’d be picking out the books, and matching up actors with the material, but once we started mentioning it to people, they were like, ‘Oh, my God, I know what I want to do.’ … We’ve got a lot of fun stuff to choose from.”

Among those whose “works” will likely be featured are TV star Suzanne Somers, tennis champion Martina Navratilova, and pop star Marky Mark (who went on, of course, to make a new name for himself in acting as Mark Wahlberg).

“It’s not so much about doing an impression of the famous person,” said Bund of the event. “It’s more like you’re a historian, … analyzing the work for its merits. … Of course there are some moments in these books that are tragic and poignant, but the authors are constantly undercutting the power that these stories might have with moments of stupid, materialistic shallowness.”

If you’re thinking that Shakespeare and celebrity memoirs have nothing to do with each other, you’d be right. But the Blackbird Theatre Company happily embraces opportunities to showcase the broad range of its interests and sensibilities.

“Raw Weekend is just this wildcard weekend, when we put on stuff that we want to try,” said Bund. “The two events couldn’t be more diff in terms of literary value, but we believe it all belongs.”

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.

Comments

Blackbird

Sat, Nov 27, 2010 : 6:41 p.m.

I double checked, and the Cardenio was a separate project, a different script altogether. Also, this is more of a showcase of the play for the public than a workshop or academic exercise. We just finished a great rehearsal, with director Jeff Thomakos of Water Works Theatre, Guy Sanville, Michael Brian Ogden, Julia Garlotte and Dennis North of Purple Rose Theatre, James Kuhl and Hallie Bard of Tipping Point Theatre. A cast of great artists, assembled together out of sheer love of Shakespeare. It's a pleasure, it's a challenge, and we're diving straight into it. Come check it out. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for audiences to see local arts institutions collaborate together.

The New Theatre Project

Sat, Nov 27, 2010 : 5:59 p.m.

I'd love to join.

Blackbird

Sat, Nov 27, 2010 : 10:54 a.m.

Yes, I believe so. But we wanted to work it out ourselves, and we've got quite a team assembled to explore it. A2lover, you should see it and join us for a drink afterwards. I know a lot of people who would love to meet you.

A2lover

Sat, Nov 27, 2010 : 9:59 a.m.

Wasn't the Royal Shakespeare Company here in March of this year, workshopping the very same play? It was certainly a play about Cardenio.