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Alex Kollar

3 October 2016

Theater Survey

Reflection

The Reality of Hatred: A Reflection of Tug of War

I had never been to Chicago Shakespeare before, but from the way everyone was

talking about it I knew it was going to be very different from the House Theater. Different

its bad though. Dressing up a little nicer than usual and walking around Navy Pier before

the show allowed me to deeply appreciate the location of the theater. Once we entered

through the doors into the main lobby, I could see the demographic of the audience, and I

began to understand the theaters reputation and the quality of the plays that are showed

there. I never felt out of place, I dont think any of us should, because just like the more

experienced members of the audience, we were there for good, enriching theater.

As we all gathered in our seats and awaited show time, I was able to examine and

take in the set. Seeing the immense system of rafters got me very excited. I thought about

how cool it would be if there were some crazy fights and stunts taking place amidst the

structures. I then noticed the very impressive drum set and got very excited to hear live

music incorporated in the narrative; especially drums. I then examined the main stage

area and the red and white flowers on either side. I read through the program for some

backstory and was able to understand the significance of the different roses: red for the

House of Lancaster and white for the House of York. This wasnt the only insight I

gained from reading the program; I was able to prepare myself for a play filled with evil,

deception, murder, war, and little hope. This was truly a Shakespearean tragedy.
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As the lights dimmed and the audience prepared themselves for the performance,

excitement filled within me. Suddenly, two actors ran on the stage wearing jeans and

combat boots, and started singing a rock ballad. Needless to say I was a bit taken aback; I

was not expecting rock music to be the backdrop of a Shakespeare play. I understand that

modern adaptations incorporate music in their performances, but as the play went on and

the band started covering Katy Perry and P!nk, I just didnt feel comfortable. I tried very

hard to not be taken out of the experience but there was really no stopping it. However,

the music did not ruin the entire experience, the acting in that of itself was enough to

keep me entranced with the performance, but the sudden jolts of modern pop music

mixed with a piercing electric guitar rift didnt help much.

As I previously stated, the acting was phenomenal. The Duke of York was

captivating and King Richard III made me love to hate him, but the character that really

stole the show for the first two plays, in my opinion, was Queen Margaret. Seeing that

deep red, rose covered dress for the first time was captivating; I couldnt take my eyes off

her. The costuming in general definitely played a critical role in the conveying the storys

narratives. Margarets rosary, the dress deteriorating over time, and the commander

uniform she wears during the war scenes all showed the complexity of her character and

the farther into ruin she spirals.

Queen Margaret was not someone to root for at all. From the moment she is away

from King Henrys side, she reveals her true colors: conniving and deceptive. She, like

most of the characters, is driven by the lust for power and revenge. I think the reason why

I so intrigued by her presence on stage was because she was really the only powerful

female figure. The other women portrayed, Elizabeth and Lady Anne, were both seduced
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by men who wronged them in horrible ways. I understand that they were both

manipulated into their respective marriages by the corrupt kings, but I couldnt help

sitting my seat, internally screaming at how quickly they seemed to give in. Margaret, on

the other hand, never bent to a mans will. Even the Duke of Suffolk, her lover, would not

have been able to tame her.

Though she was a powerful woman, Margaret wasnt someone I wanted to win;

she was just as sadistic and twisted as everyone else. It made me realize that there wasnt

really anyone that I could align myself with. Even though I wanted to agree with and root

for King Henrys sense of morality, it was such a losing battle. No matter how hard Henry

wanted to do the right thing, the white wall continued to be painted with the blood of the

fallen.

That wall was such an ingenious way to show just how much death there was. In

Shakespeare I think its easy to lose track of how may people are killed since most of that

action is done of stage and only alluded to by the characters. Using that wall, it allowed

the audience to see how many lives were lost. My only real qualm with the use of the

wall was the washing of the blood at the end of the performance. Yes, it was powerful and

did convey the message of hope in the midst of tragic loss, but it just seemed too obvious.

The play itself didnt have a happy ending, even though the villain was slain and there

seemed to be a brighter future on the horizon, it was just another death added to the wall.

To see the entire cast standing together, facing the wall as the blood is being washed

away, although it did make me feel good, seemed like too nice of an ending.

That being said, I understand the need for light at the end of so much darkness.

The performance felt too much like real life. The politics eclipsing love, war destroying
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peoples lives, and the tragedies caused by a lust for power are all too familiar to the

audience. Even without Jack Cade portrayed as Donald Trump and the seemingly out-of-

place media propaganda scenes, the pain caused by war is all too real in our world.

This single narrative was told beautifully by the side story of the two lovers. The

play opens with the pair kissing and embracing each other as they face separation. Their

time together comes to a heartbreaking end as the man sends the woman away and puts

on his uniform, symbolizing him going off to battle. When we see the couple again, it is

not a happy reunion but a charged quarrel as the woman begs him to stay. The man

angrily defends his role as a soldier but is continually frustrated that his lover does not

seem to understand his righteous duty. The last time we see the young soldier, he lost

both his legs, is bound to a wheelchair, and is clearly suffering from PTSD. The woman

appears and tries to approach him but he is too broken to receive any love and only acts

hostile towards her. She reluctantly leaves him with the only people who could truly

understand all he has gone through, his fellow soldiers.

This narrative shows the consequences of war and how the brutality affects so

many lives, physically and mentally. Although there were so many scenes throughout the

performance that were emotional and hard to process, the small story of these two lovers

who were caught up in the chaos gave a voice to those who have no control over their

fate. While all of the nobles were fighting over the crown, Henry was the only one who

wanted to stop the shedding of innocent blood. Even so, compared to the loud shouts

demanding control, his voice became like the two lovers: silent.