Shakespeare: Everything and Nothing

by Toby Zinman

theater

"The fundamental sameness of existing, dreaming and acting." This line, from a fanciful story about Shakespeare by Borges called "Everything and Nothing," provides the theme for this one-man show by David Howey, an hourlong performance of bits of Shakespeare interlaced with funny recollections from Howey's career performing and directing Shakespeare.

Formerly with both the National and Royal Shakespeare companies in London, Howey has worked with the legends of the British stage (Olivier, Dench, Hawthorne, McKellen, Plowright), so he has plenty of dirt to dish and stories to tell.

The theme that links the performed pieces and anecdotes is identity: the fascinating idea of the actor who is both himself and playing a role. (This is, he is quick to add, not a lecture but "an actor's Shakespeare.") The actor's life not unlike life for the rest of us on the other side of the footlights, since, as The Man tells us in As You Like It:

All the world's a stage

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances;

And one man in his time plays many parts

Since Howey came to Philadelphia (he is currently a professor at the University of the Arts), he has both played and directed Shakespeare -- especially at Philly Shakes, where his Shylock was nominated for best actor and where he directed a fine Julius Caesar earlier this season. He is generously donating this one-night-only show (which usually sells out) to regenerate interest in the Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival, which lately has hit troubled times. Howey's most recent local triumph was as Capt. Wickett in 1812 Productions' The Uneasy Chair.

Shakespeare: Everything and Nothing, Sat., May 22, 7:30 p.m., free (reservations required), Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival, 2111 Sansom St., 215-496-9722.

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