Bedlam presents Stephan Wolfert's solo show in which he weaves personal stories of his military service with some of Shakespeare’s most famous speeches. More…
After six years in the Army, Stephan Wolfert hopped off a train deep in the mountains of Montana and found himself at a performance of 'Richard III' that changed his life forever. In this two-act, one-man show, Wolfert examines his own experience pre- and post-service. The military recruits citizens and trains them to kill, but what does the "de-cruit" process look like? How do we re-learn to live together?
See it if you like to see the world thru another's eyes. Wolfert (w/Tucker's help) makes you deeply feel his triumphs and sorrows. Shakespeare shines.
Don't see it if you like light entertainment. CH is sad (even tragic) material. But to hear WS's words used powerfully in modern context is thrilling.
See it if Wolfert's heartfelt solo play about his experiences in the army interwoven with Shakespearean excerpts leaves one both dazed & unsettled
Don't see it if Shakespeare's prose not readily integrated with Wolfert's military exploits thus confusing at times Tucker's manic pacing also harms intent
See it if you or someone you know has ever served in the military, you enjoy one person shows, you like shows that touch on poignant current issues
Don't see it if the topics of PTSD & the military don't interest you, you don't like one person shows, you're not in favor of second act interactions
See it if You want a personal story combined w/history & theatre exploring the training of the military & the harsh transition back to regular life.
Don't see it if You're not interested in military stories or depictions of war. You don't like one-performer shows.
See it if You want to see a fantastic performance about an important topic.
Don't see it if If you don't want to think. It is a serious play about combat veterans and their outlook and problems.
Also After the intermission there is a chat with the audience and the perfo... Read more Read less
See it if you want to see one of the best one-man shows of the season. Wolfert takes us on a captivating journey based on his own experience.
Don't see it if you do not like one-man plays.
See it if you'd enjoy a monologue that tells the true story of one man's struggle to reintegrate after military service, followed by group therapy.
Don't see it if you don't want to hear about problems that veterans experience and you don't want to sit in a circle and share for the second act.
Also This is a worthy effort to highlight an issue that not everyone wants ... Read more Read less
See it if you want to see a seamless interweaving of perfectly rhythmic Shakespeare with intensely personal and controversial material on War and PTSD
Don't see it if you dont like personal stories, dont like emotional performances including tears, you prefer not to hear the reality of the cost of war.
Also Kline in Hamlet? yup, as Henry V? best ever. Branagh MacBeth? yup,... Read more Read less
See it if you want to see one of the better solo performances to come along in quite a while. It could be further edited, though.
Don't see it if solo performances are not your thing.
See it if You want to see an intense, informative, riveting great performance. You want to hear about what a person went through in the military
Don't see it if You are not interested in anything military. You don' t like a one man performance. You can't handle the truth.
See it if you want to be absorbed in a one man show, by a talented and forceful actor, that speaks to our society.
Don't see it if you dislike reference to Shakespeare and dislike one man shows.
See it if You're interested in the emotional and mental toll from military service. You enjoy strong, well-curated one man shows.
Don't see it if You dislike autobiography mixed with "lecture." You want a set rather than location defined by sound and gesture
See it if You enjoy dynamic one-person shows about a veteran's life experiences - personal storytelling interwoven with relevant Shakespearean texts.
Don't see it if You don't like shows without sets or props, with the magic coming only from the brilliance of the performer and the text.
See it if you are open to a bravura, high-speed performance that is both personal and universal, connects ancient history to modern soldiering
Don't see it if you have PTSD; are sensitive to war imagery and profanity; not for the faint of heart; want lightweight entertainment
Also 'Act II" involves the audience in a 'sharing circle' not unlike a supp... Read more Read less
See it if you want a good story and a good cry, coupled with a history of war.
Don't see it if you are easily offended by war or traumatic descriptions. It's a tear jerker for sure
See it if you like one man shows with a relevant theme
Don't see it if you have no interest in the world around you
See it if you are interested in the effects of war, as represented in Shakespeare and as experienced by combat veterans.
Don't see it if you don't like solo shows and have little interest in veterans' issues.
Also The second part of the show is an extended group discussion between th... Read more Read less
See it if You've ever said "Thank you for your service" to someone in the military. They give more than service and we can never thank them properly.
Don't see it if You don't think a one man show can tell an epic tale. You'd be wrong this time.
See it if you're interested in the military, veterans' issues or American military history.
Don't see it if you don't want to participate in a second act that is part audience participation, part group therapy session.
See it if you want to see something relevant, to veterans and all of us. See it even if you generally would not choose a one-man show.
Don't see it if you limit yourself to big musicals.
See it if You want an energetic, engaging one man show that gives a gritty look into what it means to be a veteran. He doesn't hold back.
Don't see it if You don't like breaking the fourth wall, don't care about veteran/military, or don't want to engage in a post-show discussion.
See it if you're interested in the military, Shakespeare, confession, talkbacks that fully engage, and one-man shows done with dexterity & generosity.
Don't see it if you want big production values, a linear story, and more than one person on stage.
See it if PTSD and veterans
Don't see it if one ,an shows, shakespeare
See it if A spell-binding tale of family abuse and military psychological trauma. Play adds new depths to Shakespeare's writing.
Don't see it if You're worn down by an assault on your senses that makes you think and feel.