Rating: NNNNN
Three vastly different dramas open this week. Geographically, they’re all over the map — Scotland, Germany and India. Each is a classic in its own culture, but that’s no guarantee of local success. Here’s the lowdown on what to look for.
MACBETH (Opens September 7)
Basic story: After listening to witches and his pushy wife, Mac the knife commits regicide only to discover that what goes around comes around.
Twist: The play’s lead (Lindsay G. Merrithew) left theatre to start a business and is now co-producing this play. The cast looks promising, but this might turn out to be a costly vanity project.
You’ll like it if: You missed Stratford and hated Soulpepper’s MacHomer.
WOZZECK/WOYZECK (Opens September 7)
Basic story: Science guinea pig loser Everyman is cuckolded, commits murder and dies.
Twist: This sampling of Buchner’s play and Berg’s opera is the brainchild of 22-year-old wunderkind Misha Aster, who’s chalked up some impressive international credits.
You’ll like it if: You hate hummable tunes and don’t mind being depressed.
UMRAO (Opens September 6)
Basic story: Girl gets abducted, becomes a prostitute, then lives through turbulent times in Indian history.
Twist: The adaptation of the 1890 novel gets an English translation, with a big cast, including musicians and a dancer.
You’ll like it if: You’re in the mood for an epic feminist story that sounds like an Indian Evita.