STORMY ROMANCEIn “The Tempest,” Shakespeare uses fantasy and magic to tell a tale of treachery and love.

His darling child, Miranda, loves her dad; The spirit Ariel serves them with joy, And Caliban, who’s rough and strong, works hard. It’s really not so bad. And furthermore, A life of books suffices for this man. In solitude and study, he’s become A great magician. Prospero can make A storm break out upon the open sea. It sends a fine ship crashing to his shore. And who’s aboard? Alonso, Naples’ king!

He helped the wizard’s brother seize his throne. Antonio – that brother – also sails, And so does handsome Ferdinand, the young And noble-hearted son Alonso loves. Sebastian, King Al’s brother, sails as well, And he talks to Antonio a lot! The king should pay attention; he’s not safe. Some servants also manage to make land And save red wine along with their own lives! The island must be vast, because these men Who all arrive at once, shipwrecked and lost, Can’t find each other once they come to shore.

Who never saw a man besides her dad. The wizard tests his mettle with hard work, But these young lovers satisfy all doubts. They’re meant to be together, and we know They’ll pledge their troth before the play is donStill, Caliban and others — who are fueled By strong wine and ambition — cook up plans. They plot to kill the wizard! Kill the king! But Ariel, a spirit who can fly, Hears what they say and takes the news back h

Then Prospero has lots of work to do! He gives his daughter and her new-found love A party where good fairies sing and dance. He calls up magic dogs to scare the drunks, And he makes sure that King Alonso’s safe. It’s time for him to go back to Milan And Ariel to fly off, wild and free. It’s time to have a wedding for a prince And princess who can scarcely understand How much a shipwreck changed their lives and “O brave new world,” Miranda cries at last, “That has such people in’t.” And she’s right.

T“he Tempest” — William Shakespeare’s majestic romance exploring love, loyalty, freedom and, above all, the nature of human nature — comes to Forest Park as this year’s production from the Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis.

Under the direction of Russell Treyz, “The Tempest” opens on Friday, May 27, and runs through Sunday, June 19. Performances start at 8 p.m. in the natural amphitheater just to the east of Art Hill.

“The Tempest” plays every night but Tuesdays. Preview performances begin at 8 on Wednesday and Thursday, May 25 and 26. For more details call the festival office at 314-361-0101.

This is the festival’s fifth production. During its first four seasons, the festival has drawn over 154,000 theater-goers from all over the area, and beyond.

Part of the appeal, of course, is the cost. Whether you already enjoy Shakespeare — the birthright of every English speaker — or want to find out if you do, the festival makes things easy: It’s open to the public, free of charge.

The convenient, pleasant setting is another plus. Starting at 6:30, there’s pre-show entertainment every night — music, lectures, children’s activities, a quick “green show” version of the play that makes the story easy to follow. But many people come earlier than that (on a pretty weekend night, 4 p.m. isn’t out of the question) to find a good spot for play-viewing. You can rent a chair to sit in, or bring a blanket to spread on the grass. Many people bring picnics, or buy sandwiches on the spot. There’s lot’s to do — and then, of course, there’s “The Tempest.”

For all the info you need to make the most of your festival experience, check the Get Out section of the Post-Dispatch on Thursday, May 26.

Text by JUDITH NEWMARK, Graphic by JOHN D. TELFORD

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Shakespeare’s playsShakespeare’s plays follow a general pattern. In those written before 1600, histories or romantic comedies dominate. His plays after 1600 were often more complex. Most of thesewere tragedies, but he did write a handful of comedies and romances, including “The Tempest.” Specific details as to when Shakespeare composed many of his works are sketchy, but approximate timeframes have been determined.

than the later works. “The Tempest” focuses on magic — which the Englishmen of Shakespeare’s day often called “art,” the same word that we use now to describe, among other things, the theater on a magician so powerful and gifted that he can shape a world out of nothing at all.

1590-91Two Gentlemen of Verona

1592-93Richard III

1599Henry V

Julius Caesar

As You Like It

1600Hamlet

1603-04Othello

1606Macbeth

Antony and Cleopatra

1608Coriolanus

1601Twelfth Night

1595Henry VI, Part III

Love’s Labour’s Lost

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Romeo and Juliet

1596King John

1604Measure for Measure

All’s Well that Ends Well

1613Henry VIII

1614The Two Noble Kinsmen

1597Richard II

1601-02Troilus and Cressida

1605Timon of Athens

1609-10Cymbeline

1609-11The Winter’s Tale

1592The Taming of the Shrew

1594Henry VI, Part I

The Comedy of Errors

Titus Andronicus

1590 1595 1600 1605 1610 1614

1611THE TEMPEST

1607-08King Lear

Pericles, Prince of Tyre

1598The Merchant of Venice

Henry IV, Part I

The Merry Wives of Windsor

Henry IV, Part II

Much Ado About Nothing

1594-95Henry VI, Part 2

AntonioPushed brother Prospero aside and seized dukedom.

MirandaBeautiful and innocent daughter of Prospero. In love with Ferdinand.

with Mirandadaanda.

StefanoAlonso’s butler. Plots with Trinculo to murder Prospero.

CalibanProspero’s island slave. The offspring of a witch, he too conspires to killhe too conspires to killP

ArielA spirit of the air who agrees to help Prospero if he will set Ariel free.

TrinculoAlonso’s jester. Plots with Stefano to murder Prospero.

SebastianAlonso’s brother. Plots to murder Alonso and seize the throne.

ggg pppppstricken because he thinks his son is dead. Regrets conspiring with Antonio against Prospero.

Plays that have been performed at the Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis

ProsperoRightful Duke of Milan, exiled to island by Antonio. Prospero has great magic powers.

Respects

and loves

Loves

Loves

Hates,enviesHates,envies

ResentsResents

Agrees to helpAgrees to help

RespectsRespects

Plot to murderPlot to murder

The plot in less than 60 seconds

How it’s writtenMost of “The Tempest,” like most of Shakespeare’s plays, is written in iambic pentameter.

Many actors consider that beat their friend.

“Iambic pentameter” simply describes a rhythmic pattern. Iambs are two syllables: an unaccented syllable followed by a syllable that is stressed. For example, “aLAS!” is an iambic word. So are “inDEED,” “caRESS” and “aBLAZE.” It’s also easy to build an iambic foot from two words: “oh NO,” “my LORD,” “my LOVE.”

“Pentameter” combines the Greek form for five (“penta,” as in Pentagon) with an another word, also Greek, for measure (“metron”).

Put them together, and you have iambic pentameter: 10 beats to the line, with the stress on the even-numbered syllables. The result sounds something like a heartbeat:

Shakespeare’s sonnets provide excellent examples: “When, IN disGRACE with FORtune AND men’s EYES,I ALL aLONE beWEEP my OUTcast STATE…”

The verse goes on from there, holding to its rhythm. Actors often say that’s no surprise. Many of them believe that iambic pentameter is the underlying rhythm of all English speech.If they are right, then Shakespeare and other playwrights who use the style give actors a built-in boost. Iambic pentameter makes lines easier to learn.Shakespeare, an actor himself, tells us what’s most important in each line; that’s where the stress falls. Shakespeare created some of the deepest stories and most complex characters ever to appear on stage. But he welcomes us to them as a friend, couched in a familiar rhythm we’ve known all our lives. In fact, the plot summary at right is written in iambic pentameter. Read it and see if you can follow the natural rhythm.

da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM

1 foot

5 feet (pairs) of 10 syllables

“The Tempest” centers around Prospero, a former duke exiled to a remote island. Prospero creates a storm that shipwrecks his persecutors. Here are the main characters and their relationship to Prospero and each other:

Prospero’s farewellSome have suggested that many of Prospero’s lines echo the real-life sentiments of Shakespeare as his writing career was drawing to a close. Is Prospero Shakespeare’s stand-in? Today scholars are apt to dismiss that interpretation as too romantic, too reductive. But no one denies the haunting, elegiac tenor of Prospero’s great speech in Act IV, after he has staged a beautiful show to entertain Ferdinand and Miranda. Then Prospero compares the “insubstantial pageant” he created to nothing less than life. He says that we, like actors, are all the stuff of dreams.

“Our revels now are ended. These our actors, As I foretold you, were all spirits andAre melted into air, into thin air;And, like the baseless fabric of this vision, The cloud-capped tow’rs, the gorgeous palaces,The solemn temples, the great globe itself,Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuffAs dreams are made on, and our little lifeIs rounded with a sleep.”

Shakespeare probably didn’t write that speech to say goodbye to us. We only wish he had.

CovetsCovets

SOURCES: Oxford Shakespeare, Norton Shakespeare, CliffsNotes, “Essential Shakespeare Handbook,” Leslie Dunton-Downer and Alan Riding, DK Publishing (2004)

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EEAA&&You’ve made them for yourself and friends. You’ve been on thereceiving end. The picking and choosing, the thematic structur-ing, the creative rearrangements — there’s something liberatingand empowering about the whole mix tape process. Thesedays a mixed cassette tape is more likely to come in the form ofa CD-R or computer play list. But the song remains the same:“I am no mere consumer of pop culture … but also a producerof it.” Those words appear in “Mix Tape,” a newly publishedlook at “the art of cassette culture.” We examine the book —and toss in a few bonus tracks — on the Ideas page, F3.

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Bo vs. CarrieOur take on “American Idol.”F4

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THE COURT

All the world’s a stage in

ow in its fourth season, the Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis presents one of the Bard’s most popular romantic comedies, “As

You Like It.” Under the direction of Risa Brainin, the

show will run from Friday through June 20. (There are no performances on June 1, June 8 and June 17.)

“As You Like It” will be performed in the traditional location in Forest Park, just to the east of Art Hill. It’s a good idea to arrive early to find a place for your blanket or lawn chairs and, if you drive, to park your car.

Every Sunday night, the St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation will offer free valet bike parking – a good incentive to let the night provide exercise for the body as well as the imagination.

Starting at 7 p.m, there’s a “Green Show,” a short, easy-to-follow version of

the play. You can also enjoy plenty of other preshow activities – dancing, juggling, lectures on Shakespeare, you name it – before the show starts at 8.

A preshow picnic’s always fun. You can buy food at the festival or bring your own meal.

Save time for shopping at the souvenir booth, where this year’s goodies include the “All the World’s a Stage” puzzle with characters from every Shakespeare play and the Will Shakespeare action figure with removable quill pen.

The show is free (although donations are welcome). If you’d like more information, call the festival office at 314-361-0101.

But if you’d like to know what the play’s about, look no further. The accompanying

in Act 2, “all the world

Rosalind and Celia live at

They’re first cousins.

Rosalind’

court. Things were

Celia’s father, kicked him out and took over.

Court life isn’t what it used to be. It’s hard to

enjoy yourself.

How about a wrestling match? Charles, a famous

wrestler, will fight anybody. Handsome

young Orlando can’t wait for his turn. He’s got

nothing to lose. His older brother, Oliver, treats him

like an animal. Or worse! Oliver tells Charles to break

Orlando’

in love they don’

’t hear of it. She’

’ll dress like a boy, for

a country girl. That will

Pretty soon

Arden’

They’d probably all like to live in the woods, but

they won’t. Duke Frederick talked to a priest who

persuaded him to change his ways. Now he’s sorry about everything and returns the crown to his brother, Duke Senior. They’ll all go back to court, a happy place once more. But they’ll remember Arden.

Who needs a priest! The god of marriage, Hymen, shows up to

– and finds out who

’s going to be a big

Ganymede promises

give him – er, her! – 24 hours.

Arden!

Duke Senior and his friends live

in the Forest of Arden, as happy as

Robin Hood’s band of merry men –

except for Jaques. But nothing ever

– that’s

” whe

re

– but Celia ’re in

’s

When Oliver fell asleep in the forest, a wild animal tried to eat him. But Orlando saw what was happening and saved Oliver – even

though he recognized him!

Oliver explains that Frederick blamed him for Celia’s

disappearance. That meant that Oliver had to run away. Off to Arden!

Rosalind, still pretending to be a boy, keeps running her

love school for Orlando. One day Orlando is late to

2

N

1

1

1

4

3

2

1

3

4

5

1

2

3

4

5

6

THE DE BOYS FAMILY

SIMPLE COUNTRY FOLK

ARDEN FOREST EXILES

THE ROYALCOURT

ACT ONE

ACT TWO

ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

ACT FIVE

FREDERICK

ROSALIND

CELIA

ORLANDO

WILLIAMJAQUES

DUKE SENIOR

AUDREY

PHEBE SILVIUS

OLIVER

ADAM

CHARLES

LANDO

ROZ

KEY

Character wears a disguise for part of the play

Connects two characters who fall in love

One character loves another, but the feelings aren’t mutual

Character starts out evil, but becomes good

Text by JUDITH NEWMARK, graphic by JOHN D. TELFORD / POST-DISPATCH

TOUCHSTONE

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EEAA&& Change is on the airNetwork television continues its“revolution” in scheduling withthe fall season. News &Views, F3

Fallen “Idol”Good Samaritan Kevin C. Johnsonoffers help to a badly stumbling“American Idol.” TV, F10

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“AS YOULIKE IT”

For a look at the improvementsin Forest Park, see the SundayEveryday section.

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Season’s greetingGail Pennington offers asneak peek at the new fall television schedule. TV, F8

Text by JUDITH NEWMARK, graphic by JOHN D. TELFORD / POST-DISPATCH

MACBETH IS SO UPSET, he sees an imaginary knife that seems to lead him to the king’s bedroom. Lady Macbeth drugs the guards so her husband can stab the king in his sleep.

Holding the bloody knives, Macbeth tells his wife it’s all over. He’s very upset, so she tells him to wash up while she calmly takes the daggers and smears blood on the guards. But Macbeth thinks that all the water in the ocean wouldn’t be enough to wash the blood off his hands.

Another thane, Macduff, comes to talk to the king. Macbeth acts as though everything’s fine and lets Macduff find Duncan’s body. Then Macbeth, pretending to go crazy with grief, kills the guards, too.

▲ The king’s son Malcolm and his brother figure that whoever killed their father will go after them next. They run away. That makes them look guilty! The thanes choose Macbeth to be their new king. But Macduff has started to wonder what really happened. He goes away alone.

BANQUO HAS DOUBTS, too. After all, he also heard the Weird Sisters! Banquo can practically guess what happened — and Macbeth knows that he can. Macbeth hires a couple of thugs to kill Banquo. They stab him over and over, then leave his body in a ditch.

▲ In the meantime, Lady Macbeth acts as if nothing’s wrong. She even gives a big party! But at the party Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost! Since nobody else can see this terrifying sight, it looks as though Macbeth has lost his mind.

After she gets rid of the guests, Lady Macbeth tries to comfort her husband. But he’s too upset. Even though he saw a ghost, Macbeth was aware of what was really going on — and he noticed that Macduff didn’t come to the party. That makes him suspicious. He knows that he’s not through with killing.

WORN OUT FROM GUILT and lack of sleep, Macbeth goes off to find the Weird Sisters in the dark. They brew a potion that reveals magic visions. They tell Macbeth that he will be safe until the woods come to his castle, that he can’t be killed by any man born of woman and that he should watch out for Macduff.

It’s a scary night, but their promises calm down Macbeth. After all, woods can’t move, and it sounds as if no one can kill him, either. He can do anything he wants!

▲ So when he finds out that Macduff is in England with Malcolm, Macbeth sends an attack squad to his castle. They murder Macduff’s wife, his children and his servants, and destroy everything he owns.

When Malcolm and Macduff hear the awful news, Malcolm promises his friend Macduff that they’ll get even. The king of England will help them topple Macbeth and bring peace to Scotland.

NOW LADY MACBETH is acting strange, too. She walks and talks in her sleep, and she washes her hands over and over. She sees an imaginary bloodstain on them! Macbeth’s got his own hands full defending the throne. A big army has gathered to attack!

Lady Macbeth kills herself as the army arrives. But it doesn’t look like an army — it looks like a moving forest! It’s just camouflage, but Macbeth doesn’t know that. He knows what the Weird Sisters told him about woods that can move, so he puts on his armor.

Macbeth finds himself sword to sword with his old friend, Macduff. As they fight, Macduff gives Macbeth a terrible shock: When he was born, he was delivered by Caesarean section! So in a way, Macduff wasn’t born of woman after all! He’s the only one who can kill Macbeth — and he does!

▲ After the battle, Macduff proudly presents the head of Macbeth to Malcolm. Malcolm will be king now, and he promises to rule better than Macbeth and Lady Macbeth — that “butcher” and his “fiendlike queen” — ever did.

ACT 1 ACT 2 ACT 3 ACT 4 ACT 5

The witches predict Macbeth will be king

Macbeth murders Duncan and ascends

to the throne

Macbeth has Banquo killed, then sees his ghost

Macbeth feels better after the witches make

another prediction

Macduff skewers Macbeth and Malcolm

becomes king

MACBETHA Scottish nobleman

and warrior of great ambition

LADY MACBETHHis ruthless wife, just as ambitious

as he is

BANQUOAnother nobleman,

Macbeth’s comrade-in-arms

DUNCANThe king

of Scotland

MALCOLMDuncan’s son

and heir

MACDUFFA nobleman and

comrade, who loves his wife and children

THE WEIRD SISTERSPractitioners of

witchcraft who can see into the future

CAST OF CHARACTERS

THE CHARACTERS SPEAK

WAR RAVAGES SCOTLAND, under attack from local rebels and outside invaders. A noble warrior — Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis — leads King Duncan to bloody victory. As Macbeth and his friend Banquo head home from the battlefield, they stumble on the Weird Sisters — three witches! — in the dark!

The Weird Sisters give them a mysterious message. They tell Macbeth that he will rule Cawdor, another part of Scotland, plus his own land, Glamis. One day he will be King of Scotland, too! They tell Banquo that he won’t be king, but that his heirs will be.

Just moments later, Macbeth finds out that Duncan has already made him Thane of Cawdor, to thank him for the victory. The sisters are right! Are they right about everything?

Macbeth sends his wife a letter with the news. Lady Macbeth can’t wait. She’s in a hurry to see her husband crowned.

▲ The king and all the thanes come to Macbeth’s castle to celebrate. Lady Macbeth talks her husband into killing the king that very night!

“Screw your courage to the sticking place.”

– Lady Macbeth

“Is this a dagger which I see before me, / The handle

toward my hand?”

– Macbeth

“Double, double toil and trouble, / Fire burn and

cauldron bubble.”

– The Weird Sisters

“Out, damned spot! Out, I say!”

– Lady Macbeth

“It will have blood, they say: blood will have blood.”

– Macbeth

BY JUDITH NEWMARKPost-Dispatch Theater Critic

ishing, most of uslearn to our con-siderable relief,cannot make any-thing so.

Except in the world of “Mac-beth.”

Every parent has comforted achild with the reminder that it’sOK to think “bad thoughts,”that things in your head can’treally hurt anyone.

But in “Macbeth,” the jumpfrom a wicked thought to dan-gerous deed is almost instanta-neous.

Wishing does make it so. Nowonder it’s the scariest show in

t h e w h o l eShakespearec a n o n . T h eScottish play,this year’s pro-duction at theShakespeareFestival of St.Louis, tells astory of ambi-tion run wild. Itf o l l o w s t h ebloody careerof a noblemanwho commitsmurders, firstto raise himselfto a higher posi-tion and then totry to secure it,always with the

encouragement of his ruthless,passionate wife.

Macbeth and Lady Macbethare impossible to admire. Andyet they dominate the action al-most to the exclusion of every-one else; Shakespeare musthave found them irresistible.

As do we, their audience. Why? To answer that question,

maybe we ought to ask ourselveswhat we always find irresistible.

How about a mirror? In Macbeth, the most sug-

gestible hero in Shakespeare,we find a man who brings ourown childhood fears to bloodylife: His bad thoughts becomehis bad deeds.

We don’t all do the kinds ofthings Macbeth does. But ifwe’re honest, we probably allhave thought about them.

“I have seen that (invisible)dagger before me,” confessesRick Sordelet, director of theoutdoor production in ForestPark. “Who hasn’t?

“Who hasn’t been skippedover for a promotion anddreamed of killing the boss, orlost a house and imagined stab-bing the loan officer?

“Or how about the Oscars?The losers act gracious, but iflooks could kill, you know thosewinners would have died athousand horrible deaths.

“What separates us fromMacbeth is that we pull back.But he never does. He’s uswithout restraint. So we can’thelp but root for him.”

In his incisive and immenselyhelpful book “Shakespeare:The Invention of the Human,”Professor Harold Bloom of Yalemakes the point that if “Mac-beth” focuses almost entirelyon characters who do wrong, itdoesn’t make much of a caseagainst wrongdoing; fascina-

T H E F O R E S T C O M E S T O

“Macbeth” Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis

WHEN: Preview performances onThursday and Friday and openingperformance on Saturday. Perfor-mances continue every night butTuesdays through June 15. Foodservice begins at 6 p.m.; greenshow at 7 p.m.; performance at 8p.m.

WHERE: Forest Park, near the St. Louis Art Museum

HOW MUCH: Free

MORE INFO: 314-361-0101

See Macbeth, F5

STAGE DIRECTIONS A guide toessentialfestivalinformation,including amap andparking tips,details on foodand vendors,and a previewof the “greenshow”

See F5

WM A C B E T H

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1 M

STLTODAY.COM/ENTERTAINMENT • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

#&@%!

THE END

Cast of characters

RichmondLater King Henry VII

Lady AnneWidow of a prince

of Lancaster

Queen MargaretAged, crazy widow

of King Henry VI

The Little PrincesTwo young brothers

and sons of King Edward IV

Duke of BuckinghamRichard’s friend

King Edward IVBrother of Richard

and George

GeorgeDuke of ClarenceRichard’s brother

Richard Duke of Gloucester

KING RICHARD IIITHE TRAGEDY OF

KING RICHARD IIITHE TRAGEDY OF

Text by Judith Newmark, graphic by John D. Telford | ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

wo branches of the royal Plantagenet house, the House of York and the House of Lancaster, spent more than a generation fighting with each other for control of the throne of England.

This episodic civil war (1455-1487) is often called the Wars of the Roses because of the family emblems: the red rose of York, the white rose of Lancaster.

In another time and place, the Plantagenets might have kept Jerry Springer booked for months. Will Shakespeare certainly appreciated their dramatic potential: the Wars of the Roses inspired eight of his plays.

The seething Plantagenets in “Richard III” bring the story to a close.

Richard III: Historical figure or dramatic character? Page F4 For a Plantagenet family tree, visit www.stltoday.com/stage

T

ichard, duke of Gloucester, and his brothers would seem to be on top of the Globe — well, the world. Their side of the Plantagenet

family, the House of York, has won the most recent round in its long war against another branch of the family, the House of Lancaster. One brother rules, King Edward IV. But somebody warned the king to beware of the letter “G.” Could that mean the third brother — George, duke of Clarence — wants the crown for himself? Who would say such a thing? And why won’t somebody tell Edward that “Gloucester” also starts with a “G”?

R

HOUSE OF YORK HOUSE OF LANCASTER

Clarence is packed off to the Tower of London while Richard — misshapen and unloved, brave and shrewd and charming — has his eye on the throne for himself. A queen would be a good first step. Look, here comes Lady Anne, following the coffin of her father-in-law, King Henry VI.

Richard killed Anne’s father-in-law. For that matter, he also killed her husband. Richard says he did it all for her — so he could have her for himself! He hands her his sword and bares his bosom. Kill me, he tells her — kill me, or marry me.

Anne agrees to the marriage proposal! Henry’s widow, crazy old Queen Margaret, is furious, but nothing can surprise her anymore, or shut her up. She unloads on Richard with both barrels.

Richard suspects that Edward will go easy on Clarence — and he’s right. So Richard takes things into his own hands and hires a couple of killers.

Richard seems warm to his nephews — so young and vulnerable! They have friends, such as Lord Hastings, but you just can’t be too careful. The boys need someplace safe to stay. How about the Tower of London?

Richard tells Buckingham to get rid of Lord Hastings. He’ll reward him generously later.

Trouble’s brewing everywhere. Richard kills all who stand in his way, even men who thought they were his friends. Off to die, Hastings thinks of crazy old Margaret. She’s been right about everything!

Now to deal with the young princes. Richard urges Buckingham to spread the word that they are illegitimate and not in line for the throne at all. In the meantime, he’ll be praying and meditating.

Buckingham leads a crowd to Richard, begging him to be king. “No, no, 1,000 times no! … well, if you insist.”

The noblewomen try to visit the princes in the Tower, but no chance. Anne tells them Richard will kill her soon, and mourns her “angel husband” — the one Richard killed.

Anyhow, Buckingham can’t stop Richard, who hires thugs to smother the boys in their sleep.

Richard III is crowned at last! But is he happy? Not while those pesky nephews are alive. Yet Buckingham doesn’t leap at the idea of killing young boys. That’s nice for the princes … not so hot for Buckingham.

Speaking of not around any more, where’s Anne? Why is Richard telling everyone she’s sick? He has his eye on someone who could do more to cement his claim to the throne. Perhaps Edward’s daughter Elizabeth?

Buckingham, seeing that Richard is about to kill him, heads off to join Henry, Earl of Richmond, who plans to attack Richard. Richmond belongs to the House of Lancaster.

The night before battle, Richmond and Richard dream of ghostly visitors: Clarence and Hastings and Buckingham, the little princes and Lady Anne. The ghosts reassure Richmond, promising victory. They aren’t so friendly to Richard.

On Bosworth Field, Richmond and Richard fight boldly. Richard keeps fighting furiously even when his steed is killed beneath him. “A HORSE! A HORSE! MY KINGDOM FOR A HORSE!”At last they meet in battle, man to man and king to king. Richmond slays Richard.

Richmond of Lancaster, soon to be crowned King Henry VII, pledges his troth to Elizabeth of York — Edward’s daughter — at last uniting the Plantagenets in the red-and-white Tudor Rose. Their son will be King Henry VIII — and their granddaughter Shakespeare’s own great monarch, Elizabeth Regina.

Richard prepares to meet Richmond on Bosworth Field. When Buckingham is captured, he dies nobly.

King Edward, already ill, feels so bad about Clarence’s murder that he dies, too. The royal women mourn and curse Richard! Richard’s friend, the Duke of Buckingham, sends for Edward’s young sons.

ACT ONE

ACT TWOACT THREE

ACT FOUR

ACT FIVE

Where: Fine Arts Drive in Forest Park, northeast of the Art Museum

When: Previews Wednesday and Thursday; opening Friday and running through June 15. Performances at 8 p.m., every night but Tuesdays.

How much: Free; donations are welcome.

More info: 314-531-9800; sfstl.com

FESTIVAL TIPS

Dress comfortably. The festival performs outdoors. You might need a sweatshirt.

Come early. The entertainment- packed Green Show — offering music, lectures, juggling, children’s activities, even a short version of “Richard III” that explains the plot — starts at 6:30 p.m.

Choose a place to sit as soon as you arrive. Lots of people bring blankets or low-backed chairs for comfort. You can rent chairs, too.

Bring a picnic, or put one together on the spot. You can buy food and drinks right there.

Leave Rover at home. Dogs generally prefer edgy modern drama anyhow.

IF YOU GO: SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL ST. LOUIS

FIND ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK’S ST. LOUIS ARCHITECTURE QUIZ. F3

OPERA THEATRE OF ST. LOUIS TELLS ‘TALES OF HOFFMANN.’ F4

PONCHO SANCHEZ, NNENNA FREELON TO VISIT JAZZ AT THE BISTRO. F6

ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG REMEMBERED AS A ‘GREAT CITIZEN.’ F7

SUNDAY • MAY 18, 2008 • SECTION F

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GodfreyGodfrey

CAST

OF

CHA

RA

CTER

S

Don JohnDon Pedro’sevil brother

BorachioMischievous toady

of Don John

MargaretMaidservant

of Hero

BeatriceSassy nieceof Leonato

BenedickBrash soldierof Don Pedro

ClaudioMercurial soldier

of Don Pedro

Don PedroSwashbuckling

Prince of Aragon

HeroNaive daughter

of Leonato

LeonatoGovernor of Messina

DogberryBungling sheriff

of Messina

THE

END

uch Ado About Nothing,” this summer’s production of the Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, comes with a twist. Director Jane Page is staging the romantic

comedy in the Old West. With that in mind, here’s a quick recap of the story — as if Zane Grey had written it! The festival will perform it the way that Shakespeare wrote it, of course.

The festival is staged in Forest Park in the natural outdoor ampitheater just east of Art Hill. It’s all outdoors, so enjoy the park. You can bring a blanket or chairs to sit on, or rent chairs at the festival.

Come early to get a good spot! Then relax until showtime with preshow entertainment, souvenir shopping and a picnic; bring your basket of goodies, or choose from the festival menu.

IF YOU GOThere will be previews on Wednesday and Thursday; the show opens on Friday and runs through June 17, every night but Tuesday. Things get going at 6:30 p.m.; the play begins at 8. The festival is free but donations are welcome. For more information, visit www.sfstl.com online.

eehaw! The boys have been off

a-fightin’ for a mighty good man, Don Pedro, but they done come back safe and sound. Leonato invites Don Pedro and all the boys to bed down at his big ranch. They’ll have a ripsnortin’ time!

on Pedro figgers up a plan to hornswoggle Beatrice and Benedick — with a love trick! A right smart one, too! Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio set a spell. When they know Benedick is

close by, they commence a-jawin’, spinnin’ a tale about Beatrice bein’ plumb loco for Benedick. Now Benedick’s just as loony his own self!

Text by Judith Newmark, graphic by John D. Telford | ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

ACT 2

ACT 1

Leonato’s daughter Hero,

a purty little gal, catches

Claudio’s eye.

Hero and the other gals are right glad to do their part. When Beatrice is listening in, they go on and on about Benedick and how he’s just as lovesick as a polecat in the spring! Sure as shootin’, it works!

Leonato‘s sassy niece Beatrice commences a-squabblin’ with her buddy Benedick.

Everything’s swell under the ole

buttermilk sky — except for that no-good varmint hangin’ around, Don Pedro’s brother Don John.

Don John, that low-down sidewinder, tells Claudio that Don Pedro’s got eyes for Hero. But that’s a dad-burned lie! Don Pedro is helping Claudio and Hero get hitched!

Beatrice don’t want no handsome caballero herself, nosiree. She and Benedick have a bang-up time a-squawkin’ — as mad at each other as a pair of ole wet hens. But anybody can see they go together just like speckles on a rattlesnake.

ACT 3

ACT 4

ACT 5

But Don John has a few tricks of his own up his dirty sleeve! The night before Hero and Claudio are supposed to see the preacher, Don John tells Don Pedro and Claudio that Hero’s just a … a … painted lady! The lyin’ dawg claims he can prove it, too.

He takes them around back, where they can see a gal and a cowpoke gittin’ mighty cozy. They hear the fella call her “Hero,” too. It’s really just Margaret, a gal who works for Hero. She’s with a four-flusher, Borachio, who belongs to Don John’s gang.

Everybody’s at the chapel, and Hero’s

just as purty as a wild rose in her wedding

duds. But Claudio says he ain’t a-gonna

git tied down with her! Not when he knows that she’s

no better than some saloon gal! Poor little Hero!

She goes straight down in a swoon!

The preacher can marry two couples as easy as one. But Beatrice and Benedick are going at it again — until Claudio and Hero remind them that lovin’ can be way more fun than fussin’. And Benedick finally figures out how to keep them both from yammerin’.

The preacher says they should pretend Hero’s dead until they know

what’s what. Beatrice and Benedick sure do love

each other! But Beatrice knows what she’d do if

she were a man instead of a gal. She’d be right

proud to take care of the scalawag who insulted

her cousin. And if Benedick really loved her … Do not forsake him, oh

his darlin’. Benedick’s gonna do what a man’s

gotta do.

Leonato has Claudio write a real sad song about how he done Hero wrong. By the time Claudio croons in the boneyard, the sun’s commenced a-shinin’ and it’s time for someone to get hitched! But who’s the bride? Yeehaw! It’s Hero — in the flesh!

efore the sun comes up in big sky country, an old

coot named Dogberry and his deputies round up two varmints yammerin’ about the plot. The deputies haul them to the hoosegow but Dogberry can’t get a straight story out of them. He’s too busy jawin’ – and not makin’ a lick of sense!

enedick challenges Claudio to a fight, and tells Don Pedro

that his blowhard brother John up and skedaddled out of town. Borachio tells Claudio about Don John’s scheme. With his heart a-breakin’ and his tail between his legs, Claudio begs Leonato’s pardon.

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| SUNDAY | MAY 21, 2006 | SECTION F |A&E

M 11 2 3 4 5 6

JULIUS CAESARA TALE OF CONSPIRACY, BETRAYAL AND MURDER

The sixth annual Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis stages one of the Bard’s most popular plays

Text by Judith Newmark, graphic by John D. TelfordST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Act 4

Cast of characters

Are you a Latin lover?

Act 1

Act 3

The time: Spring, 44 B.C.The place: Rome, where all roads lead

Julius Caesar

Roman ruler

Calphurnia

Caesar’s wife

Brutus

A leader of the conspiracy

Portia

Brutus’ wife

Mark Antony

Loyal friend of Caesar

Cassius

A leader of the conspiracy

The Soothsayer

A fortuneteller

Caesar! … Beware the Ides of March.

Et tu, Brute?

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.

Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.

There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune … On such a full sea are we now afloat.

This was the noblest Roman of them all.

This was the most unkindest cut of all.

Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look. He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous.

Cry ‘havoc!,’ and let slip the dogs of war.

Let’s kill him boldly, but not wrathfully. Let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods, not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds.

A holiday! To celebrate, the people of Rome decorate statues of their adored leader, Julius Caesar. Not only is Julius Caesar a brilliant general, he’s a generous victor and a real charmer. Some people want him to be king.

But not everyone is so happy. The whispers are everywhere. Caesar should be careful! A soothsayer tries to warn him.

Cassius believes Rome does not belong to any one man! Cassius and his crew will stop Julius Caesar before it’s too late!

The conspirators pay Brutus a midnight visit. There’s only one choice after all — and Brutus knows it. But it must be done right, with Roman dignity. The pledge is made!

Caesar’s wife, Calphurnia, has had terrible nightmares. She begs her husband to stay home — but he leaves for the Capitol.

It’s March 15 — the Ides of March. In the Senate, the conspirators trap Caesar, knives in their hands. Brutus strikes the last blow.

Caesar’s friend Mark Antony wants to speak at the funeral. Brutus welcomes Antony honorably and grants him a private moment with the body of his friend. Grief-stricken, Antony foresees terrible times ahead.

At the funeral, Brutus speaks first. He explains that Caesar had to die to save Rome from a tyrant. The people cheer! They understand!

Antony assures the Romans that Brutus is an honorable man. Still, he manages to remind the people of everything Julius Caesar achieved.

He was betrayed by his old comrades — even Brutus! Mark Antony reads Caesar’s will out loud. He loved Rome! He loved Romans! The crowd turns! The conspirators must die!

Roman fights Roman. Mark Antony and Caesar’s nephew Octavius lead one side with the valiant Lepidus; Brutus and Cassius lead the other.

Many people — many innocent people — have been killed. And Brutus faces the worst: His brave, devoted wife has taken her own life. She swallowed fire.

With confrontation looming at Philippi, Cassius and Brutus argue. But they both know that destiny beckons.

Brutus asks for music to help him rest for battle. As a servant plays for him, he drifts into a dream … and sees Great Caesar’s Ghost!

If “Julius Caesar” whets your taste for Rome — or if you want to get into the right preshow mood — satisfy your cravings on page or screen with:

“Julius Caesar” (1953), a solid movie version, starring Marlon Brando, John Gielgud and James Mason.

Lindsey Davis’ sleuth Marcus Didius Falco stars in fun mysteries loaded with details of Roman life. First in the series: “The Silver Pigs.”

“I, Claudius,” a dazzling BBC series starring Derek Jacobi, is available on DVD. And the brilliant book behind it, by Robert Graves, never went away.

“The Oxford Atlas of World History” — or any good historical atlas — provides vivid evidence of Rome’s strength and scope. Just look at words printed over the Mediterranean: “Mare Nostrum” — “Our Sea.” That’s power for you.

“Lives of the Caesars” by Gaius Suetonius. From the equus’ mouth. Or consider “History of Rome” by Michael Grant, a scholar who writes for everyone.

Watch “Spartacus,” a sword-and-sandals video, while eating olives and sipping an Italian wine. It’s cheaper than a ticket on Alitalia.

Young readers have lots to choose from, too. The Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence are fun to read and rich in atmosphere; the series starts with “The Thieves of Ostia.” Then, keep going with “Julius Caesar: Great Dictator of Rome” by Richard Platt, “Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome” by Lesley and Roy A. Adkins and “The Ancient Romans” by Allison Lassieur.

The battle is joined and Cassius loses heart. He orders his servant to hold out his sword … and runs on it, killing himself.

The future of Rome is secure. Mark Antony, Octavius Caesar and Lepidus will govern it. The triumvirate promises protection against any ambitious tyrant. But Antony, mourning for Brutus, knows how dearly victory costs.

Brutus and his men cannot defeat the combined forces of Octavius and Antony. Brutus makes the honorable choice: He falls on his sword.

Even Caesar is worried. The omens are everywhere.

Act 2

Act 5

TH

E E

ND

S

he Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis hails its 2006 audience with a straightforward, action-

packed tale of politics and honor: “Julius Caesar”

• At Forest Park in the natural outdoor amphitheater, just east of Art Hill.

• Previews Wednesday and Thursday; performances Friday-June 18, except Tuesdays.

• Preshow entertainment starts at 6:30 nightly; showtime is at 8.

• Bring a blanket or chairs, or rent a chair ($10 for the first section, $7 farther back.) Come early to get a good spot.

• Food and drinks are for sale, or pack a picnic.

• The festival is free — there are no tickets — but donations are welcome.

• More info: www.sfstl.com

T

A high note “Dreamgirls” closes the Black Rep season | F3

The Big OneTV serves up disasters, natural and otherwise | F4

Heightened awarenessWole Soyinka writes of chaos and activism | F9

A&EJ O I N U S ON L I N E S T LTODAY. COM / EN T E R TA I NMEN T • E - M A I L U S AE@POST- D I S PATCH . COM • S UNDAY • 0 5 . 1 0 . 2 0 0 9 • E

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...WHERE

EVERy-

ONELIVESMERRILYEVER AFTER!EVER AFTER!

SIR JOHN FALSTAFF, HOME FROM THE WARSWITH HIS MEN, IS FLAT BROKE. HE NEEDSMONEY. BUT WHO HAS ANY?

TEXT BY JUDITH NEWMARKGRAPHIC BY CARA DeMICHELEST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

WOMEN DO!!!MISTRESS FORD AND MISTRESS PAGE, TWO SMARTHOUSEWIVES, KEEP THEIR HUSBANDS’ BOOKS . . .

EVERY-BODYWANTS

TOMARRYANNE. . .

...AND PRETTY ANNE PAGECOMES INTO A FORTUNEON HER 17TH BIRTHDAY!

MISTRESS QUICKLY,WHO WORKS FOR THEDOCTOR, PROMISES TOHELP ALL THREE OF

THEM . . .

FORD DISGUISES HIMSELF AS “MASTER BROOK” ANDTELLS FALSTAFF HE’S CRAZY ABOUT MISTRESS FORD— HIS REAL WIFE! HE GIVES FALSTAFF MONEY TOSOFTEN HER UP — FOR “BROOK.”

MEANWHILE,MISTRESS FORDIS PRETENDINGTHAT SHE’S INTHE MOOD FORLOVE WHENMISTRESS PAGERUSHES IN! THEMEN ARECOMING! THEYHAVE TO HIDEFALSTAFF!

FRANK FORDH AT E SWITCHES ANDBEATS “HER”!

THE WIVES EXPLAINEVERYTHING, ANDTHE COUPLES PLANONE MORE TRICK.

OF COURSE, THE FOREST IS CROWDED, DARK ANDCONFUSING. ALL OF WINDSOR SEEMS TO BE ONHAND TO LAUGH AT FALSTAFF IN HIS SILLY OUTFIT.

DAD’S PLAN: IN THEEXCITEMENT, SLENDERCAN SLIP AWAY WITHANNE AND MARRY HER!

MOM’S PLAN: IN THEEXCITEMENT, DR. CAIUSCAN SLIP AWAY WITHANNE AND MARRY HER!

BUT FENTON AND ANNE MADE SOME PLANSOF THEIR OWN, AND SHOW UP TO EXPLAIN.

WELL, IT’S A LOVE MATCH. NOBODY CAN BE MAD AT THAT.NOBODY CAN STAY MAD AT FALSTAFF, EITHER. NOT IN WINDSOR . . .

QUICK! QUICK!

STUFF HIM INTOA BASKET OFDIRTY LAUNDRY!

WHILE THEIR ELDERSPLAY TRICKS, YOUNGFENTON AND ANNEFIGURE THINGS OUTFOR THEMSELVES.

UGGHHHH! FALSTAFF HATED BEING WASHED IN THERIVER WITH THE CLOTHES! BUT MISTRESS QUICKLYHAS GOOD NEWS: COME BACK TO SEE MISTRESSFORD IN THE MORNING! FALSTAFF TELLS “BROOK.”

WHOOPS, THE MENARE COMING BACK!THIS TIME THE LADIESDRESS UP FALSTAFFAS AN OLD WITCH TOHIDE HIM.

WHILE HER BOSS,

DR. CAIUS,& SLENDERARE READYTODUELFOR ANNE.FOR ANNE.

BUT THE HOST AT THE LOCAL BARGIVES THEM BOTH WRONG DIRECTIONSTO THE DUEL. IT’S CRAZY TO FIGHT!

intermission

WHILE FALSTAFF DUDES UPTO WOO MISTRESS FORDAND MISTRESS PAGE ANDGET THEM TO SUPPORT HIM!

WHEN THEY GETIDENTICAL LOVE LETTERSFROM FALSTAFF, THEYDECIDE TO GET EVEN!

GEORGE PAGE AND FRANKFORD GET WIND OFFALSTAFF’S SCHEME. GEORGEPAGE LAUGHS IT OFF, BUTFRANK FORD SEES RED!

MISTRESS PAGEAND MISTRESSFORD ARE:

(HER DAD’SCHOICE)

SLENDER

SLENDER FENTONDR. CAIUSANNEPAGE

GEORGEPAGE

FRANKFORD

SIR JOHNFALSTAFF

CASTOFCHARACTERS

MISTRESSMEG PAGE

MISTRESSALICE FORD

MISTRESSQUICKLY

DR. CAIUS & FENTON.

(MOM WANTSA DOCTORFOR ASON-IN-LAW)

HE’S AHANDSOME,WELL-BORNBAD BOYWHO USEDTO HANGAROUNDWITH WILDPRINCE HAL.

GUESS WHO

ANNE LIKES.

ACT

one

A SPIRIT CALLED

HERNETHE HUNTERIS SUPPOSED TOHAUNT AN OLD TREEIN THE FOREST. THEYDECIDE TO INVITE FALSTAFF TO DRESS UPAS HERNE FOR A MIDNIGHT RENDEZVOUSWITH MISTRESS FORD. INCREDIBLY, HE’SSTILL INTERESTED AND TAKES THE BAIT.

MERRY WIVESOFit’s

the

WINDSOR

SHE’LL BE THEONE IN GREEN!

BEST

FOREVE

R

FRIEND

S

MEANWHILE, THE LADIES SENDFALSTAFF A FAKE LOVE LETTERFROM MISTRESS FORD. ITTELLS HIM TO COME ON OVERAT 10 O’CLOCK. MISTRESSQUICKLY DELIVERS IT . . .

SHE’LL BE THEONE INWHITE!

According to legend,WilliamShakespeare wrote “The Merry Wivesof Windsor” to please Queen Elizabeth,who wanted to see more of Sir JohnFalstaff. This homey comedy is verydifferent from the history plays inwhich “the fat knight” first appeared,but it’s a longtime audience favorite,and this year’s offering at Shake-speare Festival St. Louis (May 20-June14) in Forest Park. The show is freeand starts at 8 p.m. every night butTuesdays; for more information, visitshakespearefestivalstlouis.org.For a leg up on the story, just keep

reading.

...A GREAT LITTLE TOWN A LOT LIKE YOURS!

There isa lotofhistory intheworkoffilm-makerChantalAkerman.It’s rightthere inthe title of this exhibition featuring five ofher documentaryworksmade since 1995:“Moving through time and space.” Isn’tthat away to definehistory?ThehistoryAkerman favors doesn’t in-

clude kings and presidents, generals, orcaptains of industry and finance, the ac-tors of history with a big H. She prefersto show us everyday people, those whom

big-Hhistoryactsupon.Manyofhersub-jects do demonstrate the ability to act, ifoften in reaction to historical conditions.But isn’t thatwhat causes revolution?Not that Akerman is exactly a revolu-

tionary. Although she was born in 1950(in Belgium) and cameof age in 1968, thatyear of dreamers, she is more an observerthananactor.Shesharesawayof thinking

History, personal and unending,unspools in 5 documentary filmsArt review • Artist’s long still shots and action pans move‘through time and space’ in new exhibit at the Contemporary.

BY DAVID BONETTIPost-Dispatch Visual Arts Critic • dbonetti@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8351

When Phoebe Snetsinger saw a buff-spotted flufftail in South Africa, it was anexperience beyondher“wildest dreams.”Face time with a plump black bird with

polka-dot feathers may not be the aver-age American dream. But there was somuchmoretotheexperiencethanpeeringthroughbinoculars at a secretive bird.By the time the world-famous Web-

sterGroves birder had logged that flufftailamong more than 8,000 species on her

life list, Snetsinger had survived cancer,malaria, a boat accident and ahorrendousgang rape. She’d found one fellow birderdead of altitude sickness. She’d snorkelednear the Galapagos Islands, hiked the Hi-malayas and bundled up for Antarctica—more thanonce.In Peru, her birding group had to con-

vince local Indians that the birders

World-renowned bird-watcher’s‘wildest dreams’ come to lifeWebster Groves woman battled cancer, tragedy on her way tosetting a world record for sightings.

BY JANE HENDERSONPost-Dispatch Book Editor • jhenderson@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8107

See AKERMAN • Page E3

MORE SHAKESPEAREGet a reprint of our past ShakespeareFestival guides, including “Julius Caesar”and “Richard III” at STLtoday.com/stage.

See BIRD • Page E5

A&EJ O I N U S ON L I N E S T LTODAY. COM / EN T E R TA I NMEN T • E - M A I L U S AE@POST- D I S PATCH . COM • S UNDAY • 0 5 . 2 3 . 2 0 1 0 • D

ACT 1

HAMLETTHE TRAGEDY OF

PRINCE OF DENMARKHamlet

Prince of Denmark

PoloniusCounselorto Claudius

OpheliaPolonius’daughter

LaertesPolonius’ son

HoratioHamlet’s best friend

Rosencrantz & GuildensternSchoolmates of Hamlet

GertrudeHamlet’s mother

ClaudiusKing of Denmark

Ghost of King HamletHamlet’s father

Cast of characters

ACT 2

ACT 3

ACT 4 ACT 5

1

2

3

4

56

7 8

Hamlet, Prince ofDenmark, is homefrom college. Hisfather has died andhis mother, QueenGertrude, hasmarried his uncle,King Claudius.Angry, hurt andconfused, the princemourns for hisfather. “He was aman. Take him for allin all, I shall not lookupon his like again.”

Confiding in his dearest friend, Horatio,Hamlet admits the whole thing is hard tobelieve. But why does that mean it can'tbe true? “There are more things inheaven and earth, Horatio, than aredreamt of in your philosophy.”

9

Hamlet perks up and welcomes the actorswarmly, but they just make him feelworse. He thinks that actors, who areonly pretending, express more feelingthan he has shown for his dead father.“O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!”

Hamlet finds Claudius in the chapel and won’t kill himthere. Missing his chance, he goes to Gertrude’s room.Something is moving behind a curtain! Claudius? Hamletdrives his sword through the eavesdropper — Polonius!To “protect” Hamlet, Claudius sends him to England withRosencrantz, Guildenstern — and a letter.

Ophelia loses her mind. She wanders around thecastle with flowers, singing crazed songs. Laertes,back from France, wants to avenge his father’smurder and his sister’s madness. Claudius is onlytoo glad to help him! But oh no! As the men maketheir plans, Ophelia drowns herself!

Hamlet, back in Denmark, meets Horatio in agraveyard. Claudius’ letter ordered the English to killHamlet, but he escaped. Rosencrantz and Guildensternwere killed instead. Hamlet picks up the skull of the oldcourt jester. “Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio.”They're interrupted by a funeral — for Ophelia!

Wild with grief, Laertes jumpsinto the grave. So does Hamlet,and they fight right there! Wholoved Ophelia more? As they arepulled apart, Hamlet swears hehas no quarrel with Laertes.

Claudius thinks Hamlet is too dangerousto stay in Denmark. But the prince’smood certainly improves when he getstogether with the actors. He’d like to bean actor himself! He chooses the playthey’ll perform and coaches them. Don'toveract, he tells them.

10

11

As the court gathers for the show,Hamlet flirts with Ophelia. Does he loveher after all? Then the play begins. It’sabout a murderer who kills a duke andmarries his wife. Claudius gets the point!He’s furious and storms off!

12

13

Claudius asks Hamletto fence with Laertes.Horatio smells a rat, butHamlet feels clear-headed at last. “If it benow, 'tis not to come; if itbe not to come, it will benow; if it be not now, yet itwill come. The readinessis all.” Instead of a safefencing sword, Laerteswill use a sharp, poisonedblade. Claudius also haspoisoned a cup of wine —just for Hamlet.

17

The match begins — and Gertrude, watching,sips the poisoned wine! Laertes strikesHamlet — the scratch is poisoned! As theyfence, they switch weapons. Now Hamletstrikes Laertes. The scratch is poisoned!

18

Gertrude dies! Laertes tells Hamletthey are both dying of poison!Hamlet strikes the king and makeshim drink the wine, poisoning him!Claudius dies!

19

Dying, Hamlet and Laertes forgive each other.Hamlet prophecies that Norway will rule Denmarknow. He begs Horatio to live on, mourn for him alittle and tell his story. “The rest is silence.” And ofcourse, Horatio will. “Goodnight, sweet prince.”

20

14 15

16

Claudius and Poloniusmake Ophelia wait whereHamlet will run into her.But when he comes by,he’s not thinking of love.He’s thinking of suicide.“To be or not to be — thatis the question ...” At firsthe seems happy to seeOphelia, but his moodabruptly changes and heinsults her. Does he knowClaudius and Polonius arelistening? Ophelia is veryupset!

Gertrude and Claudius are worried aboutHamlet. He looks like a wreck, says weirdthings and sometimes won't say a word. Theybeg his childhood friends, Rosencrantz andGuildenstern, to find out what's wrong.

Polonius thinks he’s figured it out: It’s love. Hamletis crazy in love with Ophelia. Polonius talks to theprince, who sounds deranged. But the old mansenses something: “Though this be madness, yetthere is method in’t.”

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern can’t findout anything. Hamlet just tells them howdepressed he feels. But Rosencrantz andGuildenstern know that Hamlet loves thetheater, so they’ve invited actors to givea show at the castle.

But he’s wrong — thatvery night, he’ll seehis father's Ghost!

Other noble families are happier. The king’scounselor, Polonius, loves his daughter Opheliaand his son Laertes, who’s on his way to France.Polonius sends him off with lots of good advice:“This above all: to thine own self be true.”

But Hamlet suspects something is rotten in thestate of Denmark. The ghost of King Hamlet tellsthe prince that he didn't simply die. No! His deathwas murder most foul. He urges his son to takerevenge against his brother and killer, Claudius,but not Gertrude. “Leave her to heaven.”

Shakespeare Festival St. Louis marks its 10th anniversary with the drama that stands at the pinnacle ofEnglish literature: “Hamlet.” Here’s what you need to know — including the plot!When • Previews Wednesday and Thursday. Performances Friday-June 20, except Tuesdays. Noperformance June 5. Preshow entertainment at 6:30 nightly; showtime is at 8.Where • Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park, near the Art Museum.Seating • Bring a blanket or lawn chair or rent a chair ($10 for the first section, $7 farther back). Comeearly to get a good spot.Food • Bring a picnic, order a boxed supper in advance (see website) or buy food and drink at the booths.Cost • The festival is free, but donations are welcome.More info • shakespearefestivalstlouis.org

TEXT BY JUDITH NEWMARK • Post-Dispatch Theater Critic > jnewmark@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8243GRAPHIC BY bing! • www.bing.biz

SINGING THE BLUES“American Idol” approaches the end of one of itsweakest seasons, Page D2

1 M

Three iconic TV dramas, threeseries finales. So many goodbyes,and all in the space of two daysthisweek.“Lost,” which ends its six-

season saga with a Sunday nightfinale extravaganza on ABC, hasbeen gettingmost of the buzz. But“24,” exiting Fox after eight sea-sons, will go out with guns blaz-ing. And now, fans have learned

that it’s case closed for “Law &Order,” canceled just short of arecord-breaking 21st season.TVshowsneverdisappear com-

pletely, of course, not in the daysof Netflix, DVD box sets and per-petual cable reruns. But as view-ers, we’re bound to get attachedto characters who come into ourliving rooms every week, and wehate to see the relationships we’ve

built stop growing.So it’s hard to let go, and even

harder if a series finale lets usdown. When the cast of “Sein-feld” reunited on “Curb Your En-thusiasm,” all viewers could talkaboutwas how bad the “Seinfeld”finale had been — 12 years earlier.Some “Battlestar Galactica” fans

GAIL PENNINGTON • Post-Dispatch Television Critic > gpennington@post-dispatch.com

3 longtime dramas are signing off‘Lost’ faces the most pressure to produce a satisfying finale.

THE FINALES

‘Lost’When • 6-8 p.m. Sunday(retrospective); 8-10:30p.m. (final episode); 11:05p.m.-midnight “JimmyKimmel” special.Where • ABC (Channel 30)

‘24’When • 7-9 p.m. MondayWhere • Fox (Channel 2)

‘Law&Order’When • 9-10 p.m. MondayWhere • NBC (Channel 5)

MIDWESTERN SPINDance St. Louis directorMichael Uthoff hopesSpring to Dance festivalwill encourage localcompanies. PAGE D3See PENNINGTON • Page D4

Thedie is cast, the ax has fallen andthe broadcast networks’ fall schedulesare set.Now,all that remains is towaitfor a first look at the newseries, aneclecticmixture of safe and ambitious,forward-looking andbackward-think-ing.Here,network bynetwork, is arecap of lastweek’s announcementsto advertisers inNewYork.

GAIL PENNINGTON • gpennington@post-dispatch.com

Networksmixnewseries,oldstandbysABCABChas foundmixed results inthe post-“Lost”erawith suchhigh-concept series as“TheRiver.”But even though soapy“Revenge”and“Scandal”havebeenmore successful,ABC isn’tgiving uponout-there fare for fall.In the newdrama“666Park

Avenue,”Midwesternersmoveinto a haunted apartment buildingownedbyTerryO’Quinn (“Lost”)andVanessaWilliams. In“LastResort,”Capt.AndreBraugher pi-lots a rogue submarine to an exoticisland.And in the comedy“The

Othello

XX

XX

X

Iago

Cassio

ACT 3

Desdemona

Bianca

Emilia

Roderigo

Brabantio

Lady in

waiting to Wife of

Cast of characters

Mistress

of

Friend of

Pawn

to

Inlove

with

Wife ofEnsig

n toand

angry wit

h

Jealou

sof

Father

of

ACT 1

ACT 2

ACT 4

ACT 5

THE END

Othello, a great general ofVenice, and Desdemona, anoblewoman, elope. They knowher father won't let them marrybecause Othello is from Africa.

Roderigo and Iago run to tell Brabantio aboutthe elopement. Roderigo wanted to marryDesdemona, and Iago says he’ll help. Iagohates Othello because he promoted MichaelCassio over him, and also claims Othellocarried on with his wife. Maybe Iago doesn'tneed a reason. Maybe he’s simply evil.

Called before the Duke toexplain themselves, Othelloand Desdemona freely admittheir love for each other.

1

2

3

The Duke allows their marriage to stand, thensends Othello to Cyprus to fight the Turks. Ofcourse he may take his bride with him! Iago,Emilia, Cassio and Roderigo will go, too.

4Storms at seawipe out theTurkish fleet.Welcome toCyprus!

5

Cassio can't handle hisliquor, so Iago gets himdrunk to make it easy forRoderigo to pick a fight withhim. He wants Cassio dead!

6

It's a big fight but no one iskilled. Iago hems and haws,then “admits” Cassio startedit. How he wishes he didn'thave to say so! Othello firesCassio and promotes Iago tolieutenant.

7

Cassio asksDesdemona toplead his casewith Othello.Iago makes sureOthello seesthem together.

8

Iago drops more hints. Shelied to her father, didn'tshe? But don’t jump toconclusions, he tellsOthello, oozing sympathy.Beware of “the green-eyedmonster,” jealousy.

9

Desdemona accidentally drops ahandkerchief embroidered withstrawberries. Othello gave it toher. Emilia picks up the hankiebecause she knows Iago wants it.She can’t imagine why, though.

10

Iago plants the hankie in Cassio’s room,telling Othello Cassio has it. Then Cassio givesit to Bianca, a courtesan who loves him.

11

On Othello’s orders, Iago agrees to killCassio. But, Iago says, DON’T kill Desdemona… and plants the seed of an idea.

12

Iago gets Cassio to talk about Bianca whileOthello’s nearby. Othello thinks he’s talkingabout Desdemona as if she were a harlot!

13 Bianca shows up with the hankie — andOthello has his “proof” of infidelity! Iagomanipulated everyone.

14

Roderigo tries to killCassio again, but Cassiowounds him instead.

15

Pretending to breakup the fight, Iagomurders Roderigoand wounds Cassio!

16

Othello goes toDesdemona in herbed and accuses her.Swearing he’s wrong,she pleads for herlife. He smothers herwith her pillow asEmilia bursts in.

17

Emilia accusesher husband ofmastermindingthe whole tragedy.Enraged, Iago stabshis wife to death,swearing he will neverspeak again. But Cassiowill punish him.

18Othello stabshimself anddies, kissingDesdemona.He begs to beremembered as“one that lovednot wisely, buttoo well.”

19

#$@%!

BY JUDITH NEWMARK • Post-Dispatch Theater Critic > jnewmark@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8243GRAPHIC BY BUZZMACHINE STUDIOS • jtelford@buzzmachinestudios.com

‘OTHELLO’SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL ST. LOUIS PRESENTS

“Othello,” the towering tragedy of a great man destroyed by jealousy, tells one ofWilliam Shakespeare’s most straightforward stories. The 12th annual productionthat Shakespeare Festival St. Louis has mounted in Forest Park, “Othello”continues a summertime tradition of classics, picnics and starlight that drew arecord-breaking audience of 63,000 last year. Here’s everything you need to knowfor this summer — including the timeless tale.Where • Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park, near the Art MuseumWhen • Previews Wednesday and Thursday; opening Friday-June 17 (exceptTuesdays). Preshow entertainment at 6:30 nightly; showtime at 8 p.m.Seating • Bring a blanket or lawn chair, or rent a chair ($7-$10).Food • Bring a picnic or buy food from the vendors. Other vendors sell souvenirs.How much • Free. Donations are welcome.More info • sfstl.com

Cast,directorandconductordiscussthe challengesofOperaTheatre ofSt.Louis’“SweeneyTodd.”Page D6

“Canada”isawelcomereturn forauthorRichardFord.Page D9

.com A&E

1 M

STLTODAY.COM/GO • AE@POST-DISPATCH.COM • SUNDAY • 05.20.2012 • D •

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See PENNINGTON • Page D4

ILLYRIA

Shipwreck on the shores of Illyria! Viola survives but her twin brother, Sebastian, is missing. She hopes he somehow survived as well. It would be a miracle.

Sir Toby BelchOlivia’s

lusty uncle

Sir Andrew Aguecheek

Toby’s foppish friend

OliviaIllyrian countess,

mourning forher brother

MalvolioOlivia’s

pompous steward

MariaOlivia's clever

lady-in-waiting

FesteA clown

AntonioA seaman

ViolaA perfectly

marvelous girl

SebastianViola’s pretty

marvelous twin

OrsinoDuke of Illyria and hopeless

romantic

TWELFTHWilliam Shakespeare’s

If music be the food of love, play on.

Cast of characters 1

A young woman isn’t safe on her own in a strange place. Viola disguises herself as a boy, names herself “Cesario,” and goes to find the duke, Orsino.

2Orsino is obsessed with Olivia, who won’t even talk to him. But he likes this charming newcomer at once and makes “him” a page. “Cesario” takes to the Duke, too — AT FIRST SIGHT. But Orsino doesn’t know she’s a girl — and sends her to Olivia with another marriage proposal. What a job!

3Determined to mourn her brother for seven years, Olivia won’t even listen to the clown, Feste. She won’t marry anybody! But she agrees to hear the page — and falls for “Cesario” AT FIRST SIGHT!

4Once “Cesario” leaves, Olivia hands Malvolio a ring to give him. Run fast and catch up! Olivia pretends “Cesario” gave the ring to her and she’s sending it back. What a lie! She wants to give “Cesario” an excuse to come back to her.

5

Sebastian did survive the shipwreck. He and Antonio, a seaman who saved his life, made it to Illyria, too. But Sebastian thinks his twin sister, Viola, died at sea.

6 Sir Toby and Maria always have fun at Olivia’s house. So does Sir Andrew, the man Toby wants Olivia to marry. But Malvolio doesn’t approve of their drinking and singing — Oh, no, he certainly does not! After Malvolio scolds them, Maria tells her pals she knows how to get back at him.

7 Maria forges a letter that makes it sound as if Olivia secretly loves Malvolio. She and her pals plant it in just the right spot.

8 Meanwhile, Feste sings to comfort lovesick Orsino, who talks to “Cesario” about his feelings. “Cesario” also has lots to say about love. He learned from his “sister.”

9

Malvolio finds the forged letter. He’s thrilled! He’ll do everything he thinks Olivia wants him to do — even though she wants him to wear weird clothes and smile all time.

10The next time “Cesario” visits, Olivia doesn’t even try to lie. She admits it — she’s in love!

11Sir Andrew is ready to give up, but Toby tells him to be a man. Challenge that page to a duel! That’ll impress Olivia.

12Antonio has powerful enemies in Illyria. He gives Sebastian his wallet and they make plans to eat later.

13Olivia is surprised to see Malvolio, all smiles in yellow stockings and crisscross garters. He doesn’t make any sense, either. Poor Malvolio must have lost his mind!

14

Andrew challenges “Cesario,” but they’re both too scared to fight. When Antonio sees what’s happening, he rushes in to help “Sebastian.” He wins but gets arrested, so he asks for his money back. “Cesario” doesn’t know what he means. Who does he think she is. Wait! Could it be?

15 When Olivia finds Sebastian with Feste, she’s so happy to see “Cesario,” she professes her love! And Sebastian falls AT FIRST SIGHT! Let’s get married!

16 Disguised as a priest, Feste visits “insane” Malvolio in the cell where Maria and Toby put him “for his own protection.” Even Toby starts to think they went too far.

17 As “Cesario” tells Orsino how Antonio helped in the fight, Olivia is relieved to see her new “husband.” She couldn’t find him! “What are you talking about?” “Cesario” asks. We aren’t married!

18

Andrew stumbles in, bleeding. “Cesario” just wounded him and Toby in another fight. Impossible! “Cesario” is standing right there!

19As soon as Sebastian rushes in to apologize to his bride for hurting her kinsman, the twins stare at each other in joy!

20Sebastian has married Olivia! Toby has married Maria! Orsino will marry Viola as soon as she puts on a dress!

21Malvolio doesn’t marry anybody. He storms o� by himself. Feste sings a reminder of how life and the theater go: “We’ll strive to please you every day.”

22

? ? ?

?? ?

1 M

STLTODAY.COM/GO • AE@POST-DISPATCH.COM • SUNDAY • 05.19.2013 • D •.com A&E

“Twelfth Night” has all you could want in a Shakespeare comedy: cross-dressing, mixed-up twins, a wise clown and plenty of weddings at the end. Rick Dildine — the executive and artistic director of Shakespeare Festival St. Louis —

directs “Twelfth Night,” the festival’s 13th annual show under the stars in Forest Park. Here’s everything you need to know to enjoy yourself — including the story.

IF YOU GOWhere • Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park, near the St. Louis Art Museum

When • 8 p.m. Previews are May 22 and 23, runs May 24-June 16, every night but Tuesdays. Preshow entertainment starts at 6:30 p.m.How much • Free More info • sfstl.com

Seating • Bring a blanket or lawn chair, or rent a chair ($7-10)Food • Bring your favorite picnic, or buy food from the vendors. Other vendors sell souvenirs.

See more Shakespeare pages at stltoday.com/shakespeare.

Robin Williams, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Michael J. Fox return to network

TV this fall. D3

St. Louis native Ryan McAdams comes home to conduct “Pirates of

Penzance.” D8

In “The Outsider,” tennis star Jimmy Connors points fi ngers at former

friends and rivals. D9

INSIDE

TEXT BY JUDITH NEWMARKPost-Dispatch Theater Criticjnewmark@post-dispatch.com

GRAPHICS BY BUZZMACHINE STUDIOSwww.buzzmachinestudios.comjtelford@buzzmachinestudios.com

ILLYRIA

Shipwreck on the shores of Illyria! Viola survives but her twin brother, Sebastian, is missing. She hopes he somehow survived as well. It would be a miracle.

Sir Toby BelchOlivia’s

lusty uncle

Sir Andrew Aguecheek

Toby’s foppish friend

OliviaIllyrian countess,

mourning forher brother

MalvolioOlivia’s

pompous steward

MariaOlivia's clever

lady-in-waiting

FesteA clown

AntonioA seaman

ViolaA perfectly

marvelous girl

SebastianViola’s pretty

marvelous twin

OrsinoDuke of Illyria and hopeless

romantic

TWELFTHWilliam Shakespeare’s

If music be the food of love, play on.

Cast of characters 1

A young woman isn’t safe on her own in a strange place. Viola disguises herself as a boy, names herself “Cesario,” and goes to find the duke, Orsino.

2Orsino is obsessed with Olivia, who won’t even talk to him. But he likes this charming newcomer at once and makes “him” a page. “Cesario” takes to the Duke, too — AT FIRST SIGHT. But Orsino doesn’t know she’s a girl — and sends her to Olivia with another marriage proposal. What a job!

3Determined to mourn her brother for seven years, Olivia won’t even listen to the clown, Feste. She won’t marry anybody! But she agrees to hear the page — and falls for “Cesario” AT FIRST SIGHT!

4Once “Cesario” leaves, Olivia hands Malvolio a ring to give him. Run fast and catch up! Olivia pretends “Cesario” gave the ring to her and she’s sending it back. What a lie! She wants to give “Cesario” an excuse to come back to her.

5

Sebastian did survive the shipwreck. He and Antonio, a seaman who saved his life, made it to Illyria, too. But Sebastian thinks his twin sister, Viola, died at sea.

6 Sir Toby and Maria always have fun at Olivia’s house. So does Sir Andrew, the man Toby wants Olivia to marry. But Malvolio doesn’t approve of their drinking and singing — Oh, no, he certainly does not! After Malvolio scolds them, Maria tells her pals she knows how to get back at him.

7 Maria forges a letter that makes it sound as if Olivia secretly loves Malvolio. She and her pals plant it in just the right spot.

8 Meanwhile, Feste sings to comfort lovesick Orsino, who talks to “Cesario” about his feelings. “Cesario” also has lots to say about love. He learned from his “sister.”

9

Malvolio finds the forged letter. He’s thrilled! He’ll do everything he thinks Olivia wants him to do — even though she wants him to wear weird clothes and smile all time.

10The next time “Cesario” visits, Olivia doesn’t even try to lie. She admits it — she’s in love!

11Sir Andrew is ready to give up, but Toby tells him to be a man. Challenge that page to a duel! That’ll impress Olivia.

12Antonio has powerful enemies in Illyria. He gives Sebastian his wallet and they make plans to eat later.

13Olivia is surprised to see Malvolio, all smiles in yellow stockings and crisscross garters. He doesn’t make any sense, either. Poor Malvolio must have lost his mind!

14

Andrew challenges “Cesario,” but they’re both too scared to fight. When Antonio sees what’s happening, he rushes in to help “Sebastian.” He wins but gets arrested, so he asks for his money back. “Cesario” doesn’t know what he means. Who does he think she is. Wait! Could it be?

15 When Olivia finds Sebastian with Feste, she’s so happy to see “Cesario,” she professes her love! And Sebastian falls AT FIRST SIGHT! Let’s get married!

16 Disguised as a priest, Feste visits “insane” Malvolio in the cell where Maria and Toby put him “for his own protection.” Even Toby starts to think they went too far.

17 As “Cesario” tells Orsino how Antonio helped in the fight, Olivia is relieved to see her new “husband.” She couldn’t find him! “What are you talking about?” “Cesario” asks. We aren’t married!

18

Andrew stumbles in, bleeding. “Cesario” just wounded him and Toby in another fight. Impossible! “Cesario” is standing right there!

19As soon as Sebastian rushes in to apologize to his bride for hurting her kinsman, the twins stare at each other in joy!

20Sebastian has married Olivia! Toby has married Maria! Orsino will marry Viola as soon as she puts on a dress!

21Malvolio doesn’t marry anybody. He storms o� by himself. Feste sings a reminder of how life and the theater go: “We’ll strive to please you every day.”

22

? ? ?

?? ?

1 M

STLTODAY.COM/GO • AE@POST-DISPATCH.COM • SUNDAY • 05.19.2013 • D •.com A&E

“Twelfth Night” has all you could want in a Shakespeare comedy: cross-dressing, mixed-up twins, a wise clown and plenty of weddings at the end. Rick Dildine — the executive and artistic director of Shakespeare Festival St. Louis —

directs “Twelfth Night,” the festival’s 13th annual show under the stars in Forest Park. Here’s everything you need to know to enjoy yourself — including the story.

IF YOU GOWhere • Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park, near the St. Louis Art Museum

When • 8 p.m. Previews are May 22 and 23, runs May 24-June 16, every night but Tuesdays. Preshow entertainment starts at 6:30 p.m.How much • Free More info • sfstl.com

Seating • Bring a blanket or lawn chair, or rent a chair ($7-10)Food • Bring your favorite picnic, or buy food from the vendors. Other vendors sell souvenirs.

See more Shakespeare pages at stltoday.com/shakespeare.

Robin Williams, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Michael J. Fox return to network

TV this fall. D3

St. Louis native Ryan McAdams comes home to conduct “Pirates of

Penzance.” D8

In “The Outsider,” tennis star Jimmy Connors points fi ngers at former

friends and rivals. D9

INSIDE

TEXT BY JUDITH NEWMARKPost-Dispatch Theater Criticjnewmark@post-dispatch.com

GRAPHICS BY BUZZMACHINE STUDIOSwww.buzzmachinestudios.comjtelford@buzzmachinestudios.com

STLTODAY.COM/GO • AE@POST-DISPATCH.COM • SUNDAY • 05.11.2014 • D

TV critic Gail Pennington looks at which series are safe, which are dead and which are “on the bubble.” PAGE D4

Jo Nesbø breaks away from his detective Harry Hole for “The Son.” PAGE D9

.com

A&E 1 M

Cast of charactersTEXT BY JUDITH NEWMARKPost-Dispatch Theater Criticjnewmark@post-dispatch.com

GRAPHICS BY BUZZMACHINE STUDIOSwww.buzzmachinestudios.comjtelford@buzzmachinestudios.com

King Henry IVHal and John’s

father

Prince HalHenry’s reckless

son and heir

Hotspurof the noble

Percy family, who opposes the king

KateHotspur’s

wife

Sir John Falsta�

A fat old rascal

Mistress Quickly

A barkeep

Prince Johnof Lancaster, Hal’s younger

brother

King Henry IV wants to lead a crusade to Jerusalem. Maybe he feels bad about the way he got rid of the last king, Richard II.

1 But there’s trouble at the borders. Hotspur, the dashing hero of the Percy clan, fought for England — but he won’t send the king his prisoners. He wants the king to ransom his wife’s brother, a prisoner of the border wars. The king wishes he had a loyal, valiant son like Hotspur!

2 Prince Hal, who IS his son, is hanging around Mistress Quickly’s tavern, drinking with bad companions — especially Sir John Falsta�. They love to kid each other.

3 Hal even pretends to join Falsta� and his no-good friends in a robbery. Actually, he and a pal hide to turn the tables on Falsta�. They “attack” Falsta� and rob the robbers. Hal can’t wait to hear the lies Falsta� will invent to explain what happened.

4

Hotspur finds out that many of his allies aren’t coming — not even his own father. Fine! Fiery Hotspur will defy both the odds and the king!

8 King Henry and the rebels confront each other at Shrewsbury. They all used to be friends when they deposed King Richard. The king can’t sleep. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown!

7 Kate, Hotspur’s loving wife, senses trouble ahead. No matter how she asks, he won’t tell her what he knows: War is near. The Percy clan and their allies want to depose King Henry. Hotspur is trying to protect her, but Kate worries. She knows his bold nature too well.

6 Hal knows he’s going too far. But he says the worse he seems now, the better he will look when he cleans up his act. One of these days he’ll fight Hotspur.

5

The king has a much bigger force. Besides both his sons and many noblemen, he can also “count on” Falsta� and his friends. War can bring glory and money!

9 Prince Hal and Prince John fight bravely side by side. Hal saves his father from the sword of a rebel.

10 11 12Hal and Hotspur meet on the field, knowing one must die. Hal slays Hotspur.

Falsta�, who’s “playing dead” to avoid battle, sees it all. He picks up Hotspur’s body and claims to have killed him. Nobody buys it.

The king awakens and sees Hal wearing the crown! Does Hal wish his father were dead?

16 Believing his father is dead, Hal thinks about the heavy burden he just inherited. He puts on the crown.

15 14 13Peace follows the victory at Shrewsbury, but the king falls ill. By the time Hal reaches the royal bedchamber, his father is unconscious.

Back in London, Mistress Quickly wants to have Falsta� arrested. He owes her a lot of money. But the old rogue manages to charm her.

Of course not, Hal says, comforting the sick king. Henry warns his son that it’s hard to be king. Begging God to forgive him for Richard’s death, Henry dies.

17 It’s an ill wind that blows no good! Now that Hal is king, Falsta� is counting on his old pal to make him rich and powerful. Look, here he comes now!

18 19 20But Hal tells Falsta� to leave him alone. “Dream not that I am the thing I was,” he tells Falsta� and the nobles. His wild days behind him, Hal will strive to rule well.

As Falsta� and his buddies are hauled o� to prison, Prince John foretells a great reign for his brother. He predicts that King Henry V will lead the English army all the way to France.

HENRY IVA reckless son changes his ways

A ruler leads his band of brothers to victory

henry IV

henry V

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S

TEXT BY JUDITH NEWMARK • jnewmark@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8243GRAPHICS BY BUZZMACHINE STUDIOS • www.buzzmachinestudios.com > jtelford@buzzmachinestudios.com

It’s the biggest Shakespeare Festival St. Louis yet. Two productions will be mounted — two productions that, together, tell the story of England’s King Henry V. Jim Butz, who dazzled festival audience with his portrayals of Marc Antony in “Julius Caesar” and of Hamlet, stars as the protagonist, fi rst playing reckless Prince Hal in “Henry IV” and then the title character in “Henry V.” Michael James Reed plays the title role, Hal’s father, in “Henry IV.”

Does this seem confusing? Maybe. For one thing, three of the main characters — two kings and their noble foe Hotspur — are all named Henry. But Shakespeare’s history plays make sense. They may not be the last word in accuracy — but for beautiful language and the fl ow of history as we have come to recall it, there’s nothing better. These plays speak for themselves. And if cartoon versions help lay out their stories, here they are.

See the story of “Henry V,” Page D3.

‘HENRY IV’ AND ‘HENRY V’WHERE: FOREST PARK • WHEN: MAY 17 THROUGH JUNE 15 • HOW MUCH: FREE • FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL ON PAGE D3.

• See Shakespeare pages from previous years at stltoday.com/shakespeare • Visit the cartoon wall on the grounds of the Shakespeare Festival.• Watch a video of theater critic Judith Newmark and Fox 2’s Angela Hutti talking about this year’s festival at stltoday.com/go.

2014 JUNE 12-15

METROPOLIS, ILSUPERMANCELEBRATION

05.11.2014 • SUNDAY • M 1 ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • D3

Cast of charactersTEXT BY JUDITH NEWMARKPost-Dispatch Theater Criticjnewmark@post-dispatch.com

GRAPHICS BY BUZZMACHINE STUDIOSwww.buzzmachinestudios.comjtelford@buzzmachinestudios.com

Henry VKing of England

FluellenA Welsh captain

PistolA lowlife

Nell QuicklyA barkeep

who marries Pistol

Louis the Dauphin

Heir to the French throne

KatherineLouis’ sister

TheChorus

TOURGUIDE

THEEND

O for a Muse of Fire! Here is the famous story of King Henry V and his band of brothers. The Chorus will be our guide.

1 Henry’s advisers assure him that he should rule France because his grandmother came from French royalty. It’s pretty complicated — and not everyone agrees.

2 The French don’t! Louis sends Henry a message to forget it — with a “consolation prize.” Louis sends tennis balls!

3 What an insult! Henry is sure to attack now. But the French bribe three English noblemen to kill the king right away.

4

With war at hand, England’s youth are on fire. Remembering the king’s wild youth, Louis thinks it will be a romp, but Henry has changed a lot since then.

8 Sobbing, Nell tells everybody

friends remember him

7 Henry pretends he doesn’t know about the plot — but he does and sentences the plotters to death.

6mad at one another because popular Nell Quickly could marry only one of them: Pistol. But they calm

5

The English cross the channel and besiege Harfleur. Not everyone thirsts for battle. Fluellen has to force Pistol and his thieving friends to fight.

9 Henry leads his forces “once more into the breach,” crying “God for Harry, England and St. George!” The game’s afoot!

10 11 12Henry promises not to rob or hurt anyone if Harfleur doesn’t resist. If it does, he swears to destroy the town. Harfleur surrenders. But this is the Hundred Years War, and no one battle can end it.

In the French court, Katherine practices speaking English. It could come in handy.

As the fight rages, Pistol takes a prisoner but behaves like a thief, not a soldier. The English threaten to kill their French prisoners but are interrupted before they can. The French raid the English camp and slaughter the boys who guard the supplies. Both actions defy the laws of chivalry.

The battle is at hand. Henry tells the soldiers they are lucky that so few of them are there — it will make victory mean more! “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers” will always be remembered on St. Crispin’s Day, the anniversary of Agincourt.

1516 14 13Henry’s awake, too. Disguised as an ordinary soldier called “Harry Le Roy,” he moves among his men, cheering them up, and finds solitude to pray.

As the war goes on, the English are sick, hungry and outnumbered 6 to 1. The night before the Battle of Agincourt, the dauphin feels confident, exulting in French superiority. Even his horse is heroic!

By the end of the bloody day, the French have lost 10,000 men. The English have lost fewer than 30. Deo gratias Anglia! After the battle, Henry relaxes and jokes with his men.

Fluellen is fed up with Pistol’s loose ways, and Pistol doesn’t like how things are going. His friends were hanged for theft, and his Nell died in London. He’ll return there and see how he can get by, claiming that his wounds from Fluellen’s cudgel are battle scars. Ordinary lives go on…

1817 19 20And so do great ones. Henry returns to France to unite the two kingdoms and to woo Princess Katherine. Her English is terrible, and so is his French. But a kiss is a kiss in any language!

The Chorus returns to tell us that Henry, “this star of England,” created a kingdom that was “the world’s best garden” as long as it lasted. Alas, it didn’t last for very long.

HENRY VA reckless son changes his ways

A ruler leads his band of brothers to victory

henry IV

henry V

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S

TEXT BY JUDITH NEWMARK • jnewmark@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8243GRAPHICS BY BUZZMACHINE STUDIOS • www.buzzmachinestudios.com > jtelford@buzzmachinestudios.com

As always, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis presents its big productions in Forest Park’s Shakespeare Glen, near the St. Louis Art Museum. But this year, with two productions to mount, the schedule is di� erent. “Henry IV” opens May 17, and “Henry V” opens May 24. After “Henry V” opens, they will play on alternate nights. The shows start at 8 p.m. Or you can enjoy the whole story at once with double features on June 7 and 14. On those days, the show starts at 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit sfstl.com online.

To make the most of the experience, think ahead. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, or rent a chair. You can bring a picnic, order a box supper in advance or buy food from vendors. Arrive early to pick a good spot, shop for souvenirs and enjoy the “green show,” eclectic entertainment that starts at 6:30 p.m. (On double-feature days, the green show comes between the two plays.) Then join Henry, his friends and foes in the story of a wild youth who changes his ways and leads a band of brothers to victory.

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