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Blondell Directs Two Unique Productions of 'Henry VI'

Lit Moon's "Henry VI "
Lit Moon's "Henry VI "

黑料百科 hosts two performances of Shakespeare鈥檚 early history play, 鈥淗enry VI,鈥 on the same day, in the same space, directed by the same director in two different languages. 鈥淗enry VI, Part 3 Times 2,鈥 featuring the Lit Moon Theatre Company and the Bitola National Theatre, is Sunday, Nov. 17, at 2 and 7 p.m. respectively; both in Porter Theatre. General admission tickets to Lit Moon鈥檚 production are $15; $10 for students and seniors. Tickets for the Bitola National Theatre production are free, though reservations are recommended. Tickets can be reserved online at   and picked up at the door.

The project is the culmination of director John Blondell鈥檚 more than two-year odyssey with the play that began as part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad at Shakespeare鈥檚 Globe. The Bitola National Theatre participated in the Globe to Globe Festival, which presented all 37 of Shakespeare鈥檚 plays in 37 different languages. In anticipation of the Bitola production, Blondell and Lit Moon Theatre Company staged the play in February 2012 in Santa Barbara.

Blondell says the endeavor will come full circle with Lit Moon and Bitola showing varying versions of 鈥淗enry VI鈥 back to back.

鈥淭he play presents events in the Wars of the Roses, a dynastic and Civil War that took place in England from 1450 to 1485,鈥 Blondell says. 鈥淏oth productions show the virtues of a wild, eccentric and vividly drawn play 鈥 both are something of a thrill ride, and both display the strengths of each company to a high degree. They are also very different 鈥 although they share the same essential DNA, they feel different and display varying approaches to character, situation, music and atmosphere.鈥