Darryl Maximilian Robinson Recalls His 1995 And 2000 Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago Revival Stagings of William Shakespeare's "The Tempest" And Eugene Ionesco's "Rhinoceros"

REMEMBERING TWO EXCALIBER SHAKESPEARE COMPANY OF CHICAGO REVIVALS OF LITERARY CLASSICS NEAR CHINATOWN AND IN OAK PARK!
Your humble servant in The Theatre, Darryl Maximilian Robinson recollects a pair of shows which help a theatre artist to remember that it is better to try and fail at staging and performing in a great dramatic and literary masterpiece than to to be a hit in a show ( which after a sold-out, critically-praised run ) no one can remember six months after it closes.
It is better to fail with a work one truly cares about, than to succeed with a work one doesn't give a damn about.
Like the multiple mix of reviews each of them received, Darryl Maximilian Robinson, Founder of The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago, has mixed feelings regarding both his performances and direction of the 1995 ESC revival of William Shakespeare's romantic fantasy "The Tempest," in which he appeared as the Duke and the Wizard Prospero, and staged with a talented multiracial cast at The Hidden Stages Theatre of Chicago near the Chinatown neighborhood of The Windy City, and his 2000 mounting of the absurdist theatre classic Eugene Ionesco's "Rhinoceros," in which he appeared as Jean, and staged with a talented multiracial cast at The Harrison Street Galleries Studio Theatre of Oak Park, Illinois.
However, out of respect and admiration for the casts and crews of both revivals, your humble servant In The Theatre, Darryl Maximilian Robinson, will focus solely on the most positive aspects of these shows and leave it to any detractors of these shows to express their views with their own time and energy...elsewhere.
Here is an example of what was best said about the 2000 ESC revival of the play "Rhinoceros" by Eugene Ionesco:
"Oak Park's Harrison Street Studio is a stone's throw from Chicago's culturally poor West Side. Actor-director Darryl Maximilian Robinson's unflinching pursuit of making theatre in that corner of Chicagoland demonstrates that contrary to the absurdist pessimism that influenced Ionescu, someone is making a difference." -- Robert Schultz, The Rhinoceros, Chicago Outlines, June 14, 2000.
Here is what happily occurred in regards to the 1995 ESC revival of William Shakespeare's "The Tempest." at Chicago's Hidden Stages Theatre:
About two months after "The Tempest" closed, longtime local Chicago theatre critic and radio producer Billie D. Lattin of "Critic's Corner" on WKKC Radio Chicago bestowed upon Darryl Maximilian Robinson a Certificate of Recognition For 20 Years of Service To American Theatre.
There were unkind local criticisms of both these productions. But your humble servant is nonetheless pleased and proud to share some scrapbook memories of his more positive experiences with these shows.
And he thanks the talented casts and crews of both of these classic revival productions for their fine and courageous work.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Darryl Maximilian Robinson Recalls The Great And Well-Remembered William Daniels As John Adams In '1776'

Image
Remembering The Great And Highly Regarded Mr. William Daniels in '1776'! Theatre Lovers And Supporters, The History of our nation is very Important, including American Theatre History. In 1969, the versatile and skilled actor William Daniels became the first thespian on Broadway to decline a Tony Award nomination. William Daniels had given a performance which was considered by many critics as one of the best of the season when he created the leading role of "the obnoxious and disliked" yet highly determined John Adams in the rousing and patriotic musical "1776," a Broadway hit with book by Peter Stone and music and lyrics by passionate American History Buff Sherman Edwards which would capture 5 Tony Awards including Best Musical of the Year ( defeating the popular tribal rock musical "Hair" ). William Daniels had received a 1969 Tony Award nomination for Best Featured ( or Supporting ) Actor In A Musical for his acclaimed portrayal of...
Read more

Theatre Review: ' THE FRONT PAGE Is A Fun Romp Through An Old-Timey Newsroom ' by Therese Dersch

Image
Theatre Review: 'THE FRONT PAGE Is A Fun Romp Through An Old-Timey Newsroom' by Therese Dersch Note: "The Front Page" was presented by The Culver City Public Theatre July 13th through August 4th of 2024 at The Carlson Memorial Park in Culver City, California. The Production recently closed. This is a post-production notice by an audience member. "The Front Page," the play the film "His Girl Friday" is based on, was first produced in 1928. Written by two former Chicago reporters Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, one wonders what craziness was going on in the newsrooms of the time that inspired it. The Culver City Public Theatre production is charming, silly in the best Monty Pythonish way, and laugh out loud funny. The story centers around reporters working the police beat in Chicago. One of them, Hildy, plans to leave the newspaper business for what she feels is a more respectable life as a wife to an insurance salesman. Life, as oft...
Read more

Darryl Maximilian Robinson appeared as The Reverend Sykes in a 2011 LA Theatre Award-winning Revival of Christopher Sergel's Stage Adaptation of Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird" at The Glendale Centre Theatre!

Image
QUIETLY TALKIN' ABOUT TOM ROBINSON'S TROUBLES: Veteran and award-winning stage actor DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON as THE REVEREND SYKES and talented young actress CAMILLE GIBNEY as MISS JEAN LOUISE "SCOUT" FINCH discretely discuss the upcoming trial of Tom Robinson in DIRECTOR DIEDRA CELESTE MIRANDA'S 2011 Glendale Centre Theatre of Glendale, Ca.( in-the-round ) staging of playwright CHRISTOPHER SERGEL'S adaptation of HARPER LEE'S literary classic "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD." Photo by RAIN GIBNEY. Appearing As The Reverend Sykes In Playwright Christopher Sergel's Effective Adaptation of Harper Lee's Classic Tale To Kill A Mockingbird , Darryl Maximilian Robinson Had The Joy Of Working With One of The Finest Directors And Casts That Could Be Found Working On A Stage In Los Angeles  "...Darryl Maximilian Robinson brings Reverend Sykes' Baptist preacher-ness to dynamic life..." -- Steven Stanley , Stage Scene...
Read more