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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2013)
TH EATER FIRST FRIDAY AT HARLEQUIN BY ANNA GRACE Open until 8 Trunk Shows and Glass Blowing Demos BETRAYAL AND BLOOD — STAGED POOLSIDE FEATURED ARTISTS Sheri Smith, Nancy Gant & Eli Mazet JUL 30-AUG 3 & AUG 6-10 Free Shakespeare in the Park A PHOTO BY TR AC Y ILENE MILLER brilliant politician who would be king is brutally stabbed to death by a group of senators … right in the middle of Amazon Park? Now that’s drama. With daggers at the ready and poetry popping from their lips, it is time again for Shakespeare in the Park’s annual show. This year they take on the bloody, ever-relevant The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. I managed to fire off a few questions to Artistic Producing Director Sharon Se’love as she raced about in the final week before production. Se’love, a classically trained theater artist who studied in New York and London, started Shakespeare in the Park in 1999; she had a vision of “creating a community theater performing the works of Shakespeare in the park free of charge, to turn on many folks to live FREE SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK RUNS theater and to have a mentorship SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS IN AUGUST program where student actors can learn AT AMAZON PARK from experienced actors.” Shakespeare in the Park differs from your typical theatrical experience. According to Se’love, “I’d say our staging hearkens back to Shakespeare’s day, where plays were performed in daylight, there was no fourth wall and set pieces and props are minimal.” She adds, “We encourage our audiences to hiss and boo the villains and cheer the heroes, to be engaged with the story.” Audience members do not, however, get to throw rotten fruit. There’s authentic and then there’s just plain inappropriate. For those familiar with previous park performances, it will come as no surprise to see quite a bit of gender-blind casting. I asked Se’love how she decides which roles to cast as female. “We have always gender-bent casting in Free Shakespeare in the Park. When folks come to the audition they are asked which role(s) they’d like to play. With that in mind we cast the best available actor who can bring the character to life, regardless of gender.” In this year’s title role is 73-year-old actor David Stuart Bull. Se’love notes that, “David’s Caesar is noble, powerful and dramatic. He is quite the trooper … All I can say is Hail Caesar!” ■ KING M IDAS & the Golden Touch David Vance Horste Designer Lapidary Trunk Show August 2 & 3 by Willard Simms A M A Z O N PA R K Performances at 11:00am TICKETS: $5 Children under 3 FREE Group discounts available SATURDAY, AUG 3 Bring a picnic and stay after the show to have lunch with the characters! www.facebook.com/madduckling pages.uoregon.edu/madduckling Produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc, Englewood, Colorado & in partnership with Amazon Community Center and the City of Eugene Recreation Services. The Tragedy of Julius Caesar plays 6 pm Saturdays and Sundays, Aug. 3-25, outside on the south lawn at Amazon Community Park; free. 84th SEASON! The Very Little Theatre SUHVHQWV The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh 'LUHFWHGE\0LFKDHO:DONHU July 26-28*, Aug.1-4*, 8-10 śśŔWillamette¥EugeneƂORśřŖŒœ ŕŖŕőśŘŘœ * 6XQGD\ 0DWLQHHV Tix: $17 ($12 for Thursdays) %R[RIÀFHRSHQ :HG6DW+LO\DUG6W 7L[RQOLQHDWwww.TheVLT.com 541-344-7751 Cottage Theatre presents A lighthearted musical revue August 9, 10, 11* ● 16, 17, 18* ● 22, 23, 24, 25* *matinee Conceived and written by John Foley Mark Hardwick Debra Monk Cass Morgan John Schimmel and Jim Wann Directed by Peg Major Music Direction by Marybeth Andrews $23 Adult, $19 Youth (age 6-18) 18) Doyle and Donna Shepherd Foundation Sponsored by: 700 Village Drive • Cottage Grove • www.cottagetheatre.org • 541-942-8001 eugeneweekly.com • A ugust 1, 2013 33
