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Gender-bending Shakespeare at Transy, again

By Rich Copley rcopley@herald-leader.com

Sam Haverstick Herald-Leader file photo

Tim Soulis taking a swing through the Lucille Caudill Little Theatre on the campus of Transylvania University when the theater was new, in 1999.

Tim Soulis has done this before.

In 2003, the Transylvania University theater professor staged a production of Hamlet with two casts: one all male and one all female. The idea was to show how different genders bring different nuances and perspectives to the same material, and overall, it did make for an interesting couple of nights of theater.

Well, Soulis is at it again. This time, it’s not exactly Shakespeare Soulis is gender bending, but one of the most successful plays based on the Bard’s work. Nov. 5-14, Transy is presenting Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, with male and female players alternating roles each night. This time, it won’t be ladies night and then a boys club. The casts will be mixed genders, but on one night men will present the Shakespearian portion of the play and women will play Stoppard’s lines, and then they’ll flip roles for the next performance.

Of course, if you want the full experience, that means you’ll have to go twice. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5, 6 and 11-14 and 2 p.m. Nov. 7 and 8 in the Lucille Caudill Little Theatre. There will be post-show discussions following the matinees. Tickets are $10 and may be reserved by calling the box office at (859) 281-3621.