one last play review

Probably my favorite play of the recent Stratford weekend was "Shakespeare in Love", a play adapted from the movie of the same name that was out several years ago.  I remember liking the movie but I loved the play. It was a very funny (fictional I presume) look at Shakespeare as he falls in love with a young lady who is not his wife - she's safely away in the country somewhere - and also works on a new comedy "Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter". Eventually the young lady gets to perform Shakespeare's work on stage - a big no no in those days, and "Romeo and Ethel.." gradually evolves into "Romeo and Juliet" which no one can mistake for a comedy.  Frankly, I would enjoy seeing a production of "Romeo and Ethel." One of the stars of the show was a black dog named Spot who seemed to always show up at exactly the right time. One of the actors got to yell "Out, out damn Spot" as the dog cavorted on stage. All in all Shakespeare was not treated with much reverence this weekend which was fine with me.