New Movie Stoker Inspired by Classic Lit?

The talented Erin Cressida Wilson (a fellow contributor to The May Queen anthology) worked on the upcoming movie Stoker (March 2013), which, though apparently not a vampire movie, is inspired by Bram Stoker's Dracula. Having just watched the trailer (below), it seems pretty obvious that the story was also inspired by Hamlet.

The film stars Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode, and Mia Wasikowska, all three of whom look seriously spooky. Cressida Wilson, who wrote the screenplays for Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus and Secretary, collaborated with writer Wentworth Miller on the screenplay. Stoker is directed by Park Chan-wook of Oldboy fame.  --Kim

Recommended: A Summer Take on The Winter's Tale

Amy and I attended Independent Shakespeare Co.'s crowd-pleasing performance of The Winter's Tale in Griffith Park last weekend. On the surface, the play is about a jealous king, Leontes of Sicilia, and his unfairly punished queen, Hermione, but it really seems to be about re-legitimizing Queen Elizabeth's mother, Anne Boleyn, who was infamously executed for adultery by her husband, Henry VIII. I'm a big fan of actor (and managing director) David Melville who stars as Leontes in this production and portrayed Hamlet in the Co.'s intimate indoor production earlier this year. We're also looking forward to catching A Comedy of Errors later this summer. Be sure to check the ISC calendar for more Shakespeare in Griffith Park--all summer long!  --Kim

Photo credit: Lady Jane