THEATRE
Mary Stuart 
Presented by
Austin Shakespeare
at
The Long Center: Debra & Kevin Rollins Studio Theatre
February 11-February 28, 2010
Avg. Event Rating (4.5 Stars):
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In Schiller's great Romantic play, Mary Stuart, the passionate and beautiful Queen of Scotland, struggles to gain freedom from her rival cousin, Elizabeth, the powerful Queen of England. Each works through the same man as lover and protector, but it is only through their own actions that one transforms to gain authentic nobility. Peter Oswald's new, suspenseful adaptation draws striking parallels to contemporary society.
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At-a-
Glance
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Venue Info
The Long Center for the Performing Arts > The Long Center: Debra & Kevin Rollins Studio Theatre
The Long Center for the Performing Arts
701 W. Riverside Drive
Austin, TX 78704
Full map and directions
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Admission Info
Tickets:
$9.50-$29
Info Phone: 512.474.8497
Email
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Dates & Times
Dates:
February 11-February 28, 2010
Times:
Thurs-Sat: 8PM Sun: 3PM
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Accessibility Info
Currently, no accessibility information is available for this event.
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Member Reviews
Add review/comment
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Event Name: Mary Stuart
"Fantastic!"
Review
posted by:
Ruby Sinclair
from Austin, TX,
Mar 01, 2010
This show was wonderful!! The dynamic of the entire cast was very compelling and quite moving. I found myself quite torn between whether I was "for" Mary or Elizabeth, which to me is a sign of both a...
Expand
This show was wonderful!! The dynamic of the entire cast was very compelling and quite moving. I found myself quite torn between whether I was "for" Mary or Elizabeth, which to me is a sign of both a great script and excellent acting. The stage design was also fantastic and really mirrored the struggles going on between these two women!
Collapse
-
Event Name: Mary Stuart
"Magnificent!"
Review
posted by:
Latifah Taormina
from Austin,
Feb 21, 2010
If this were an off B'way production, the buzz would be about when it's going to Broadway. Magnificent, elegant, unforgettable theatre! Powerful themes, brilliant writing, acting, directing, sets,...
Expand
If this were an off B'way production, the buzz would be about when it's going to Broadway. Magnificent, elegant, unforgettable theatre! Powerful themes, brilliant writing, acting, directing, sets, lights, music, the works! Theatre that reaches down into the depths of who we are and reminds us of our deepest humanity, that grapples with "necessity as the prison of the will." Merino and Christian give deep, rich and immensely moving performances as Mary and Elizabeth. But it's not just their work. It's the total production. It's all there. DO NOT MISS THIS. It is a most rare opportunity to experience directly "the widening brightness of art." Bravo! Bravo! And let's make sure Ann Ciccolella and Austin Shakespeare have a solid future in Austin. They make us all proud. Incredible!
Collapse
-
Event Name: Mary Stuart
"Passionate Performances"
Review
posted by:
Silver Stage Siren
from Austin, TX,
Feb 19, 2010
A play such as "Mary Stuart," with its heavy emphasis on both personal and outward character conflict, is no easy task for any theater company, but Austin Shakespeare again shows it can tackle...
Expand
A play such as "Mary Stuart," with its heavy emphasis on both personal and outward character conflict, is no easy task for any theater company, but Austin Shakespeare again shows it can tackle challenging material and succeed. The actors, led by the expressive and emotional Helen Merino and Pamela Christian, should be applauded for the level of passion in their performances and their willingness to commit fully to their often unlikable characters. At times, though, they tended too much towards the melodramatic. The speech was overly rushed at some points, making an already difficult play to follow more challenging. These were minor flaws, and I will always accept too much expressed emotion over flat and lifeless performances. The alley stage offers a unique opportunity to be up close and personal with the performers, but I missed out on some key facial expressions during some important scenes when an actor's back was towards me. Overall, the performance was gripping and inspired.
Collapse
-
Event Name: Mary Stuart
"Mary Stuart"
Review
posted by:
Austin Live Theatre
from austin,
Feb 18, 2010
AShakes' Mary Stuart: epic, two queens = scorpions in a bottle, high Romantic story, sinewy 20th century transln http://tinyurl.com/y8zvyy9
AShakes' Mary Stuart: epic, two queens = scorpions in a bottle, high Romantic story, sinewy 20th century transln http://tinyurl.com/y8zvyy9
-
Event Name: Mary Stuart
"Two titans are colliding..."
Review
posted by:
Ryan
from Austin, TX,
Feb 17, 2010
...in Friedrich Schiller's bold, elegant and stirring drama, "Mary Stuart." But prick your ears, because despite compelling simplicity from designers Aaron Bell and Jason Amato, words are the weapons...
Expand
...in Friedrich Schiller's bold, elegant and stirring drama, "Mary Stuart." But prick your ears, because despite compelling simplicity from designers Aaron Bell and Jason Amato, words are the weapons that carry this twisting tale along. Elizabeth I and her cousin Queen of Scotts, Mary, are bursting with sentiments they are completely capable of sharpening into complex and moving speech.
But even if the power and emotion on display in these two "female kings" seems raw, it's not base. The issues here are bigger even than life and death, encompassing divine right of royalty, justice, redemption - and a ruler's delicate dance between that which she believes to be right, that which pleases her people, and that which feeds her soul.
The word is epic. And Austin Shakespeare communicates this epic nature, aided not only by the luscious Rollins Theatre, but by the considerable talent and work shining through a strong ensemble cast led by Helen Merino and Pamela Christian.
Collapse
-
Event Name: Mary Stuart
"Queens Run Amok"
Review
posted by:
Emily Suzanne Carter
from Wimberley, Texas,
Feb 16, 2010
“Mary Stuart” offers a passionate and beautifully acted Shakespearean style drama which explores the murderous relationship between Queen Elizabeth I of England and her cousin Mary Queen of Scots....
Expand
“Mary Stuart” offers a passionate and beautifully acted Shakespearean style drama which explores the murderous relationship between Queen Elizabeth I of England and her cousin Mary Queen of Scots. There was a killing madness afoot in royal circles. Schiller’s play distills the history by focusing on the passions, desires and duties of Queens seeking guidance among their courtiers. But sometimes suicide, murder and execution carry the day. The contemporary English translation uses a few word choices that are a bit too modern. Skilled enunciation of French accents are undone by the intonation and cadences which are clearly English. Exceptionally strong performances abound, Pamela Christian as Queen Elizabeth and Helen Merino, playing Mary, captured the royal personas. Dirk Van Allen performance was so natural as to be completely believable. Sean Martin carries the stages violence with grace and Scott Daigle suggests a sinister nature at work in a man who readily seduces Queens. See it
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-
Event Name: Mary Stuart
"I love a play about 2 powerful women who carry the show..."
Review
posted by:
Beth
from Austin, TX,
Feb 15, 2010
and the men are the supporting players… although the men do all they can to sway/influence these women by all means necessary – from gentle coercion to strong persuasion, to...
Expand
and the men are the supporting players… although the men do all they can to sway/influence these women by all means necessary – from gentle coercion to strong persuasion, to flattery/love/lust/deception. These men won’t give it a rest until Elizabeth finally banishes them so she can think in peace. I loved the women in period costumes, I didn’t get the men in modern suits. I enjoyed the stage set up w/each queen at either end in their power struggle (except once when E is at M’s end…perhaps staged to show E’s "winning" over M). Both actresses had strong moments creating believable characters, although I wished for more intensity out of one at the heights & more subtlety/anguish at the lows and for the other to take her hands off her stomach. Among the men, Ian Scott was a stand out. The pace was directed to be brisk, but I craved for more time taken on key moments, ie the rushed confession scene & ending in general and I strangely felt a lack of passion that I felt was in the script.
Collapse
-
Event Name: Mary Stuart
"Engrossing, superb performance"
Review
posted by:
Gary Marquart
from Austin, TX USA,
Feb 15, 2010
If you are wedded to iambic pentameter, this isn't it; it's much better. The translation (originally written in German) is immediately accessible, and the performance is exciting, adventurous, and...
Expand
If you are wedded to iambic pentameter, this isn't it; it's much better. The translation (originally written in German) is immediately accessible, and the performance is exciting, adventurous, and quite superb. I was initially concerned about sitting through a 97 minute first half but, at the end of it, my reaction was, "Already?" Thoroughly professional, a spare set enhanced by marvelous lighting -- the latter, in the climactic scene of Stuart's resignation to her fate and reassurances to her faithful, was particularly effective.
I've experienced live theater from NYC to San Francisco, and this performance ranks with the best. Do not miss it.
Collapse
-
Event Name: Mary Stuart
"Great acting and an interesting play"
Review
posted by:
Jen
from Austin, TX,
Feb 15, 2010
My daughter and I attended this play together and we both really enjoyed the production. The acting was wonderful - not a weak character in the whole play. Even though my daughter knows nothing...
Expand
My daughter and I attended this play together and we both really enjoyed the production. The acting was wonderful - not a weak character in the whole play. Even though my daughter knows nothing about Elizabeth and Mary Stuart she was quite engrossed in the play and able to follow the storyline with ease. The costumes were interesting- the women were in period dress while the men were dressed in modern suits. The audience was seated on either side of a long stage that ran across the floor of the theater. The actors moved around the stage without playing to a specific side- so that each half of the audience could see what was happening and didn't feel as if you were watching the backs of the characters. We both really enjoyed the production- but be warned - it's long- with a 15 minute intermission we were there for 3 hours.
Collapse
-
Event Name: Mary Stuart
"Creative Staging for the Rollins Space"
Review
posted by:
Anonymous
from Austin, TX,
Feb 15, 2010
I was intrigued by the inventive lighting and scenic design for this production. Having an alley stage does make for some sightline issues, but from my seat, I was able to see everything that was...
Expand
I was intrigued by the inventive lighting and scenic design for this production. Having an alley stage does make for some sightline issues, but from my seat, I was able to see everything that was critical, as the blocking choices created enough movement that both sides of the audience could catch the action. I quite enjoyed Helen Merino as Mary Stuart--she had the gravitas and charm necessary for such a role. I was not, however, a huge fan of the costuming choices--the women had period clothing while the men sported modern day business suits. All in all, a minor criticism of a well-staged show.
Collapse
-
Media
Gallery
-
All Media Gallery
Video
|
Images
Images
-
Member
Reviews
-
Member Reviews
Add review/comment
-
Event Name: Mary Stuart
"Fantastic!"
Review
posted by:
Ruby Sinclair
from Austin, TX,
Mar 01, 2010
This show was wonderful!! The dynamic of the entire cast was very compelling and quite moving. I found myself quite torn between whether I was "for" Mary or Elizabeth, which to me is a sign of both a...
Expand
This show was wonderful!! The dynamic of the entire cast was very compelling and quite moving. I found myself quite torn between whether I was "for" Mary or Elizabeth, which to me is a sign of both a great script and excellent acting. The stage design was also fantastic and really mirrored the struggles going on between these two women!
Collapse
-
Event Name: Mary Stuart
"Magnificent!"
Review
posted by:
Latifah Taormina
from Austin,
Feb 21, 2010
If this were an off B'way production, the buzz would be about when it's going to Broadway. Magnificent, elegant, unforgettable theatre! Powerful themes, brilliant writing, acting, directing, sets,...
Expand
If this were an off B'way production, the buzz would be about when it's going to Broadway. Magnificent, elegant, unforgettable theatre! Powerful themes, brilliant writing, acting, directing, sets, lights, music, the works! Theatre that reaches down into the depths of who we are and reminds us of our deepest humanity, that grapples with "necessity as the prison of the will." Merino and Christian give deep, rich and immensely moving performances as Mary and Elizabeth. But it's not just their work. It's the total production. It's all there. DO NOT MISS THIS. It is a most rare opportunity to experience directly "the widening brightness of art." Bravo! Bravo! And let's make sure Ann Ciccolella and Austin Shakespeare have a solid future in Austin. They make us all proud. Incredible!
Collapse
-
Event Name: Mary Stuart
"Passionate Performances"
Review
posted by:
Silver Stage Siren
from Austin, TX,
Feb 19, 2010
A play such as "Mary Stuart," with its heavy emphasis on both personal and outward character conflict, is no easy task for any theater company, but Austin Shakespeare again shows it can tackle...
Expand
A play such as "Mary Stuart," with its heavy emphasis on both personal and outward character conflict, is no easy task for any theater company, but Austin Shakespeare again shows it can tackle challenging material and succeed. The actors, led by the expressive and emotional Helen Merino and Pamela Christian, should be applauded for the level of passion in their performances and their willingness to commit fully to their often unlikable characters. At times, though, they tended too much towards the melodramatic. The speech was overly rushed at some points, making an already difficult play to follow more challenging. These were minor flaws, and I will always accept too much expressed emotion over flat and lifeless performances. The alley stage offers a unique opportunity to be up close and personal with the performers, but I missed out on some key facial expressions during some important scenes when an actor's back was towards me. Overall, the performance was gripping and inspired.
Collapse
-
Event Name: Mary Stuart
"Mary Stuart"
Review
posted by:
Austin Live Theatre
from austin,
Feb 18, 2010
AShakes' Mary Stuart: epic, two queens = scorpions in a bottle, high Romantic story, sinewy 20th century transln http://tinyurl.com/y8zvyy9
AShakes' Mary Stuart: epic, two queens = scorpions in a bottle, high Romantic story, sinewy 20th century transln http://tinyurl.com/y8zvyy9
-
Event Name: Mary Stuart
"Two titans are colliding..."
Review
posted by:
Ryan
from Austin, TX,
Feb 17, 2010
...in Friedrich Schiller's bold, elegant and stirring drama, "Mary Stuart." But prick your ears, because despite compelling simplicity from designers Aaron Bell and Jason Amato, words are the weapons...
Expand
...in Friedrich Schiller's bold, elegant and stirring drama, "Mary Stuart." But prick your ears, because despite compelling simplicity from designers Aaron Bell and Jason Amato, words are the weapons that carry this twisting tale along. Elizabeth I and her cousin Queen of Scotts, Mary, are bursting with sentiments they are completely capable of sharpening into complex and moving speech.
But even if the power and emotion on display in these two "female kings" seems raw, it's not base. The issues here are bigger even than life and death, encompassing divine right of royalty, justice, redemption - and a ruler's delicate dance between that which she believes to be right, that which pleases her people, and that which feeds her soul.
The word is epic. And Austin Shakespeare communicates this epic nature, aided not only by the luscious Rollins Theatre, but by the considerable talent and work shining through a strong ensemble cast led by Helen Merino and Pamela Christian.
Collapse
-
Event Name: Mary Stuart
"Queens Run Amok"
Review
posted by:
Emily Suzanne Carter
from Wimberley, Texas,
Feb 16, 2010
“Mary Stuart” offers a passionate and beautifully acted Shakespearean style drama which explores the murderous relationship between Queen Elizabeth I of England and her cousin Mary Queen of Scots....
Expand
“Mary Stuart” offers a passionate and beautifully acted Shakespearean style drama which explores the murderous relationship between Queen Elizabeth I of England and her cousin Mary Queen of Scots. There was a killing madness afoot in royal circles. Schiller’s play distills the history by focusing on the passions, desires and duties of Queens seeking guidance among their courtiers. But sometimes suicide, murder and execution carry the day. The contemporary English translation uses a few word choices that are a bit too modern. Skilled enunciation of French accents are undone by the intonation and cadences which are clearly English. Exceptionally strong performances abound, Pamela Christian as Queen Elizabeth and Helen Merino, playing Mary, captured the royal personas. Dirk Van Allen performance was so natural as to be completely believable. Sean Martin carries the stages violence with grace and Scott Daigle suggests a sinister nature at work in a man who readily seduces Queens. See it
Collapse
-
Event Name: Mary Stuart
"I love a play about 2 powerful women who carry the show..."
Review
posted by:
Beth
from Austin, TX,
Feb 15, 2010
and the men are the supporting players… although the men do all they can to sway/influence these women by all means necessary – from gentle coercion to strong persuasion, to...
Expand
and the men are the supporting players… although the men do all they can to sway/influence these women by all means necessary – from gentle coercion to strong persuasion, to flattery/love/lust/deception. These men won’t give it a rest until Elizabeth finally banishes them so she can think in peace. I loved the women in period costumes, I didn’t get the men in modern suits. I enjoyed the stage set up w/each queen at either end in their power struggle (except once when E is at M’s end…perhaps staged to show E’s "winning" over M). Both actresses had strong moments creating believable characters, although I wished for more intensity out of one at the heights & more subtlety/anguish at the lows and for the other to take her hands off her stomach. Among the men, Ian Scott was a stand out. The pace was directed to be brisk, but I craved for more time taken on key moments, ie the rushed confession scene & ending in general and I strangely felt a lack of passion that I felt was in the script.
Collapse
-
Event Name: Mary Stuart
"Engrossing, superb performance"
Review
posted by:
Gary Marquart
from Austin, TX USA,
Feb 15, 2010
If you are wedded to iambic pentameter, this isn't it; it's much better. The translation (originally written in German) is immediately accessible, and the performance is exciting, adventurous, and...
Expand
If you are wedded to iambic pentameter, this isn't it; it's much better. The translation (originally written in German) is immediately accessible, and the performance is exciting, adventurous, and quite superb. I was initially concerned about sitting through a 97 minute first half but, at the end of it, my reaction was, "Already?" Thoroughly professional, a spare set enhanced by marvelous lighting -- the latter, in the climactic scene of Stuart's resignation to her fate and reassurances to her faithful, was particularly effective.
I've experienced live theater from NYC to San Francisco, and this performance ranks with the best. Do not miss it.
Collapse
-
Event Name: Mary Stuart
"Great acting and an interesting play"
Review
posted by:
Jen
from Austin, TX,
Feb 15, 2010
My daughter and I attended this play together and we both really enjoyed the production. The acting was wonderful - not a weak character in the whole play. Even though my daughter knows nothing...
Expand
My daughter and I attended this play together and we both really enjoyed the production. The acting was wonderful - not a weak character in the whole play. Even though my daughter knows nothing about Elizabeth and Mary Stuart she was quite engrossed in the play and able to follow the storyline with ease. The costumes were interesting- the women were in period dress while the men were dressed in modern suits. The audience was seated on either side of a long stage that ran across the floor of the theater. The actors moved around the stage without playing to a specific side- so that each half of the audience could see what was happening and didn't feel as if you were watching the backs of the characters. We both really enjoyed the production- but be warned - it's long- with a 15 minute intermission we were there for 3 hours.
Collapse
-
Event Name: Mary Stuart
"Creative Staging for the Rollins Space"
Review
posted by:
Anonymous
from Austin, TX,
Feb 15, 2010
I was intrigued by the inventive lighting and scenic design for this production. Having an alley stage does make for some sightline issues, but from my seat, I was able to see everything that was...
Expand
I was intrigued by the inventive lighting and scenic design for this production. Having an alley stage does make for some sightline issues, but from my seat, I was able to see everything that was critical, as the blocking choices created enough movement that both sides of the audience could catch the action. I quite enjoyed Helen Merino as Mary Stuart--she had the gravitas and charm necessary for such a role. I was not, however, a huge fan of the costuming choices--the women had period clothing while the men sported modern day business suits. All in all, a minor criticism of a well-staged show.
Collapse
-
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