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Culture Stage

Decoding the classics

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.

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