The rest of our slightly shorter visit to Spoleto this year had the stronger offerings, in our opinion. We enjoyed The Reckoning, a Chicago-based long-form improv group, in their show at Theatre 99, one of our usual stops for Piccolo Spoleto events.
We also took in "Don John," at the Memminger (a recently renovated space where Andy worked the last several years, this year as Master Electrician). This was presented by the Kneehigh Theatre group from Cornwall (England). They were at Spoleto three years ago, doing an astonishingly entertaining telling of the "Tristan and Iseult" tale (which is set in Cornwall and Ireland). This play was an updated interpretation of the Don Juan/Don Giovanni story, set (sort of) in a carnival. The set ideas, lighting and sound were all fascinating, and so was most of the play -- though I have to compare, and "Tristan" wins for overall achievement. Nevertheless, these people are chock-full of ideas, even if some of them don't always hit home.
Our final show before taking off for home was a one-man (well, there was also a musician who pitched in now and then) presentation by a gent from Wales, which chiefly reflected on his experience when his father passed away, and connected (in the theme of death) to a time when he "babysat" a rabbit for neighbors -- and the rabbit promptly passed away. Though a reviewer for the main newspaper in Charleston ripped it apart, I felt it certainly had its moments and some effective times. Maybe not the greatest thing ever, but good. If only the family with the three year old hadn't crazily decided this was something they should do together ....
Anyway, as always, some interesting times and experiences at a great Festival.
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