'How Shakespeare Saved My Life' Off-Broadway review — a moving testament to the Bard’s power

Read our review of How Shakespeare Saved My Life off Broadway, a solo show written and performed by Jacob Ming-Trent at the Public Theater through October 25.

Summary

• How Shakespeare Saved My Life is a solo show written and performed by Jacob Ming-Trent
• Ming-Trent shares how Shakespeare and hip-hop artists like Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls helped him through a difficult upbringing
• The show is recommended for fans of Shakespeare, hip-hop, and autobiographical shows, as well as Shakespeare educators

Jacob Ming-Trent begins his one-man show How Shakespeare Saved My Life with a joke: “I don’t want to be up here all alone, but the American theatre don’t got no money, so I’ve got to play all the roles.” And good thing, too, because Ming-Trent’s portrayals of his soft-spoken mother, snooty acting teacher, and excited, rap-battling friend named Toilet are highly entertaining.

Ming-Trent is a high-energy explosion of joy — a striking contrast to the autobiographical material, which begins with his father going to jail when he was a child and includes chapters of homelessness, drug use, and fraught family tension. Under Tony Taccone’s direction, Ming-Trent’s playfulness balances the tough truths of his story, while Shakespeare fits alongside hip-hop to create a cohesive production. Video projections by Alexander V. Nichols add to the show’s kinetic energy, and colorful typefaces, graphics, and illustrations help set the scenes.

Ming-Trent is particularly strong in the beatboxing and spoken-word sections, where he sets his storytelling to a beat (original music and sound design are by Jake Rodriguez). These musical bits show how his younger self came to see Shakespeare alongside his other wordsmithing heroes, Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls.

It’s clear that the 400-year-old Bard had a profound impact on a young Ming-Trent, but save for a brief glimpse of an acting class and an interaction with a casting director, his stage career is largely missing from the play. I wanted to know more about how Shakespeare shaped the actor he became — and whether that smooth, booming voice ever did get to play Othello. The play focuses more on what Ming-Trent needed saving from than on what Shakespeare gave him in return.

Nonetheless, Ming-Trent maintains a propulsive energy throughout, inviting the audience, whom he addresses as “congregation,” to keep the story moving by repeating the phrase “Play on!” The congregation eagerly repeats it back throughout the 90-minute show.

The performance I attended was interrupted by a fire alarm, and after we all filed back into the Public's Shiva Theater, the congregation gave a hearty “Play on!” Ming-Trent didn’t skip a beat.

How Shakespeare Saved My Life summary

How Shakespeare Saved My Life sees writer/performer Jacob Ming-Trent chronicle his difficult upbringing, including a drug-addicted father serving time in prison, a tough-love mother, and a period of homelessness. At the center of his story is William Shakespeare, who became both a literary hero and a near-spiritual figure in Ming-Trent’s life. The one-man show is an autobiographical fusion of hip-hop, poetry, and storytelling.

How Shakespeare Saved My Life is a co-production of Red Bull Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and Folger Theatre, performed at The Public Theater.

What to expect at How Shakespeare Saved My Life

The 90-minute show does not have an intermission. Audiences should be prepared to participate in a call-and-response, and one lucky person may be called upon to stand in as Ming-Trent’s high school crush, Sylvia, in one scene. The show features lound sound effects, including gunshots.

What audiences are saying about How Shakespeare Saved My Life

On the online review aggregator Show-Score, How Shakespeare Saved My Life had an audience approval score of 85% as of writing. Theatregoers — or congregants — mostly praised Ming-Trent’s heartfelt performance.

• “Jacob Ming-Trent bares his soul in this brutally honest portrayal of his life. Despite overcoming overwhelming difficulties and tragedy, he learns love, which he transers to the audience (the congregation) at every performance.” - Show-Score user Kim G City
• “One-man show displays how Shakespeare ‘saved’ the life of a poor black boy. Saved? His was a miserable life. Energetic and at times entertaining, but generally a pedestrian and overwrought confessional vehicle.” - Show-Score user Bruce 6
• “I bawled my eyes out. This was incredibly impactful and highly recommend it.” Show-Score user Soha
• “Moving one-man show about the struggles of a young actor.” - Show-Score user Lala
• “A really good theatre-as-therapy style show. This guy’s story is interesting and relatable.” Show-Score user JoeyFranko

Read more audience reviews of How Shakespeare Saved My Life on Show-Score.

Who should see How Shakespeare Saved My Life

• Theatregoers who have seen Jacob Ming-Trent in Shakespeare productions would enjoy seeing his personal connection to the playwright. Ming-Trent’s Shakespeare credits with The Public Theater include Merry Wives, Twelfth Night, Cymbeline, and The Tempest.
• Those who enjoy one-person shows, especially autobiographical, should see Ming-Trent, who excels at multi-character storytelling.
• Audiences interested in hip-hop will enjoy this production. Ming-Trent cleverly makes the connection between the famous dramatist and hip-hop artists like Tupac and Biggie.
• Theatre educators interested in the transformative power of Shakespeare should see this show. Ming-Trent’s story illustrates the timelessness of what he calls Shakespeare’s “urban poetry” and the ways the playwright’s work can resonate across generations and backgrounds.

Learn more about How Shakespeare Saved My Life off Broadway

Jacob Ming-Trent is a charismatic force in How Shakespeare Saved My Life, drawing audiences into a moving story of resilience and artistry.

Learn more and get How Shakespeare Saved My Life tickets on New York Theatre Guide. How Shakespeare Saved My Life is at The Public Theater through October 25.

Photo credit: Jacob Ming-Trent in How Shakespeare Saved My Life off Broadway. (Photos by HanJie Chow)