Theatre Review: Shakesbeer Changes The Theatre And Beer Game
I loved Shakesbeer, especially this round. Having become a staple of the NYC pub crawl circuit, for over 5 years, I was excited to see how Shakespeare would land in a pub. Each year, certain scenes are chosen, based on a theme, to be acted out in some of the most highly rated bars of New York. For NYC’ers, the bar scene is rowdy, fun, and an epicenter for some of the strangest, most philosophical discussions. Shakespeare was right at home.
With a theme of revolution, Shakesbeer could not have been more relevant. Yet, having a bar scene, you felt like you were watching an actual plot as Jasper’s Taphouse against Coriolanus, or meeting Titus Andronicus at The Gaf to check how social media has divided his power and family. It was absolutely riveting because it was real, and 2018 was easily incorporated into a 16 century text. It makes sense that the words of Shakespeare came to life in locales where people do, as well. I have never been to a bar without opinions being poured as much as the beer or heated debates splashing over the tables more than drips from a cocktail. Thus, Shakespeare’s ideas and snappy commentaries on political corruption, the need for citizen mobilization, and the narcissism of ruling classes were both refreshing and sadly old.
Fron a mashup of Julius Caesar and Henry VI at Perdition to, The Spanish Shakespeare, Lope De Vega’s Fuente Ovejuna, the essence of Shakespeare felt revived and more accessible to everyone. Each actor was exceptional and highly dedicated; moving amongst the crowd to incorporate all of us into ancient riots that are too relevant to today’s news cycle. Hence, why Shakespeare also felt sadly old; he was talking about the horrors of corrupt people that gain the power over everyday good ones. Unfortunately, this still happens. I could not believe how much, these actors and settings, allowed me to see that Shakespeare was writing for the workaday man and woman; those of us whose higher sense of morality is seen as our armor and weakness by those aiming for a higher monetary.
I cannot reiterate enough how wonderful Shakesbeer is as an homage to why this artist has become so legendary. People focus on how he, basically, invented a vernacular, poetic, and even grammatical style that makes him a staple to literary and linguistic studies. Yet, Shakesbeer proves the most important thing about an artist is how he turns human emotions into an understand that goes beyond region or time. Amongst the 4 cocktails or beers included, you sip and ponder why humanity does not change for the better? When will Shakespeare, truly, not be sentimentally relevant? See Shakesbeer on September 22 and September 29, and Click Here to Buy Tickets.The event is 49 dollars, and begins at Jasper’s Taphouse at 3pm; spending 45 minutes in 4 different bars. Truthfully. everyone walked away inspired and happy to have such an enriching, uniquer afternoon.
