Webinar
Abbe Lowell Moderates an All-Star Line up of Judges Presiding Over the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Mock Trial, The Winter’s Tale
Webinar
Abbe Lowell Moderates an All-Star Line up of Judges Presiding Over the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Mock Trial, The Winter’s Tale
March 11, 2021
On March 11, the Shakespeare Theatre Company performed The Winter’s Tale, a farcical mock trial production in an appellate-court format that revolved around the rift between King Leontes and Queen Hermione of Sicily, the Queen’s frenemy Paulina, and a defense rooted in alternative facts about the royal marriage.
Abbe Lowell—Winston & Strawn Washington, D.C. Litigation Partner, leading white-collar defense and trial lawyer, and a longtime member of Shakespeare Theatre Company's Board of Trustees—moderated the mayhem and hijinks at the high court.
“There’s a little bit of the hambone actor in each of us,” Abbe said of lawyers’ and judges’ eagerness to participate in this beloved mock trial series.
Praise for The Winter’s Tale:
“The catchword for the day is wit. There were more topical references worked in and tossed off, oh so casually, than one could keep track of. Certainly, the choice of play was apt — a deluded king given to pronouncements of alternative facts and catered to by a coterie of sycophants? This play is ripe for this treatment, and the cast did it justice (excuse the pun). With the news of the past couple of years, everyone was skewered. It was far more enjoyably than in real life.” – MD Theatre Guide
“Combining naughty frissons of political humor with serious legal arguments about free speech, incitement of insurrection and murder, the productions (broadcast this year via Zoom, natch) were timely, provocative and just plain delightful.” – Reuters
“Theatre fans everywhere can appreciate the analyses of The Winter’s Tale and the delight that comes through in this production, and there’s a particular joy here for those who love the law or unique spins on old stories. But there’s something quintessentially unique to DC about retelling and considering these stories through a political and legal lens. And, in this production, STC manages to hit all these marks in a way that’s thoughtful, engaging, and a fun experience for both the participants and the viewers.” – Broadway World
Learn more about the Shakespeare Theatre Company and the Bard Association here.