British Actor Oliver Ford Davies Presents “Shakespeare’s

Kings: The Exercise of Power” at Middlebury College

British actor Oliver Ford Davies will give a recital

entitled “Shakespeare’s Kings: The Exercise of Power”

in the concert hall at the Middlebury College Center for the Arts

on Saturday, November 8, at 8 p.m. Earlier in the week, there

will be an opportunity to chat informally with the actor on Thursday,

November 6, from 4:30 to 5:30, at the Rehearsal’s Cafe in the

Center for the Arts, where refreshments will be on the house.

Davies will also present a second recital, “Figures in Landscape,”

on Wednesday, November 12, at 4:30 p.m., in Dana Auditorium.

One of England’s most intelligent actors, Davies

offers the drama of great literature through an unusual combination

of theatre and academia. “Shakespeare’s Kings” is composed

of speeches from many of Shakespeare’s plays, and illustrates

his developing vision of matters implicit in the exercise of power

through the words of Henry V, Falstaff, Julius Caesar, MacBeth,

Prospero and other of his kings and heroes.

“Figures in Landscape” will focus on Wordsworth’s

development as a poet, and examine his attempt to change the course

of English poetry. Davies’ will give a sympathetic and humorous

interpretation of Wordsworth’s originality, obsessions, and achievements.

Davies has played leads for years with both the Royal

Shakespeare Company, where he has appeared in 25 productions and

numerous recitals, and the Royal National Theatre, where he received

the 1990 Olivier Best Actor Award for his performance in David

Hare’s “Racing Demon.” Television audiences have seen

him everywhere from “Inspector Morse” and “The

Cloning of Joanna May” to “Anglo-Saxon Attitudes,”

and big screen audiences also know him for a variety of film performances

from “Sense and Sensibility” and “Scandal”

to “Defense of the Realm.” He has just finished filming

Virginia Woolf’s “Mrs. Dalloway” with Vanessa Redgrave.

While in the area, Davies will participate in a two-part

program at the Middlebury Union Middle School, consisting of an

in-school assembly performance for the students, and a series

of workshop

sessions. He will also teach a Masterclass at Mt.

Abraham Union High School.

“Shakespeare’s Kings” and “Figures

in Landscape” are free and open to the public. There will

be a pre-performance dinner held at 6:30 p.m. on November 8, just

prior to “Shakespeare’s Kings,” in the Center for the

Arts’ Rehearsals Cafe. For more information regarding the performance,

or for reservations for the pre-performance dinner, please call

the Center for the Arts Box Office at 802-443-6433.

Both performances are co-sponsored by the Middlebury

College Concert Series and the department of theatre, dance and

film/video.