So much is said by us theater artists about theater being our sanctuary, and how theater ‘saved us’ by giving us a place to belong. However, as Jacob Ming-Trent makes clear in his new one-man show How Shakespeare Saved My Life (directed by Tony Taccone and now playing at Berkley Rep through March 1), it’s not the building but the people inside who matter.
The 95-minute show is a semi-autobiographical version of Jacob’s lifelong devotion to Shakespeare. The sometimes-rapped, sometimes-acted, sometimes-narrated story spins through an urban landscape usually thought of as worlds apart from the River Avon. Exploring themes of toxic families, emotional abuse, homelessness, drug abuse, homicide, loneliness, suicide, generational curses, despair and rage, it also resonates with laughter, joy, love and redemption. In short, Shakespeare would have loved this.
The deceptively bare bones set (Takeshi Kata) is highly effective in its versatility and attention to detail, especially when paired with excellent projections (Alexander V. Nichols) and the thoroughly theatrical light (Alan C. Edwards) and sound (Jake Rodriguez) designs. Rarely do designers get to be over-the-top theatrical in these days of realism and shrinking budgets, but the tempest that occurs three-quarters of the way through is a potent example of the magic that can happen when all the artists are allowed to work together to create their best art.
Fair warning, if you prefer your theater experience more traditional, sitting silently in a dark room voyeuristically watching characters unaware of your presence, this may not be the play for you. House lights are up for much of the time, and Ming-Trent interacts with the audience as both a fourth-wall-breaking narrator and a spiritual leader, guiding us down the path to forgiveness and salvation… No, really, there’s even an altar call of sorts (Don’t worry, you don’t have to leave your seats, and no one will lay hands on you to pray. Unless you want them to, I suppose).
It is inevitable, as we navigate the current anti-free-speech society, that for budgetary (and other) reasons, there will be smaller shows including more one-person productions (though it is not a new phenomenon by any means). In a culture where funds are limited and people are scared to be too loud, it’s refreshing that Berkley Rep has continued to honor the very voices that certain leaders wish to silence.
More importantly, it’s an honor to watch an artist of Ming-Trent’s caliber work. One might even call it sacred.
‘How Shakespeare Saved My Life’ runs through March 1 at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St, Berkeley. Tue – Sun @ various times. $25–$147. 510.647.2949 berkeleyrep.org
Read more about Jacob Ming-Trent and this production here.