It's 'The Merry Wives of Windsor...Terrace!'

By Meredith Deliso

Hey, Shakespeare — Fuhgeddaboudit!

Brave New World Repertory’s newest site-specific production adds some much-needed “dese” and “dems” to update the Bard, Brooklyn-style.

In “The Merry Wives of Windsor (Terrace),” a free production running July 28–31, the company takes some liberties with Shakespeare’s domestic comedy, setting it in the neighborhood during the 1980s with the knight Falstaff reimagined as a low-level gangster, and the women he tries to swindle as big haired, “Real Housewives” types.

And, of course, there’s lots of Brooklynese — a bit of Clifford Odets mixed with that guy from Avon — but does it work?

“The Brooklyn accent sings with this language in a way Shakespeare probably would have been surprised by,” said company founder Claire Beckman, who stars as Mistress Ford in the play. “The cadence and music of Brooklynese plays beautifully with Shakespeare’s language.”

Still, the play did require some changes — the Thames, a body-dumping ground in the original, becomes the Gowanus Canal; and Prospect Park, Canarsie and Carroll Gardens substitute for English parks and neighborhoods. And, of course, Windsor is always referred to as Windsor Terrace.

“Our Brooklyn take on the play is a very affectionate love letter to an old Brooklyn that’s disappearing,” said Beckman (save, of course, for pubs like Farrell’s on Prospect Park West). “We set it back before the information age, when people were a little more social, out on their stoop messing in each other’s business, and Brooklyn was a little bit louder and less gentrified.”

And this being the ’80s, think big hair, shoulder pads and leggings. 

“Since we’re playing him as a mob guy, we’ve got Falstaff in a track suit, with a gold chain kind of look,” said director John Morgan.

Keeping with the theme, the play will also take place in the heart of Windsor Terrace, outdoors at Holy Name Parish’s Our Lady’s Field, right next to the little league baseball field.

“The audience will be watching the action, and right behind them is the background of Brooklyn brownstones,” said Morgan. “And we’re right on Windsor Place. You can’t be any better than that.”

“The Merry Wives of Windsor (Terrace)” at Our Lady’s Field at Holy Name Parish [130 Windsor Pl. at 16th Street in Windsor Terrace, (718) 768-3071], July 28 and 29 at 5 pm, July 30 and 31 at 3 pm. Free. For info, visit www.bravenewworldrep.org. 

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The clock is ticking

By Meredith Deliso

One of Arthur Miller’s lesser-known plays is finally getting its due.

Beginning on March 3, Brave New World Repertory Theatre presents a full-scale production of “The American Clock” at the Brooklyn Lyceum in Park Slope. And the Great Depression-era epic couldn’t be more timely.

“It’s very satisfying to be able to do this play during what we hope will be the end of the Great Recession, because I don’t think it ever really had its moment in Arthur Miller’s lifetime,” said Artistic Director Claire Beckman. “He hoped this would be a warning to people, that the clock is ticking on the American dream, and the play needs to be heard.”

The play is based on Studs Terkel’s oral history of the period, “Hard Times,” but is also heavily mirrored after Miller’s own childhood. Like Miller’s family, the fictional Baums moved from Manhattan to Brooklyn after losing their fortune. There’s Rose and Moe Baum, based off of Miller’s own parents and portrayed by Beckman and Stuart Zagnit; and Joe Salgo as the young Lee Baum — Miller himself.

“It’s a real window into his experiences and the hardships that shaped him as a writer,” said director Cynthia Babak. “He’s documenting what he sees as right and wrong.”

In addition to the Baum family, the play’s 53 characters — here portrayed by a large ensemble of nearly 20 — include train-riding hobos and high-riding Wall Street brokers brought low as the play retells the story of the economic crisis, with period songs including “On The Sunny Side of the Street.”

 “Those old vaudeville songs add the levity that is needed,” said Beckman. “You’re not just siting there watching a lot of really dark and tragic narrative about the Depression, which nobody could stand for two hours.”

“The American Clock” at the Brooklyn Lyceum [227 Fourth Ave. near President Street in Park Slope, (718) 857-4816], March 3-13, Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 3 pm and Sundays at 7 pm. Tickets $18. For info, visit www.bravenewworldrep.org.

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'The Crucible' like you've never seen it before

Brave New World Repertory returns to the stage this month with a new site-specific production of Arthur Miller’s play, “The Crucible,” directed by Claire Beckman, at the Old Stone House in JJ Byrne Park, at Fifth Avenue between Third & Fourth streets in Park Slope.

“The Crucible” is a 1953 dramatization of the Salem witchcraft trials, which took place in the Province of Massachusetts Bay during 1692 and 1693. Miller wrote the play as an allegory to McCarthyism, a time when the US government blacklisted accused communists. Miller himself was to be questioned by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Un-American Activities in 1956 and was convicted of “contempt of Congress” for failing to identify others present at meetings he had attended.

For this production, audiences are limited to 50 per show; admission is $18. Performance dates and times are March 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13 at 8 p.m.; March 6 and 13 at 2 p.m. and March 7 and 14 at 7 p.m.

For more, call 917-285-8911.

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You're invited to Prospero's island

By Meredith Deliso

“O brave new world. That has such people in’t!”

It was this line from Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” that Claire Beckman and John Morgan borrowed in founding their Brooklyn-based repertory theater Brave New World. The husband and wife also met during a production of the play in Vermont in 1983, and ever since have been meaning to put on their own production in Brooklyn.

On September 26 and 27, they do just that, with a site specific, full production of the comedy, set on an island controlled by the banished sorcerer Prospero, rightful Duke of Milan, who uses his magical powers to raise a tempest and shipwreck his enemies there.

Previous productions, including the one Beckman and Morgan were in, are more fantastical. The two envisioned doing their own in as natural an environment as possible, and were able to secure the Coney Island beach, near the New York Aquarium, with the set design including 2,000 folding chairs and sails and rigging on the boardwalk railing to represent the ship during the tempest, with action also in front of the aquarium’s mural.

And while Artistic Director Beckman is keen on having as much realism as possible, with appropriate costumes for the 16th century times and an emphasis on colonialism at the crux of the story, there is still plenty of magic, with mermaids from the Coney Island Mermaid Parade, puppets, and a magic show, as well as 25 children from the Mark Twain Intermediate School for the Gifted and Talented performing as seagulls, sporting commedia-del-arte-style bird masks.

“The play is full of magic and mystery and comedy,” says Beckman, who, at keeping the event free of cost, is also urging families to come and enjoy the day at the beach. “We want to help the community and give families a nice reason to hit the boardwalk.”

And, rain or shine, the show will go on. “It is called ‘The Tempest!’” said Beckman laughing. “We’ll make due.”

“The Tempest” is September 26 and 27 on the Coney Island boardwalk and beach, adjacent to the aquarium’s Education building at 10th Street. Take the F or Q trains to West 8th Street. Both performances are at 3 p.m.

For more information, as well as to learn about donating to Brave New World, email theatre@bravenewworldrep.org.

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