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Article: ART revisions `Provok'd' annoyance.(Arts and Lifestyle)
- Article from:
- The Boston Herald
- Article date:
- December 3, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Boston Herald. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: TERRY BYRNE
"The Provok'd Wife," presented by the American Repertory Theatre, 64 Brattle St., Cambridge, through Dec. 26.
Some 300 years after it was written, John Vanbrugh's "The Provok'd Wife" has a certain charm. It's apparent in the performances in the American Repertory Theatre's production, but director Mark Wing-Davey doesn't trust his audience to understand all Vanbrugh's references and get all the jokes. So he takes a condescending tone, with an updated prologue that refers to the Republic of Cambridge, reality TV and the recent election. It's the equivalent of speaking louder to someone you think doesn't understand the language. The ...