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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 25, 2016)
T H E AT E R BY WILLIAM KENNEDY Newcomer’s production — which he says will be “kind of pared down” and “pretty simple” — employs a periak- tos, a three-sided staging device used in ancient Greek the- ater to rapidly change scenes. And popular classical pieces will be performed on flute and piano for what Newcomer describes as “segues, interludes” and “little pieces here and there.” And just in case a late-summer heat wave hits, Bard on the Butte has made arrangements for shade. “I was up there in March and thought this place is per- BARD ON THE BUTTE Magic things happen when a Texan hikes Skinner’s Butte I t’s such a good idea. Why didn’t someone think of it sooner? “I was out one day moseying around on Skinner’s Butte,” Robert Newcomer says. “I thought, ‘Wow, this is fairyland up here.’” Newcomer, a native Texan and theater arts educa- tor who relocated to Eugene four years ago, is directing Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the inaugu- ral production of Bard on the Butte. Bard on the Butte is a new theater troupe of sorts, work- ing in collaboration with Fools Haven Acting Company, a resident theater company at Springfield’s Wildish Theater. “I moseyed down to the people at the Public Works,” Newcomer says of the Eugene city department, “and asked them what the deal is about getting a park for a play and they said, ‘Oh, sure!’” One of Shakespeare’s most popular and enduring works, A Midsummer Night’s Dream tells the story of en- chanted love in a fairytale kingdom. Newcomer says the butte’s natural beauty is an ideal setting for his production, which he describes as timeless. “Eugene is one of the most beautiful natural wonders I’ve ever seen,” Newcomer says. “Being outside and in nature, especially for this play in particular, it’s very har- monious for sure.” fect,” Newcomer recalls, “and then I came back in June and it’s scalding hot Texas-wedding weather. I thought, ‘Oh dear what are we going to do?’” Well, Newcomer answers, “we’re going to have this big huge shade tent area up on top of the butte for everyone.” He suggests audiences bring blankets or camping chairs and, rest assured, Newcomer says, there will also be a Port- a-Potty. Bard on the Butte Presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream on top of Skinner’s Butte 6 pm Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 25-28 and Sept. 1-3, as well as 9 pm Sept. 4; FREE. PHOTO BY CORRIDA WELDING RICHARD LEEBRICK AND PENTA SWANSON IN A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Oregon A Three Week Pop-up Laboratory dedicated to creators of new theater, Performance dance and music in the heart of Oregon Lab Rain and Zoe August 27 Save the World By Crystal Skillman A darkly comedic coming of age fairy tale, RAIN AND ZOE SAVE THE WORLD is a race to regain the possibility of change in a world whose days are numbered without it. BEER By Nick Leavens Directed by Wilson Milam A Concert of Songs from the musical LUNA PARK Music by Hyeyoung Kim Lyrics by Michael Cooper Book by Daniel F. Levin Sept 2 Sept 11 matinee Admission: $12 www.oregonperformancelab.com www.brownpapertickets.com Ragozzino Performance Hall Lane Community College eugeneweekly.com • A ugust 25, 2016 29
