Shakespeare on the Green

   This was the 27th year for Shakespeare on the Green. The company performs 2 plays every summer, and they are free to the public. I have wanted to go for a long time and am happy we finally did. The evening begins at 6:00 when different activities and entertainment are offered to the crowd. You are also able to pack food and drink. Some people sit in lawn chairs and some just throw a blanket on the ground and sit on the grass. Entertainment includes a juggler, singers and 2 minute Shakespeare where a group of actors perform a play in 2 mintues. The crowd calls out a play from the list in the program.

   The outing for July (I will call it June if we end up doing something else this month) was to go to Shakespeare on the Green. We ended up going over 2 nights. Dakota and I went on July 3. The play was Twelfth Night. I had read the review and decided I really wanted to see this. The director chose to go with modern costumes and since music is an important part of this play, the director added many modern songs. They ranged from "When the Lights go down in the City" to "Call Me Maybe". Sometimes the lyrics were changed by adding Shakespearean words to the songs. 

  I was pleased that I understood a great deal of the language even though I haven't taught Shakespeare for many years. I was able to follow the plot with little problem. Dakota was also able to follow the action. We both loved the experience. The crowd for July 3 was estimated to be 1500. 

  On July 5, Glen, Alaric, Savana, Alexsei, Rachel, Mikayla (these 2 are Alexsei's friends), and I trekked to Shakespeare. We brought a picnic lunch. The weather was remarkably nice for a July evening. The humidity was low. We also found my brother Jeff and his wife Ana. We sat by them. They left at the intermission. The crowd was estimated at 4000. It was packed. We ended up sitting in almost the same spot that Dakota and I did.

  Alaric brought electronics along, but never used them during the play. At intermission, I explained to Alaric and Savana who the characters were and what was going on. That helped them with the the second half of the production. I was shocked that Alaric actually enjoyed it. I reminded me of a Baz Luhrman production. The music worked well with the action and the actors were having fun with the production. 

  Overall, everyone enjoyed the production. I don't know that the kids would like a traditional Shakespeare production, Dakota might, but at least they got to experience Shakespeare live.

2 Minute Shakespeare

Brass Monkey!