Thy Woman’s Weeds walks widely
thru Willy’s writings
Seven talented actresses enact 45 roles from Shakespeare plays
By Byron Toben
May 2, 2024
Eight years in gestation, the play script by Erin Shields of Thy Woman’s Weeds has now birthed as a world premiere at the Centaur Theatre. Attending the press opening was a must for me as my first theatre review for Westmount Mag in July 2015 was for the Repercussion Shakespeare in the Park show of Twelfth Night from which the phrase “thy woman’s weeds” is drawn.
In 1603, the term “weeds” referred to clothes or garments and then fell out of usage save for the black coverings worn by widows. The twelfth night after Christmas was a festive time when servants dressed as masters and men as women, so William Shakespeare, who often used twins and mistaken identities in his plots, was a good source for Ms. Shield’s play, which was first workshopped in 2016.
Some of our top local actors from those workshops were retained for this production. I’m guessing they were Deena Aziz, Julie Tamiko Manning, Leni Parker and Felicia Shulman. Others were Joy Ross-Jones, Espoir Segbeaya and Warona Setswaelo.
These seven talented ladies enacted about 45 roles from Shakespeare plays involving fast-moving costume changes, so there were many technical and other all-female support staff involved, as well. Included was a rapid sword fight by two clad in armour and some purposely reversed quotes like “Frailty, thy name is MAN.”
The twelfth night after Christmas was a festive time when servants dressed as masters and men as women, so William Shakespeare, who often used twins and mistaken identities in his plots, was a good source for Ms. Shield’s play…
One did not need to know a lot about the bard’s work to appreciate this show, but it adds to the enjoyment. Ageism also got a mention in this “fiercely feminist play” with the lament that, after being told you must be older to play King Lear when that day arrives you are told you are TOO old.
The whole was finely directed by current Repercussion Theatre head Amanda Kellock. The Centaur developed the play in partnership with Repercussion and Tableau D’Hôte with help from Playwrights Workshop Montreal.
Thy Woman’s Weeds continues at the Centaur until May 12.
Images: Andrée Lanthier
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Byron Toben, a past president of The Montreal Press Club, has been WestmountMag.ca’s theatre reviewer since July 2015. Previously, he wrote for since-terminated websites Rover Arts and Charlebois Post, print weekly The Downtowner, and print monthly The Senior Times. He also is an expert consultant on U.S. work permits for Canadians.
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