Shakespeare and the Alchemy of Gender NYC Reviews and Tickets

86%

(13 Reviews)

Positive

92%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Great acting, Original, Intelligent, Thought-provoking, Great writing

About the Show

Lisa Wolpe’s new solo show celebrates the enchanting power of performing cross-gender Shakespeare.

In this autobiographical solo show, Wolpe plays Hamlet, Richard III, Shylock, and other great male characters created by the Bard, while also incorporating tales from her own dramatic life. Wolpe, the Producing Artistic Director of the all-female LA Women's Shakespeare Company, is an activist as well as a celebrated actress and director. Her work seeks to liberate us from the gender box of expectations. Presented in repertory with 'Macbeth3.'

Member Reviews (13)

Original, Riveting, Intelligent, Great acting, Great writing

See it if You want an expertly crafted play that weaves Shakespeare into a memoir that never feels narcissistic. You're familiar w/Shakespeare.

Don't see it if You don't know anything about Shakespeare's characters. You don't like memoir plays. You don't like intimate venues w/the actor very close.

Great acting, Edgy, Thought-provoking, Masterful, Emotional

See it if to see an expert interpretation of Shakespeare's words interwoven into real life's tragedies & joys. Lisa Volpe is amazing!

Don't see it if You cannot accept gender transparency in the interpretation of Shakepeare's works. Talk about the Holicaust horrors makes you uncomfortable.

Critic Reviews (5)

"As a piece of theater, it feels more like a lecture, delivered with the house lights up but curiously absent of intimacy...The alchemy of gender the show’s title mentions is more evident in Ms. Wolpe’s stories than in her channeling the words of Richard III or Henry V...There are interesting glimmers throughout the show. More often, though, there is a self-help vibe to the proceedings."
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“Ms. Wolpe demonstrates a fluid physicality and a soothing vocal expressiveness. Wolpe quite adeptly offers rich characterizations of some of those most illustrious roles. In addition, she seamlessly switches to delivering revelatory reminiscences and concise analysis of the plays with elan that recalls Spalding Gray’s monologues. The combination of these elements yields to a wonderful performance.”
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For a previous production

"It is impossible not to be touched by her heartfelt performance. The audience gains insight into what makes Shakespeare’s male characters so liberating for her to play and how her slowly unraveling family tragedies helped reveal Shakespeare as a humanist…Even for audiences who have never experienced similar situations to Wolpe, there is something that appeals to all...It’s like group therapy, where you leave enlightened and liberated."
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For a previous production

"‘Shakespeare & The Alchemy of Gender’ does not only celebrate Shakespeare's work, it is also a chronicle of the fascinating and tragic history of Wolpe's family. By interweaving scenes from Shakespeare's plays with events in the history of her family, Lisa Wolpe shows the liberating power of Shakespeare's words…Wolpe's mesmerizing performance celebrates Shakespeare's language and shows the humanity of his writing...A celebration of Shakespeare's humanism, love and life."
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For a previous production

"Wolpe brilliantly owns the stage and each of Shakespeare's male characters that she brings to life are done so with the power of reconnection…It is Wolpe's spin and understanding of the texts as well as the characters that make each scene she does have depth and purpose…It’s a tall order for any performer to be writer, actor and director of their one woman show but Wolpe was clearly undaunted by the task."
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