Silicon Valley Shakespeare brings ‘Richard III’ and ‘Emma’ to Saratoga

Shakespeare noir

Silicon Valley Shakespeare is staging adaptations of a famous play and a well-known novel at Sanborn Park in Saratoga through the end of August.

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The first is an adaptation of “Richard III” by William Shakespeare that reimagines this tale of ruthless ambition in a 1940s nightclub called The Crown. Richard is cast as a cold-blooded fixer who uses charm, manipulation and violence to rise through the ranks from enforcer to kingpin. The show, which runs July 25-Aug. 29, features an all-female and nonbinary cast but aims to stay true to Shakespeare’s language.

The second show is an adaptation of “Emma” by Jane Austen. It follows Emma Woodhouse, a clever, confident and bored young woman who meddles in the romantic lives of those arounds her. The company intends the play, running Aug. 1-31, as a counterbalance to the darkness of “Richard III.”

ASL-interpreted performances will be offered for “Richard III” on Aug. 10 and for “Emma” on Aug. 17.

On July 27, audiences are invited to the Women-and Nonbinary- Owned Businesses Festival and check out goods made by local entrepreneurs.

In honor of Austen’s 250th birthday on Aug. 3, guests are invited to dress in Regency-era costumes and participate in a William Shakespeare- and Jane Austen-themed book exchange.

For tickets and more information, visit https://www.svshakespeare.org/.

Dance ‘resightal’

Two high school students raised over $8,000 through a dance recital for a foundation providing sight-restoring surgeries in India.

Los Gatos resident Dhiya Padmanabhan and San Jose resident Anithra Shradha Narayanan, both high school students, recently danced in a Bharatanatyam recital called “IroLi – Twin Radiance.” Bharatanatyam is the oldest form of Indian classical dance, according to the Kennedy Center. It combines facial expressions, hand gestures and footwork.

The recital took place at Shri Krupa Dance Company in Saratoga. The students were guided by their teacher, Shrimati Vishal Ramani. Shrimati is a traditional Indian honorific to address and refer to married women. Their performance also featured live musicians from India.

All the proceeds from the show will be used to fund over 250 sight-restoring surgeries for underserved people in India through the Sankara Eye Foundation.