CPH’s ‘Shakespeare in Love’ finds its muse, and then some

 

Bob Abelman

Cleveland Jewish News, The News Herald, The Morning Journal

Member, International Association of Theatre Critics

 

Turning a screenplay into a stage play is an iffy enterprise. 

 

One need only have seen the touring production of “Dirty Dancing” at Playhouse Square, the musical “Bring It On” at the Beck Center or last year’s “Disney’s Freaky Friday” at the Cleveland Play House to understand the truth in this understatement.

 

CPH’s current staging of “Shakespeare in Love” suggests that the company has not shied away from screen-to-stage projects.  But it has also learned a lesson from all that went wrong with “Freaky Friday,” resulting in all that goes right in this gorgeous, thoroughly entertaining, hopelessly romantic and absolutely engrossing production.

 

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