PERICLES WET World Premiere By Ellen Margolis to be presented Portland Shakes

Portland Shakespeare Project presents the world premiere of Pericles Wet, by Portland playwright Ellen Margolis. Commissioned by Portland Shakes, Pericles Wet is a masterful adaptation of William Shakespeare's Pericles directed by Michael Mendelson. The show will run from December 1 to December 17 on Artists Rep's Alder Stage.

Ellen Margolis' Pericles Wet is a contemporary and visceral reimagining of a poignant tale that is inspired by Shakespeare's Pericles, Prince of Tyre. When Pericles, a young prince, vies for the hand of a neighboring princess, he recognizes in her father's riddle a coded secret. Facing certain death if he reveals this dark secret, Pericles flees, abandoning Princess Hesperides, who sees in his departure the loss of her last hope. While she comforts herself with empty curses, Pericles carries a burden of guilt with him as he travels the world and encounters adventures, silly, romantic and chilling.

Playwright Ellen Margolis says this about the show: When the opportunity came up to work with Proscenium Journal and Portland Shakespeare Project, I had an electric realization, "Yes, time to dig into Pericles!" And then as I wrote, it became more about the position of someone who witnesses a violation and must make a decision, and less about the daughter and her abuse-although we hear from her pretty strongly as well. Pericles Wet is about Pericles's role as a witness, and it's also about how life surprises him and beats him up.

"Pericles Wet is a holiday show the whole family can enjoy with a story of love and loss, innocence and hope, following a hero's journey of consequences and redemption," said play director and Portland Shakespeare Project's Artistic Director. "What I love in Ellen's adaptation is that the humor and absurdity live right up against the trial and tribulations of our human journey. Just like life."

Pericles Wet was commissioned (2015) and workshopped (2016) by Portland Shakespeare Project and by Proscenium Live! an annual new play showcase which is sponsored by Proscenium Journal and Portland Shakespeare Project.