The genius of Shakespeare is that he?s still relevant even after being dead for nearly 400 years.
Take his work “All?s Well That Ends Well,” now playing at the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival. It?s one of the Bard?s so-called “problem plays,” not quite a comedy or a tragedy, but containing elements of both ? much like many of today?s popular dramas.
And like “24,” “House” and “The Sopranos,” the play ? set by director Donald Hicken in 1814 ? features heroes as well as villainy done with virtuous intent.
Helena (Jenny Tibbels) is a lower-class beauty who falls in love with Bertram (John-Michael MacDonald), the Count Rossillion, who is interested in sowing wild oats and seeking glory in battle.
To win her man, Helena seeks out the King of France (Richard Pilcher), curing him from a life-threatening illness, using the potions bequeathed to her by her late father, a renowned physician. In exchange, the King grants Helena Bertram?s hand in marriage (an interesting bit of role reversal), which is less than happy news to Bertram, who had not envisioned Helena as his wife.
Along the way, we meet Parolles (Tony Tsendeas), a poor man?s Falstaff who, when he isn?t delivering comic rants about virginity or rescuing lost drums, learns that braggarts never prosper and that he himself can change for the better.
As Lafew, Stephen Lorne Williams proves he can forgo the “privileges of antiquity” and bestow a crushing handshake along with some crushing words to Parolles as Lafew knows a knave when he sees one. Diana (Diana Cherkas) knows one too, suffering the slings and arrows of Bertram?s verbal assault on her reputation if only to help Helena bag (and bed) her husband.
In typical Shakespeare fashion, all the chief characters join in the play?s final act ? happily together, though one wonders just how happily as Bertram is deceived into love and Parolles? cowardice is only in remission, but in the moment, all is indeed well.
Kudos to Norah Worthington?s costume design efforts, recreating the uniforms and clothing styles of Louis XVIII?s era. The production also makes use of a number of teen interns from the Baltimore School for the Arts, including Isaac Dalto as the Duke of Florence, who shows he can bash tin soldiers and burst drums with the finest of thespians.
IF YOU GO
“All?s Well That Ends Well”
» Venue: Baltimore Shakespeare Festival, 3900 Roland Ave., Baltimore
» Times: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 5 p.m. Sundays through April 22
» Tickets: $25
» More info: 410-366-8596, www.baltimoreshakespeare.org.
