Speak I Will: A Fractured Shakespeare

"...And though she be but little, she is fierce..." Fractured Shakespeare's "Speak I Will" at Fringe creates a synthesis of the Bard's works, exposing parallels between old ways of thinking and the current uprising of feminine power. I was delighted to see how the worlds each woman created were uniquely different from each other, and that their words were not limited to Shakespeare's female characters.... full review

No other author in literary history has words as often repeated as Shakespeare. These words have been recited and repackaged countless times in the centuries since they were written, often to great effect. What sets “Speak I Will” apart from so many other performances of The Bard’s work is that it completely repurposes these words, using classical theatre to subvert classical ideas about women; who they are, what roles they serve, and most importantly, what they are capable of. From it’s scathing opening to its final, triumphant roar, the delightful cast of “Speak I Will” may be reciting Shakespeare’s words, but the truths reverberating from the stage are unequivocally their own. It was a performance I will not soon forget. Bravo, ladies. ... full review

Great ensemble working together seamlessly.... full review

Incredibly talented all-female cast addressing relevant issues through beautiful Shakespearean prose—loved it!... full review

Kharissa has put together an incredibly clear vision from Shakespeare's words. Each performer shines. The show's heartbeat is strong and I would recommend to anyone, whether or not you're a 'fan's of Shakespeare. ... full review

Eight powerful, wonderful women SPEAK! I was moved from the very BEGINNING! The sound of all of those women telling a story together through light, breath and heart.... full review

I thought this was one of the most brilliant uses of Shakespeare’s Canon I’ve ever seen. When I read my program before the show and saw that it was an all female cast, I expected a gender-bendy twist on some classic monologues. Instead I found my taste for language sated with the richness of high diction reborn to shape age-old experience and my appetite for feminist critique growing with the eating. Thank you for bringing this to life. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. ... full review

Shakespeare in and of itself can be incredibly thought provoking and moving. What these ladies have created here, elevates that beyond anything I could have expected. ... full review

Intensely powerful and gripping. ... full review

Speak I Will was an empowering and emotional show. As someone who doesn’t know a ton about Shakespeare, I found it interesting and unique. All members of the cast evoke such powerful emotion with their pieces that, regardless of their background knowledge of Shakespeare, can be resonated with! A true treat and would highly recommend checking out this show. ... full review