How Shakespeare Invented the Villain

I read the following from the Shakespeare Theatre before heading to see Patrick Page, directed by the brilliant and very talented, Simon Godwin, in All the Devils Are Here.

“Dubbed “The villain of Broadway” by Playbill, Tony Award-nominee, and Grammy Award-winner Patrick Page (King Lear, Hadestown) has never shied away from exploring his dark side. Now, with this tour de force show, “one of America’s greatest classical actors” (The Wall Street Journal) turns to the twisted motivations and hidden humanity at the heart of Shakespeare’s greatest villains. Moving swiftly through the canon, Page illuminates Shakespeare’s evolving conception of evil by delving into more than a dozen of his most wicked creations, offering a thrilling masterclass on the most terrifying subject of them all: human nature. Previously seen on-screen, now is the chance for audiences in D.C. to experience an enhanced version for the stage.”

So, I was primed for an exciting theater experience, and it was exciting. Patrick Page is a really brilliant actor, who just commands the stage, and your complete attention, in this one man show, performed in 90 minutes without an intermission. You are mesmerized with the way he interprets each of Shakespeare’s characters, and he does interpret many of them. I agree he delivers a tour de force performance. 

The best part of this play is when Page talks directly to the audience and explains what Shakespeare is saying, and trying to do, with the villains in his plays. From Lady Macbeth to the Tempest. Clearly, if you know your Shakespeare well, you will enjoy this play even more. Page gives a shoutout to Michael Kahn, STC’s former Artistic Director, who asked him about Iago in Othello, and about the character’s motivation a year in advance of it being performed in DC. It led Page to talk about what being a sociopath means. And as he suggested, we may have one in leadership and he refers to Trump without mentioning his name, as he ticks of how one can tell when a person is a sociopath. Whoever decided to explain this deserves credit for bringing the house down. It was clearly a liberal audience. 

The simple set designed by Arnulfo Maldonado is great, and Page’s use of the few pieces of furniture on the set, and his ability to use the whole stage, is surely a credit to the director, Simon Godwin. The lighting by Stacey Derosier is very effective. The sound by Darron L. West is good, but there were some problems with it at the performance I attended.

All The Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain will be at the Michael Klein Theatre through December 29th. Don’t miss this chance to see the great Patrick Page. Tickets are available online.