This might be interesting....

[cyrano]

This is the first year I've come to Ashland without having had a chance to pre-read the shows I'm going to see. Hamlet does not worry me, but I've never read Henry VI and I don't remember how familiar I am with Twelfth Night.

Comments

[jakejr.livejournal.com]

It's Henry IV Part I, btw. They typically do the Henry cycle in order from the start (and keep many of the actors in the same roles throughout), so the Henry VI plays should be a few years down the road. All you really need to know about it, I think, is that it's the beginning of the making of the man that will be Henry V, plus it has Falstaff.

And Twelfth Night is possibly my #1 favorite of the plays, but I doubt you need to have read it. This production in particular is played mostly as farce, so just kick back and enjoy. :-) Personally, I think there's something kind of pure and interesting about the experience of seeing a Shakespeare play I haven't read and analyzed to death, on the rare occasions I get to do it.

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

I tried that with King John, and I spent all my energy during the play trying to figure out what they were saying rather than what it meant or how it played out, or the actors's business or stuff like that.
Twelfth Night I'm probably familiar enough with that it won't be an issue, you're right. And thank you for the clarification on Henrys! I am indeed more familiar with that one.