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THE WARS OF THE ROSES Practically a festival unto itself. The English Shakespeare Company took seven of Shakespeare’s history plays and assembled them into a grand epic, encompassing a period of 100 years and the reigns of five kings. Stick around long enough and you’ll see three Henrys and two Richards–not to mention one fat Falstaff–duke it out for control of a kingdom. Michael Bogdanov directs the plays, which are offered here in both repertory and marathon formats. The works included are: Richard II; Henry IV, parts one and two; Henry V; Henry VI, parts two and three; and Richard III. At the Auditorium Theatre, May 7 through 28. (Previews May 3 through 6, 7:30 PM; May 3: H.IV, part one; May 4: H.IV, part two; May 5: H.V; May 6: R.II; $17-$27.) Tuesday-Friday, 7:30 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 AM, 3 PM, and 7:30 PM. Student matinee Thursday, May 12 (R.III) and 19 (H.IV, part one), 1 PM. No evening performance May 10-12 and 17. On Thursday, May 26 only, you can see H.IV, part one, at 2 PM, and H.IV, part two, at 7:30 PM. The repertory schedule follows. Richard II: May 7 (10:30 AM), 13, 18, and 25. Henry IV, part one: May 7 (3 PM), 14 (10:30 AM), 24, and 26 (2 PM). Henry IV, part two: May 7 (7:30 PM), 14 (3 PM), 19, and 26 (7:30 PM). Henry V: May 8 (3 PM), 14 (7:30 PM), 20, and 27. Henry VI, part two: May 15, 21, and 28 (all at 10:30 AM). Henry VI, part three: May 15, 21, and 28 (all at 3 PM). Richard III: May 15, 21, 22, and 28 (all at 7:30 PM). $23-$33; for three plays: $75-$87; for all seven: $146-$181.
UNCLE VANYA and PIROSMANI, PIROSMANI Two from the State Theatre of Lithuania. The first, of course, is Chekhov’s drama about love and ecology. The second, written by V. Korastylev, recounts the life and persecutions of Georgian folk artist Nico Pirosmanashvili. Eimuntas Nekrosius directs both plays. At the Royal-George Theatre, May 24 through 29. Tuesday-Saturday, 7:30 PM; matinee Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, 3 PM. Vanya: May 24-26; Pirosmani: May 27-29. $25-$28.
