Shakespeare In The Park
As theater plans flounder, productions keep
spirit alive
By Richad Weizel
July 10, 2009
For 20 years, attempts to revive the Shakespeare Theater have amounted to “Much Ado About Nothing”.
But even thought the theater will remain dark this summer, the show will go on despite the clash last week between Mayor James R. Miron and the Town Council over the council’s selection of Rhode Island theater producer to reopen the legendary Elm Street showcase.
The Players at Putney Gardens will kick off a month long series of free weekend performance of Much Ado About Nothing in Boothe Memorial park’s historic sunken gardens at 8 p.m. Friday. The play will subsequently be performed at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through August 1.
The Players have been rehearsing in the park this week, with actors dressed in traditional Shakespearean garb leaping off the garden’s stone walls and darting into scenes from the front, side and rear entrances. The performers includes former
Bard Productions Heading to Stratford
Actors’ Equity Association as well as long-time community actors who love Shakespeare.
The play a comedy-drama about love, romance and attempted betrayal, includes several dance and song numbers from Shakespeare’s time that add to the ambience and mood of the period. When audiences are at hand, their proximity to the performers adds to the intimacy.
“While we all continue to wait for the hopeful revival of the Shakespeare Theater, our group continues to offer these wonderful Shakespeare plays to the public under the stars and free of charge,” said director Lucy Babbit, a co-founder of the group that was established eight years ago.
Babbit, who also has the key role of “Beatrice” in a play with numerous plot twists and villains trying to sabotage romantic liaisons, looks forward to performing again after taking off last summer.
“Its very important that we continue to provide Shakespeare here in Stratford, whether the theater is up and running or not,: Babbit said,
“While this is not one Shakespeare’s most well-known plays, it is one of this funniest and the entire cast is very excited to be part of it”.
Luke Lynch, a former member of Actors Equity and the Screen Actor’s Guild who last toured with the late Anthony Quinn in the stage performance of Zorba, pleased to return to acting in the role of the play’s arch villain Don John, who is out to sabotage the planned weddings.
“It’s a great role and I have always loved Shakespeare,” Lynch said,
“Being part of this great group of actors and getting to play the part outside under the stars is very exciting. I think people who come out for the shows will love it”
In the event of rain, the performances will move to a park building in the sunken garden.
Meanwhile, the Hudson Shakespeare Company of New Jersey returns to the Stratford Library on Main Street for performances of plays – Troilus and Cressida on July 25 and The Merry Wives of Windsor on Aug. 22 at 2p.m. outside in the library’s amphitheater.
“While area residents continue to wait patiently for the reopening of the American Shakespeare Theater, the Stratford Library is offering the best of the Bard all summer long,” said library spokesman Tom Holehan. “Each year, the Hudson Shakespeare Company seeks to perform some of the Bard’s lesser known works and this is a terrific chance for people to still see Shakespeare in Stratford, even with the theater being closed for two decades.”
Patrons should have a lawn chair or blanket to spread in the amphitheater prior to the 2 p.m. show time. In the event of rain, the play will be presented in the library’s air-conditioned Lovell Room.
Also, the Stratford Arts Commission ha scheduled a free weekend-long Shakespeare celebration on the grounds of the closed theater, Aug 29 and 30. On Aug 28, short contemporary plays inspired by Shakespeare will be performed at 8 p.m. On both, Aug 29 and 30, Hamlet will be staged by Shakespearience of Waterbury. The group will also perform an Alice in Wonderland matinee, time not yet determined on Aug 30. the Stratford Arts Guild will sponsor an arts show an hour before each show.
