Washington Post humor columnist Alexandra Petri discusses her Shakespearean summer camp comedy Tragedy Averted, now having its midwest premiere at the IO Theatre in Chicago. Tragedy Averted showcases four Shakespeare heroines – Juliet, Cordelia, Desdemona, and Ophelia – who bond at summer camp while struggling with romance, friendship and difficult dads. In conversation with the production's director Dee Ryan, Alexandra shares the origins of her humor; the depth of her nerdery; inspirational messages from W.H. Auden and T.H. White; the comfort of knowing she always wanted to be a writer; spoileriffic exegesis; her firm belief that any crisis can be addressed head-on, Hamlet-like, by writing a play about it; and how fan fiction means you love the source text but have a significant bone to pick with it. (Length 19:14)
4 Comments
Hailey B. · December 25, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Can’t wait for next year’s twisted christmas story!!!!!
austin · December 22, 2010 at 5:25 pm
(PS – Here’s what she said before her spoilers: “I had a fit of giggles while listening to this podcast!”)
austin · December 22, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Emily, I’m not going to Approve your (highly complimentary) comment, but only because you give away two major plot points! Glad you liked it, though.
Emily · December 22, 2010 at 4:31 pm
I had a fit of giggles while listening to this podcast!
“Everyone understands the rules? After the creature has been allowed a three minute head start…there are NO MORE RULES.”
“Santa Claus, gazing directly into the crosshairs of the Baron’s rifle sight, calmly removed his large red hat, smiled knowingly, and pointed a finger…at the Sasquatch.”