The Merchant of Venice, The Taming of the Shrew, Henry V

Images

The Taming of the Shrew	The Merchant of Venice	Henry V

The Poster/Program Cover

Raffi Barsoumian as Lucentio, Ellen Adair as Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew

The Troupe Shot

Back row (left-right): Daniel Kennedy, Scot Carson, Josh Carpenter, Alisa Ledyard
Middle row (left-right): Paul Reisman, Ginna Hoben, Evan Hoffmann
Front row (left-right): Raffi Barsoumian, Chris Johnston, Ellen Adair, Chris Seiler

Reviews/Podcasts

Listen to American Shakespeare Center Executive Director Ralph Alan Cohen, myself, and castmates in a podcast about The Merchant of Venice or Henry V!

Due to the touring nature of these productions, there are not many reviews.

"The sisters were played by Ellen Adair, portraying the enticing Bianca, and Ginna Hoben, as the headstrong Katherine. Both women played their parts with gusto; one cutely flouncing about the stage as the other stubbornly marched around it, proving that she was no one to be messed with."
- Cathryn Dutton, The Loyola Greyhound

"Portia (Ellen Adair) appeared in the trial dressed as an old lawyer with his clerk (Nerissa) and applied all her intelligence to help Antonio; asking in exchange for the ring that Bassanio received from Portia as a symbol of their eternal love. Bassanio sent Gratiano to hand over the ring to the shocked lawyer and a heartbroken Portia."
- Maria Piu Negro, The Loyola Greyhound

"The rest of the cast also did a great job, in a play that has nearly 50 characters, requiring doubling, tripling and quadrupling of parts for a company that has only 11 actors. The scene where Princess Katherine, played by Ellen Adair, learns English from her attendant Alice, played by Ginna Hoben, is hilariously done."
- Clifford Garsting, Perpetual Folly

"It is hard to see Henry V without comparing it to Kenneth Branagh's version (a movie that I love).  I liked the Blackfriars Theatre version significantly better.  The wooing scene between Henry and Kate, which is my favorite in the movie, was done so much better at the Blackfriars show that I think they have ruined the movie for me."
- Say Little

"So, The Taming of the Shrew itself is one large, comical diversion, and the American Shakespeare Center cast proved well versed in the art. Combining exceptionally strong individual performances...with beautifully timed ensemble moments."
- Laura Eve Engel, C-Ville