The Upstate Shakespeare Festival is staging a rare play, ‘The Two Noble Kinsmen’, by William Shakespeare. This play is one of Shakespeare’s least-known works and is a collaboration with John Fletcher.
A Unique Blend of Genres
‘The Two Noble Kinsmen’ blends romance, comedy, tragedy, and psychological drama, making it a unique play in the Shakespearean canon. The story follows cousins Palamon and Arcite, who fall in love with the same woman, Emilia, and the rivalry that ensues.
The play is believed to be one of the last works Shakespeare wrote before retiring from the stage. It features a poignant subplot of the Jailer’s Daughter, whose hopeless love for Palamon sends her into madness, echoing the tragic fate of Ophelia in ‘Hamlet’.
Challenging the Cast
The play challenges the cast of 16 to navigate sudden shifts between broad comedy and emotional intensity. Finding that balance has been one of the most rewarding aspects of rehearsals, according to director John Fagan.
The festival’s production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ last month attracted 8,000 patrons, one of the largest audiences in the festival’s history. ‘The Two Noble Kinsmen’ offers a rare opportunity to encounter Shakespeare at the end of his career, experimenting and collaborating with other writers.
The play will run from July 9-25 at Falls Park near downtown Greenville. Admission is free, though donations are appreciated. For more information, call 864-235-6948 or visit warehousetheatre.com/shows/upstate-shakespeare-festival.
Original reporting: Greenville Journal — read the source article.
