Klingon Tamburlaine

f a Klingon Theatre troupe were to start performing classical works from Earth literature, then Christopher Marlowe's Tammerlane makes for an excellent choice! Hence School of Night (a very good production company) decided to go with this idea! And it works! Make no mistake! Klingon Tamburlaine tells the story of one of the most notoriously cruel (and successful) warlords in history. Putting everyone in Klingon gear, changing a few names here and here, adopting the stereotypical stance of Star Trek's Mongol Viking Samurai aliens makes for a fun piece of theatre! The cast (many of whom I've seen in other plays, all showing not only talent but energy and gusto with the idea) do a great job with their roles. My personal favorite were a... full review

SCHOOL OF NIGHT BOLDLY TAKES CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE WHERE NO ELIZABETHAN HAS GONE BEFORE. AN IMMENSELY CREATIVE AND INVENTIVE STAGING MAKES THIS “CLASSIC” THAT YOU WRESTLED THROUGH IN ENGLISH LIT INTO A ROLLER COASTER RIDE WORTHY OF MAGIC MOUNTAIN. ... full review

Let me start out by saying that I am not of a fan of either Marlowe or Star Trek, so I really was not sure what to expect with this show, and I had relatively modest expectations as to whether or not I would enjoy it. Boy was I beyond pleasantly surprised. I loved it. How do you take a Marlow play and merge it with the Star Trek environment and avoid having it be all camp? Well, Christopher Johnson did it, and bravo to him. The genius of it all (yes, genius) is that, not only is it not all camp, but the Star Trek world turns out to be the absolute perfect platform for the retelling of the Tamburlaine tale. That's where the genius starts, but genius certainly flows throughout the entire production. Furthering the genius of attempting this eff... full review

In some ways, I'm the worst audience for this show because I know little about Star Trek/Klingons and classical works often test my attention span and I find my brain drifting as I try to follow the plot. But in the most important way, I am the BEST audience for this show because I'm a huge fan of the ambition, spectacle, madness, silliness, energy and insanity of School of Night productions. Klingon Tamburlaine slips neatly into their acclaimed portfolio of Fringe hits. The acting is huge and aggressive and always grounded. The directing tight and propulsive. This show seems to sneer at the constraints of Fringe (small budgets, tight time frames, etc.) and say "F you! We're doing our show exactly the way we want to and you will eat it up!" ... full review

School of Night continues to boldly go where no other theatre company dares to go. This epic, wildly imaginative ride is their most ambitious project yet. Combining the sweeping verse of Marlowe's conquering Tamburlaine with the bombastic world of the Klingons is an inspired and deeply entertaining achievement. The hardest working cast in Fringe pulls off wordy text, bat'leth combat, starship fights, endless quick changes, and performances that keep the play entertaining and jaw-dropping from beginning to end. Don't miss a rare opportunity to see classic theatre mashed with pop culture in such a sweeping, ambitious way in such an intimate space. ... full review

This show was great fun! Well acted and great utilizing of a small stage area, very creative! The Star Trek update of the classic play really did work! Kudos to the cast for their commitment to character! Enjoyable evening!... full review

A great and enthusiastic cast, very clever transitions, and a very enjoyable Star Trek investment of an evening that I’ve been looking forward to since I saw it advertised and will be thinking about for days after. ... full review

I deliberated for some time on whether or not to review Tamburlaine before attending this piece. I'm glad I didn't: it was way more exciting to see Klingon actors adapt it in their own voices. The commentary on Klingon opinions of other cultures leaks out in subtle ways throughout the way this story is told. If you watch this piece with that other level of commentary, this is so much more than a goofy premise, but takes a satirical approach to the notion of adapting and personalizing classical texts itself. If you know much about the Klingon people, this is a synthesis of bold choices you owe yourself.... full review

A fun fan experience with clever design & lots to enjoy.... full review

Together, with loads of hand-to-hand combat drama and some unique puppetry, "Klingon Tamburlaine" is a brilliant marriage of a Christopher Marlowe classic and Star Trek lore in this unofficial adaptation of Marlowe’s “Tamburlaine the Great, Parts I and II.”... full review