Guest Author

The King James Bible Play examines the translation of scripture by scholars in 1609 and parallels it with a contemporary rehearsal process in which women reinterpret those historical figures. The production explores language, authorship, gender, power, representation, legacy and the difficulty of turning history into meaningful human experience. The review praises the energetic cast, sharp comedy, visual design and the eventual payoff of the play’s mirrored structure, while noting that the second act sometimes overexplains its ideas and that the work contains more concepts than it can fully develop. The play continues in repertory at Stratford Festival’s Studio Theatre until September 26.

Jovanni Sy's contemporary adaptation of William Congreve's The Way of the World relocates its romantic scheming and class intrigue to Singapore's wealthy elite during the COVID-19 pandemic. The production is praised for its energetic cast—especially Agnes Tong—as well as its colorful costumes, fluid direction and celebration of multicultural and queer characters. Its second-act focus on spa employees and other essential workers sharpens the comedy's critique of privilege, contrasting the elite's pursuit of money, sex and autonomy with workers' more fundamental struggles. Minor weaknesses in some musical scenes and inconsistent Singlish accents do little to diminish the production's impact, while its conclusion links love, family, class and autonomy to the idea that a happy ending is itself a privilege.