Imagine watching the Royal Shakespeare Company perform the Bard’s high-spirited romantic comedy “The Two Gentelmen of Verona” in Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon. How about seeing Benedict Cumberbatch play Frankenstein at London’s National Theatre or the Bolshoi Ballet — the world’s oldest dance company — execute its classical repertoires. Now picture viewing these stellar international shows without leaving the island. That’s the idea behind Vashon Theatre’s lastest cinematic series of live, world-class performances rebroadcast on Vashon’s silver screen.
“As an arts community, Vashon is a natural fit for these live theater broadcasts,” said Eileen Wolcott, owner of Vashon Theatre.
Apparently Vashon is also lucky. Only a few select theaters have received the rights for rebroadcasting, which was also a fortunate turn of events for Wolcott. Like other theater owners nationwide, Wolcott saw a significant downturn in ticket sales this past summer.
“It was a 30-year low for all movie theaters,” Wolcott said. “I heard the cause was that the summer movies were bad, but people weren’t at the good ones either. Times are changing. We had to change, too.”
For several years Wolcott and her manager Raechel Ehlers have worked to manifest a dream of broadcasting shows from the Metropolitan Opera. But success has eluded them. So when Wolcott’s former employee Peter Alexander came for a summer visit and heard about the duo’s aspiration, he suggested they apply to host the theatrical global broadcasts.
Vashon Theatre won the licensing rights and showed “Monty Python Live (mostly)” as a trial run in July.
“It was hugely successful,” Wolcott said, “so we thought this seemed like a great way to go.”
First out of the official blocks will be the theater’s exclusive screening of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.”
Shakespeare’s plays have been performed in Stratford since the time he first penned them. In 1961, the Royal Shakespeare Company opened in Shakespeare’s hometown to pioneer contemporary approaches to the bard’s plays. This will be the first time that “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” has been performed as a full production on the Royal Shakespeare Theatre stage in 45 years.
Following close on the heels of Shakespeare comes the Greek playwright Euripedes and his powerful tragedy “Medea.” From the stage at the Olivier Theatre in South Bank, England, Carrie Cracknell directs a new version of the classic play, adapted by Ben Power. Helen McCrory stars as the ill-fated Medea.
In addition to the regular film programming, Wolcott and Ehlers promise a compelling lineup of the recorded-live events for fall and winter, and say they are buoyed up by the change.
“We are really rejuvenated to do this new project for the theater,” Wolcott said. “Raechel and I are excited by what’s come from reinventing our programming.
Film Times
“The Two Gentlemen of Verona” will play at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, and 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21.
“Medea” will play at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, and 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28.
Tickets are $20 for general admission, $18 for juniors, seniors and students and $15 for groups of 20.
Tickets are available at the theater box office or www.vashontheatre.com.
Future listings of the special events include “Frankenstein” and “Of Mice and Men,” which will be shown in October, and the Bolshoi Ballet, scheduled for November.
