October 27, 1997
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.