There are numerous well-known Shakespeare performs. The Story of Cymbeline shouldn’t be considered one of them, however the newest manufacturing of it by the Chesapeake Shakespeare Firm (CSC) makes a powerful case for why it ought to be.
To be truthful, The Story of Cymbeline is considered one of Shakespeare’s most not often staged performs, partly due to how difficult it’s to summarize with its many transferring elements and interconnected plotlines. “It’s actually a fairytale: an evil stepmother, a name to journey, a loss of life, a rebirth, and a return residence,” notes director Ben Lambert, in describing the present. “Cymbeline is a roller-coaster; it’s messy, it’s humorous, it’s romantic, it’s stuffed with music and fights and magic.”
Certainly, Cymbeline is a little bit of a roller-coaster, with moments of nice comedy, stirring romance, and deep heartbreak. There are additionally fairly just a few sharp turns as new characters are launched and connections established. A tragicomedy regarded as considered one of Shakespeare’s later performs, Cymbeline accommodates plot factors that will likely be acquainted to these with even essentially the most fundamental familiarity with Shakespeare’s extra well-known performs: mistaken identities, a poison that makes it seem that somebody is lifeless after they’re solely sleeping, an invading military, an evil and conniving queen, some comically doltish characters, and an outright villainous trickster. However because the refrain within the opening scene helpfully tells us in fashionable English (CSC has modernized the script in locations), “Spoiler alert: everybody lives fortunately ever after.”
The present could also be named after King Cymbeline (Samuel Richie), however its coronary heart and true protagonist is his daughter, Imogen (Fabiolla da Silva). Princess Imogen is presumed to be Cymbeline’s solely surviving organic little one after her two older brothers have been kidnapped as toddlers and by no means seen once more; thus, there may be nice strain relating to the individual she is going to marry. Joshua Williams deftly doubles as each the commoner Posthumous, Imogen’s real love, and as Prince Cloten, Imogen’s nasty step-brother who seeks to marry her, by power if he should. From tone of voice to the physicality of every position, Williams clearly contrasts Posthumous’ earnestness and honor with Cloten’s vile ego and ineptitude. The twin position provides further ranges of humor to moments like Cloten’s jealous rant about Posthumus’ look (“the traces of my physique are as effectively drawn as his”) or Imogen’s jibes at Cloten (“I selected an eagle and prevented an ostrich”).
The story’s foremost plot is about in movement by Imogen’s secret marriage to Posthumus. This enrages Cymbeline and his second spouse, the present queen (Ali Haas), who’s main the cost to arrange Cloten with Imogen and conspiring to in the end remove Imogen and Cymbeline. Posthumus is banished and sails for Rome, the place he finally ends up making a wager on Imogen’s chastity with the Roman soldier Iachimo (Lizzi Albert, although the efficiency I witnessed featured the present’s understudy, Brooke Donald, within the position). Iachimo’s deception convinces Posthumus of Imogen’s supposed infidelity and drives him to rearrange for his servant, Pisanio (Abel Haddish), to kill Imogen. As a substitute, Pisanio helps her disguise herself because the male web page Fidelus. Whereas disguised, she encounters two males who develop into her long-lost brothers. From there, the plot continues to unfold, culminating in a battle between Britain and Rome that finally brings the promised “fortunately ever after.”
The important thing to a superb Shakespearean manufacturing — particularly one as advanced as Cymbeline — is how effectively the forged can talk the emotion and stakes of a scene, even when the phrases themselves aren’t at all times the best to grasp to the fashionable ear. The whole thing of the forged succeeds on this, however they’re actually anchored by the leads da Silva and Williams. Da Silva particularly embodies Imogen’s youthful love and powerful will, even within the face of struggling, undesirable advances, and unwarranted rejection. Her face and physique language clearly talk the underlying emotion of each line with an earnestness that serves because the cornerstone to the whole play.
There are additionally moments the place traces have been up to date or added to assist the viewers perceive simply what is occurring. For instance, when the motion first shifts from Britain to Rome, the forged gives useful commentary (based mostly on the unique stage notes) whereas they reset the stage: “That is Rome! They’re Italians! I’m French!” Costume designer/wardrobe Hannah Brill’s use of colour in costumes additionally helps vastly with these transitions: Britons are wearing shades of inexperienced, Romans in crimson, and Imogen and her brothers are in blue.
The manufacturing takes place in a stage nestled among the many ruins of the Patapsco Feminine Institute. The outside setting provides an fulfilling ambiance to the present (although additionally humidity and bugs; fortunately, CSC had bug spray obtainable for these, like me, who forgot). The manufacturing makes full use of the venue. Whereas many of the motion takes place at middle stage (a wood development painted with greenery, adorned at numerous instances with tables, trunks, and curtains), a wood wagon planted within the middle aisle serves as a secondary stage, and battles and chase scenes often occur via the facet aisles as effectively. The primary stage additionally contains a lure door, used to nice impact and including one other dimension to the stage design.
Any outside manufacturing goes to be on the mercy of the climate and the environment. CSC encourages friends to be happy to deliver a picnic, and the seating features a part on the periphery reserved for individuals who wish to watch whereas on a picnic blanket. That is what I did; I typically had a tough time seeing the motion on the secondary stage because of this, which was to be anticipated, however for essentially the most half, I had sight line. (I’m almost six ft tall, although, so that could be an element.) Moreover, since not one of the actors are mic’d, their vocal projection, whereas typically as much as the duty, was often hampered by being in a lifeless spot on the stage or by different close by sounds, reminiscent of planes and trains. Sometimes, background music (sound design by Chris Lane) on a speaker (used primarily for scene transitions but in addition throughout just a few key moments within the motion) additionally threatened to drown out the dialogue, particularly for these sitting nearer to the audio system. Those that are arduous of listening to might wish to sit as shut as potential to the stage for one of the best expertise.
Nevertheless, the unpredictable actuality of an outside stage can even add to the story. Throughout our efficiency, a scene the place Clotus tried to make use of (unhealthy) music to woo Imogen was comically punctuated by a prepare horn, and an incoming storm on the finish of the present made the gang’s applause actually thunderous. Lighting designer Dan O’Brien additionally did a superb job making certain the lighting adjusted because the pure daylight light; it wasn’t till the lighting colour modified for a scene involving a dream about spirits and gods that I consciously realized synthetic gentle was even getting used.
The mixture of a superb forged with a singular outside setting is probably the most effective methods to get pleasure from a piece of Shakespeare, even (or particularly) one as advanced as Cymbeline. This manufacturing makes it straightforward to grasp why the CSC has hosted Maryland’s longest-running outside Shakespeare occasion right here for greater than 20 years.
One content material observe: CSC encourages households to come back — all children underneath 18 get in free with a paying grownup, and every Sunday efficiency contains a Household Enjoyable Day earlier than the present that features crafts, songs, and story time. Nevertheless, in a pre-performance e-mail to ticket holders, CSC famous a content material advisory for teenagers underneath 13. There’s a scene initially of the second act involving beheading and related props, in addition to different battle scenes close to the top of the manufacturing. There are additionally some intercourse jokes typical of Shakespeare that is probably not appropriate for youthful children.
Working Time: Roughly two hours and half-hour, with one 15-minute intermission.
The Story of Cymbeline performs via July 19, 2026, introduced by Chesapeake Shakespeare Firm performing on the Patapsco Feminine Institute Historic Park, situated at 3691 Sarah’s Lane, Ellicott Metropolis, MD. Grownup tickets begin at $55; tickets for youth ages 18–25 begin at $29; and youngsters underneath 18 get in free (restrict of two per paid grownup ticket, max of 4 free children). To buy tickets, go to ChesapeakeShakespeare.com or contact the field workplace instantly by calling 410-244-8570 or visiting in individual at 7 South Calvert Avenue, Baltimore, MD. Reductions can be found for teams of ten or extra and for active-duty navy.
The Story of Cymbeline
By William Shakespeare|
Directed by Ben Lambert
CAST
Imogen: Fabiolla da Silva
Posthumus/Cloten: Joshua Williams
Cymbeline/Storyteller: Samuel Richie
Iachimo/Storyteller: Lizzi Albert
Belaria/Queen: Ali Haas
Pisanio/Storyteller: Abel Haddish
Guiderius/William: Lloyd Marcus
Arviragus/Adrian: Luke Douglas
Caius Lucius/Others: Elana Michelle
Understudy: Brook Donald
CREATIVE TEAM
Producer: Chesapeake Shakespeare Firm
Director: Ben Lambert
Manufacturing Supervisor: Lauren Engler
Stage Supervisor: Colin Maher
Swing Stage Supervisor: Lauren Engler
Technical Director, Set/Lighting Designer: Dan O’Brien
Costume Designer/Wardrobe: Hannah Brill
Music Director: Grace Srinivasan
Sound Designer: Chris Lane
Props Artisan: Mason Dennis
Manufacturing Affiliate: Daybreak Thomas Reidy
Struggle Director: Jenny Male
Intimacy Marketing consultant: Mel Gabel
Dialect/Textual content/Vocal Coach: Emily Erikson
Dramaturg: Abraham Stoll
Assistant Stage Supervisor: Ilana Mongilio
Assistant Technical Director: Chester Stacy
Technical Supervisor: Cameron Luther
Manufacturing Assistant: Audrey Russell
Manufacturing Intern: Ryan Macdonald
Senior Home Supervisor: Pamela Forton
