The Second Shepherds' Play at Folger Theatre

The Second Shepherds' Play

Folger Theatre
201 East Capitol Street, SE Washington

A rich blend of music and theater, the earthly and the divine, The Second Shepherds' Play is a magical, musical retelling of the Nativity story that's a perfect treat for the holiday season. Folger Consort, the award-winning early music ensemble in residence at the Folger Shakespeare Library, performs festive medieval English tunes against the backdrop of an engaging mystery play in the medieval English drama tradition, adapted by Mary Hall Surface (LIFT: Icarus and Me, Goodnight Moon). Presented at Folger Theatre in D.C., The Second Shepherds' Play beautifully weaves together the stories of shepherds, a sheep thief and his cunning wife, and a certain well-known miracle in a humble manger in Bethlehem.

Thru - Dec 21, 2016

Price: $40 - $60

Box Office: 202-544-7077

www.folger.edu/events/the-second-shepherds-play

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The Second Shepherds' Play Reviews

Average Rating based on 5 reviews

Highly Recommended
Recommended
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DC Theater Arts - Highly Recommended

"...The Second Shepherds' Play is a tiny wrapped Christmas package that explodes into an unexpected large size when it's opened. It is a prize and a treasure. It will bring smiles and knowing nods to those open to it. We need The Second Shepherds' Play now more than ever."

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- David Siegel

MetroWeekly - Recommended

"...If the annual onslaught of holiday Muzak and mass-produced Holiday “magic” are giving you existential angst, re-set your psyche with the Folger’s The Second Shepherds’ Play. A so-called “mystery play” hailing from the from the darkly depths of the Middle Ages, this cozy medieval romp mixes the gentle shenanigans of cheery sheep-herders with the otherworldly (if anachronistic) announcement of the birth of Christ."

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- Kate Wingfield

MD Theatre Guide - Recommended

"...Music is notably ephemeral in terms of the passage of time - so the difficulties of accurately performing or even finding medieval music make this performance all the more notable. Add in puppetry, an extremely funny play, and excellent actors, and you have a truly enjoyable experience."

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- Morgan Halvorsen

DCTheatreScene - Recommended

"...The key to the success of this production is the warmth and affection the artists bring to the material. Surface and ensemble balance the low farce with sincerity and modest production elements that feel at home in the world of this play. The set (Tony Cisek) has just a few key elements that suggest the outdoor stages and wagons on which the mystery plays were originally produced. The costumes (Adalia Tonneyck) look homespun. Simple and clever effects, such as using ribbons to represent wind, and the use of puppetry provide just the right touch of theatre magic."

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- Amy Couchoud

BroadwayWorld - Recommended

"...Without the music, "The Second Shepherds' Play," so named because it was the second version of the play as published in medieval times, would have been a trifle; with it, it fairly brims with suitable seasonal cheer."

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- Roger Catlin

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The Second Shepherds' Play at Folger Theatre