Equivocation/A Lie of the Mind

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/27/10 at 6:29pm

Theatrical fireworks abound in both plays.

Bill Cain's EQUIVOCATION, given a downright spooky production by Garry Hines, will no doubt find great acclaim amongst the Shakespeare geeks who will chortle and chuckle at lines like "Your work may even be produced 50 years from now" and other such Shakespearian in-jokes.

But beyond that, it's a dark love letter to the theater that finds Bill Shakespeare (called "Shag") ordered by Robert Cecil by King James to write a play based on the true account of the Gunpowder Plot. With witches. The result is Macbeth. It's a fascinating spin on history and legend, very well acted by a very strong ensemble that features John Pankow, Charlotte Parry, Michael Countryman, David Pittu, David Furr and Remy Auberjonois.

A LIE OF THE MIND, Sam Shepard's 1985 play that's currently finding itself compared to A LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT, is also very well acted, but boring as all get out. If there are two reasons to see it, it's for the performance of Marin Ireland, who manages to top herself in everything she does, and the unquestionably unique and bizarre soundscape by a brothers-duo called Gaines, who make music with chairs, brooms and anything else you could possibly think of.

Beyond Ireland, the whole cast is to die for, and it really is a wonder to watch them all deal with the rambling nature of Shepard's script. Ethan Hawke directs well, but little can make it interesting.

[April Saul]

Posted: 2/27/10 at 6:40pm

Yankee, I liked them both, but man, I was never bored in Lie of the Mind. There were moments that I thought it could have been shorter, but taking in all that terrific acting was such a treat that I felt lucky to take it all in.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/27/10 at 8:52pm

I just got back from EQUIVOCATION. It's an engrossing play with so much food for thought I'm still digesting it.

[Patash]

Posted: 2/28/10 at 11:57am

To each his own. I saw both a few days apart.
Bored with A Lie of the Mind? I was entranced from start to finish.
But I must confess I nearly nodded off a couple of times in Equivocation. I had read it and to be honest found that bringing it to life on stage didn't add much for me. I found the concept interesting, but think I actually enjoyed reading it as much as seeing it -- which is rare for me with a play.