Cymbeline
by William Shakespeare
directed by Noah Brody & Ben Steinfeld
Fiasco Theater's production of Cymbeline was a dynamic and highly praised revival of one of Shakespeare's most difficult plays. The show, co-directed by Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld, was performed by a small, six-actor ensemble. This production first debuted at the Access Theater in 2009, with later engagements at Theatre for a New Audience in 2011 and an Off-Broadway run at Barrow Street Theatre. Critics noted the company's trademark moxie and their ability to bring "fresh clarity and charm" to the convoluted tale of separated lovers.
The cast's performance was lauded for its "synergy" and "reckless theatrical courage," with the actors seamlessly switching between multiple roles and using minimal props to bring the world of the play to life. The production's success in making the play easy to follow was seen as a testament to the Fiasco company's ingenuity and intelligence.
CYMBELINE
by William Shakespeare
directed by Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld
presented by Fiasco Theater and Theatre for a New Audience, Barrow Street Theatre
Fiasco Theater's dynamic 6 actor production of Cymbeline debuted at Access Theater in Tribeca in 2009 and made it's uptown premiere at Theatre for a New Audience in January of 2011. The production ran Off Broadway at Barrow Street from September 2011-January 2012. The production had subsequent engagements in Los Angeles at The Broad Stage (LA) & May 28 to June 1,2014 at Folger Theatre (DC). Photos by Ari Mintz
Featuring Jessie Austrian, Noah Brody, Paul L. Coffey, Andy Grotelueschen, Ben Steinfeld, and Emily Young.
Creative Team
Set: Jesse Austrian, Noah Brody, Ben Steinfeld, and Emily Young
Costumes: Whitney Locher
Lighting: Jesse Belsky
Sound: Emily Young and Ben Steinfeld
Music: Ben Steinfeld
The list above includes the core creative team, but is not comprehensive. We are grateful and lucky to have worked with everyone who made Fiasco Theater's Cymbeline possible, from the teams backstage and front of house to design associates and interns, and all of you, our community and audience members.
New Sounds: Live musical performance and discussion from “Cymbeline”
Reviews
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“In just two and half hours, Fiasco (produced at the New Victory by Theater for a New Audience) reminds us what theater, at its simplest and most powerful, is really for: the alchemical thrill of watching an entire world conjured into being out of sheer wit and will.”
- Vulture
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“The lucid, modest performances here let the comedy, poignancy and unlikely magic of “Cymbeline” surface gently and naturally, unencumbered by conceptual baggage. Despite the doubling, tripling and quadrupling of roles, I have never seen a “Cymbeline” as easy to follow as this one…For once, the play itself really is the thing, and nothing is allowed to block its view, even actorly vanity.”
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“The true testament to the performance is in the finale, a sitcommy succession of revealed identities and resolved misunderstandings that requires nearly everyone to be on stage at once and switching between roles, all while making sure the audience is clued in on what’s happening. It’s pulled off with deceptive ease…”