Stephen Hogan

Review of Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Very cool concept but weird execution at the same ...

Very cool concept but weird execution at the same time. Came here to see The Odyssey which had some fantastic acting on behalf of the crew.

The venue is truly unique and there is not a single bad seat in the house. Tickets can be expensive. I'd recommend getting the cheapest seats in the place if possible.

What pulled the experience down were a few things.

1. PreShow I took a picture of the empty stage with my phone. An usher immediately jumped on me scorning me that no photography was allowed at all inside the theater. Are you kidding me?? I can understand that policy DURING the show, but at the price I paid for the experience I cannot take one memento from it?? Give me a break.

2. They close the back doors for the performance. In the summertime this made an uncomfortably hot viewing experience with no circulation at all in the venue. My wife and I got distracted from the performance simply from our body temps. Maybe provide cooling fans at least for the audience?

3. You cannot leave the arena during the production. Seriously? No bathroom breaks, no water fills nothing.

If they didn't have such an authoritarian policy on these aspects it would be a higher rating.