1 + 1 Productions
EVENTS
Rap Tour
The Youth Company ~ TYC
Young Adult Acting Group
WOMEN OF SEASON
"Them Women Got The Spirit"
"Shakespeare's Women"
"The Strong Black Woman"
"For Colored Girls..."
"Let's Talk"
"Sapphire"
Beside The Man
Accomplished Black Women
Harlem Renaissance
"SangItGurl"

1plus1 Productions

Shakespeare's Women

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HAMLET
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A One Hour Staged Reading Where Shakespeare' s Women Speak
 
 
 
HAMLET
 
Many modernist  have proclaimed that William Shakespeare was a "feminist".  There are also those who would say, he was a writer who loved to entertain men.  The genius of Shakespeare to exhibit genuine human behavor has no gender.  His depiction of women in a predominately male ruled era surpasses the expectancy of his time.  In the play, Hamlet, of Ophelia, Hamlet renders these words:

 Hamlet

"Her speech is nothing,
Yet the unshaped use of it doth move

The hearers to collection..."
 
Motherless and completely fixed by the men around her, Ophelia has been written to reconcile to obvious demands, she must adequetly adhere to the desires of these men. Her name derives from the Greek word, "help". Ophelia in essence is nothing, an empty vessel, waiting to be filled by the male figures in her life.  She is constantly commanded; "Walk here!", "Go there!",  "Think this!", "Read that!"... Ophelia responds helplessly:
 
          Ophelia 
 
"I do not know, my lord, what I should think"
 
 
 
MACBETH
 
In Shakespeare's most revered play, MacBeth, certainly his most masterful tragedy,  Lady MacBeth is scribed as an influential, strong, some would say, manipulative, and forcefull  character.  She is loving to her husband inspite of her ambitions for him to be king.  Without hesitation or regret, she quickly intices her husband to murder the reigning King Duncan.  To avoid the onslought of her own conscience she summons evil spirits, thus alliveating her soul from remorse.  Lady Macbeth knows her husband well.  She questions his manhood, and devotion to her when he wavers on his committment to kill the king.  She manipulates her husband and is very persuasive because he does carry out the deed.  The Lady is detailed in her efforts to hide all evidence of her husbands involvement in the murder.  Shakespeare has written in the form of Lady MacBeth, a woman of intense capablity, and  tenacity, even in her immorality.  In the end her conscience takes hold and she ends her life, this action shows that she did what she thought needed to be done in all situations.
 
 
          Lady MacBeth
 
 
(Act 1 Scene 5)
 
 
 
 
OTHELLO
 
 
 

 
Othello is about passion.  Great emotion is written in each line of this play.  Anger, love, pain, jealousy, even lust is exhibited.  It also examines, in staunch reality, human relationships. 
 
Brabantio, Desdemona father declares that Othello, a Moor, dark of skin...has wooed, used potions and witchcraft to garner the affections  of his daughter.  However, Desdemona declares that her love for the Moor is free and of her own will.  Although, by the monologue that Othello delivers in Act 4, it would seem that Desdemona is his sole property.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Paul Robeson as OTHELLO
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(Act 4, Scene 1, lines 252-260)
Ay! You did wish that I would make her turn. Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on And turn again; and she can weep, sir, weep; And she's obedient; as you say, obedient. Very obedient. Proceed you in your tears. Concerning this, sir-O well-painted passion! I am commanded home. –Get you away; I'll send for you anon.-Sir, I obey the mandate And will return to Venice.-Hence, avaunt!

1 + 1 PRODUCTIONS, brings the words of Shakespeare to life with a twist.
 
Monolouges of Queen Ann, Lady MacBeth, Desdemona, Ophelia, The Three Witches, and other female characters are given modern voice.
 
This staged reading, in the King's English, articulated from the black woman's esoteric notions, is heartwrenching yet nonconformist. 
 
It details Shakespeare's works, in spit-fire emotions, propelling the tragedies that ravage the female psyche.   
 
One should but dare to miss this production!

For Details & Scheduling

"Edutainment At Its Finest"