Dmae Roberts just got back from another trip to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. This season has been one of the best ever.  She highly recommends taking a trip if you can to see the shows still running.

Anthony Heald as Shylock Photo: OSF

“Merchant of Venice”, directed by Bill Rauch and starring Anthony Heald as Shylock is a magnificent indictment on the cost of prejudice. Set both in contemporary and Elizabethan times, it rings true to today’s issues while still balancing the comedy and the tragic elements of this fine Shakespeare play. “Merchant of Venice” ends October 10th,  so there’s only a few more weeks to see this play. Listen below as Heald deconstructs his speech as the famed character Shylock in Shakespeare’sMerchant of Venice at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. This is a rare window into the actor’s process.

Two other productions stand out. “Ruined”, by Lynn Nottage was a searing and deeply affecting play about the rape of women in the Congo. The performances were brilliant and moving. The music pumped energy and hope into poignant, heartbreaking situations.  It’s a must-see for everyone. The show runs until October 31st.