Josh Garrick: Shakespeare's 'Cymbeline'

There is a princess and an evil stepmother (who makes Cinderella’s stepmother look like a caregiver), but this adult fairytale comes to us from Shakespeare (as opposed to Disney). “Cymbeline” features one of Shakespeare's most resourceful female characters, Imogen, who in defiance of her father, King Cymbeline, secretly marries the worthy Posthumous. When the King discovers the secret marriage, he banishes Posthumous, and Imogen sets off in search of him. The journey to the couple's reunion is an adventure populated with colorful characters, sword fights and sleeping potions. Directed by Artistic Director Jim Helsinger, “Cymbeline” is performed in repertory with “Romeo and Juliet” through March 18 at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater at 812 E. Rollins St. in Orlando. Call 407-447-1700 or visit orlandoshakes.org

‘Lyle the Crocodile’

Based on the classic children’s books “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile” and “The House on East 88th Street” by Bernard Waber, Orlando Repertory Theatre presents “Lyle the Crocodile” as a musical play for children through March 25. When the Primm family moves into their new apartment, they hear a swish, swash and a splash only to discover a crocodile in their bathtub. But this crocodile has impeccable manners, dance moves and loves caviar. He charms everyone, except for their neighbor, Mr. Grumps. The play teaches valuable lessons about not judging others by their appearance, but loving people (and crocodiles) for who they are. “Waber’s stories are generally deeper and wordier than a typical picture book,” Director Jeff Revels said. “Children and parents have kept these stories relevant and popular because of the good-heartedness and fun spirit of Lyle, and his message of tolerance.” The Orlando Repertory Theatre is a professional theatre in Orlando’s Loch Haven Park, and serves as the University of Central Florida’s MFA in Theatre for Young Audiences graduate program. Call 407-896-7365 or visit orlandorep.com

‘Hedda Gabler’

The play “Hedda Gabler” was first published in 1890 by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. Dealing with the unheard-of issue of women’s liberation, the play was negatively reviewed at its premiere, but has — over the past 100 years — attained its rightful place as a classic of world drama. Some consider the character of Hedda, one of the great dramatic roles in theatre, the ‘female Hamlet,’ and like all great drama, the character can be portrayed in a number of ways. Whether you see her as an idealistic heroine, a victim of her time, an early feminist or a manipulative villain, “Hedda Gabler” is at Mad Cow Theatre through March 25. Ibsen's theatrical masterpiece of sex and power finds the newly married Hedda bound by the duties of marriage and the limits of being a woman in 1890. Directed by Eric Zivot, Melanie Whipple will play Hedda at the Mad Cow Theatre at 105 S. Magnolia Ave. in downtown Orlando. Call 407-297-8788 or visit madcowtheatre.com 

New Morse Museum exhibits

More than 30 watercolors and drawings from the 1870s through the 1890s are on view in “Watercolors by Otto Heinigke – A Glass Artist’s Palette” as the Morse Museum of American Art opens two new exhibits. At the height of his career, from 1850 to 1915, Heinigke and his Brooklyn glass studio produced fine windows for institutions including Carnegie Hall and the Library of Congress. The works in the exhibit demonstrate a passion for detail no doubt inherited from his father, a German miniaturist who immigrated to the United States. The exhibition will be on view through Feb. 3, 2013. The second, and related, exhibit includes 20 paintings from the museum’s permanent collection — drawn from the same time period — including works by James Henry Beard, Edward Lamson Henry, John Singer Sargent, Childe Hassam and Cecilia Beaux. The paintings present American life between the horrors of the Civil War and World War I, a period when the industrial revolution brought seismic changes to the lives of most Americans. The Morse Museum is at 445 N. Park Ave. in Winter Park. Visit morsemuseum.org or call 877-638-1117.

Josh Garrick is a writer, photographer, educator, and fine art curator. He is a member of the Curatorial Council for the Museum of Florida Art. Garrick can be reached at [email protected] or 407-522-3906.