FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE (BBC One)
Rebellious genius, aristocrat, and early feminist Florence Nightingale defies convention and the combined power of the British government to revolutionize the practice of medicine.
"Stunning drama" Daily Express, London
"Emotively involving crisis of faith" Sunday Daily Express, London
"An intense, rewarding portrait" The Observer London
BOCCACCIO with music by Richard Peaslee (Arena Stage, Washington, D.C.)
"Lyricism or travesty, ballet or satyr play, a shimmering web of illusion and debunking unravels before our eyes" New York Magazine
"Sophisticated, hilarious, immensely clever - its theatrical ingenuities stem from Kenneth Cavander, who wrote, the words, and Richard Peaslee, who composed the always witty music. " Washington Post
"Throw caution ot the winds and go see Boccaccio" Baltimore Sun
"An irresistible evening!" Boston Globe
"There are times when I feel inclined to throw caution to the winds and just shout “Go!”. Such is my reaction to Boccaccio" Baltimore Sun
"Arise, citizens, to smile, cheer, applaud!" Seattle Sun
"An evening of surprises and delights..." Washington Star-News
"600 year old tales made sparkling new... Bravo, bravo , bravissimo" Metromedia News
"An impure delight. Boccaccio may run for ever!" Seattle Argus
THE FILE ON JILL HATCH (PBS/BBC co-production)
3-part series for television tracing the tumultuous history of an interracial marriage between an African-American G.I. and a white English girl through two generations after WW2.
"The subject has rarely been explored dramatically with more candor and more raw power" The New York Times
"Brilliant" Los Angeles Times
"A riveting and complex tale" New York Daily News
THE GREEKS (Royal Shakespeare Company, Aldwych Theatre, London) (with John Barton) 3-evening series of plays inspired by 10 classic Greek dramas.
"The story, addressed to a public coming fresh to the legends, is spellbinding" The Times, London
"Astonishing, daring, and brilliant" Weekend Review, London
"A marvellous narrative and a healing myth" The Guardian, London
"The most ambitious project ever attempted by the Royal Shakespeare Company ... I was alternately thrilled,
elated, moved and amused" Daily Sketch, London
AGAMEMNON AND HIS DAUGHTERS (Arena Stage, Washington, D.C.)
The story of the great general and the bloody aftermath of his sacrifice of his daughter for the sake of an ill-conceived war, leading in the end to a miraculous resolution, reconceived for a post 9/11 audience. Arena Stage, Washington, D.C.
"Flat out entertaining" Washington Post
"Kenneth Cavander’s madly paced, entertaining adaptation... tells the story" Washington Times
"It sure as hell is gripping" Washington City Paper
"What a magical journey!... The accessibility, the ease with which the language is made fresh and relevant, extends to every aspect of the production" Baltimore Sun
THE CURSE OF OEDIPUS (Antaeus Company, Los Angeles)
Play in 2 acts re-imagining the legends surrounding Oedipus as an epic political drama.
"Undeniably ambitious... prime stuff" LA Times
"Splendid drama... build[s] to a crescendo of thematic power and complexity... impressively accomplished... vigorously audacious” Hollywood Reporter
“FIVE STARS... a trip well worth taking, revealing the entire story of the classic legend one riveting layer at a time" Examiner.com
"WOW... moves lickety-split from dramatic start to thrilling finish" Stage Scene LA
"Entertaining, dynamic and inspiring. The Curse of Oedipus is like an amusement park full of different rides" Life in LA
"Fiendishly ambitious... power and poetry... skillful use of ritual and myth... ferocious and hair-raising moments... an impressive achievement" Totaltheater.com
MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA (ad. O’Neill - Great Performances, Channel Thirteen)
"Kenneth Cavander's superb adaptation... leaves the essence of O'Neill remains carefully untouched." The New York Times
LIFE IS A DREAM (ad. Calderon) (A Noise Within, Los Anglees)
3-part series for television tracing the tumultuous history of an interracial marriage between an African-American G.I. and a white English girl through two generations after WW2.
"Wonderfully theatricalized... fine performances proves nicely in sync with Cavander’s quick-witted translation" Los Angeles Times
"In Cavander’s hands, “Dream” feels fresh” Los Angeles Daily News
"Kenneth Cavander’s modern translation accentuates the wit in Calderon’s philosophical drama" L.A. Weekly
THE MACHINE STOPS (ad. E.M. Forster) (BBC - Series Episode, Out of the Unknown)
“The ideas are the star of this anthology… ingenious futurism” The Guardian London
“Particularly memorable - E.M. Forster’s ‘The Machine Stops’ (6 October 1966) creates a disconnected world of corridors and capsules that anticipates Kubrick’s 2001 (1968)” Word Press