Playbill in the park
Shakespeare in the Park excels ... even when not doing Shakespeare
By Kelly Laine Abrams |
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I do not consider myself a theatre buff. I am, however, a fan of parks. Since I knew I had at least a 50-percent chance of enjoying myself, I decided to spend a Friday evening at Schiller Park in German Village for a live performance of Treasure Island. The production was a part of Shakespeare in the Park, put on by The Actors' Theatre in Columbus, although the performance was based on Robert Louis Stevenson's classic, and is not one of the Bard's.
I showed up around 7:30 to a surprisingly large crowd, which I later learned was considered small.
"The organization has become an institution in the city," said Frank Barnhart, the executive director of Shakespeare in the Park. "Last year, over 20,000 people attended our productions."
Upon arrival, I quickly came to realize that one does not necessarily have to be a fan of live theatre in order to enjoy the experience that is offered by Shakespeare in the Park. I noticed an open bottle of wine peeking out of someone's picnic basket, which immediately made me a tiny bit happier.
The sidewalk divides the audience; blankets in front, chairs in back. I took a seat in the middle of the blanket section. To my right was a group of twenty-somethings sipping beverages and hushing their dogs. Behind me was a lovely family from London, Ohio, who has been frequenting Shakespeare in the Park for over 15 years.
"I'm always impressed with how they use their actors in multiple roles," Donna Masula said, in an attempt to speak just a little louder than her young son, who was anxious to express to me the awesomeness of the sword fight we just witnessed on stage.
In the comfort of the lovely weather, I sat back with my new friends, sharing snacks and enjoying the show. The actors were articulate and polished. Tom Patton pulled double duty in the production as Captain Flint, whom he called "the delightfully reprehensible," and "the stalwart, white-bread Dr. Livesey." Patton credited producer John Kuhn with the polish of the production.
"I enjoy John's organic style," he said. "He gives you the basics of blocking and then lets actors flesh that out as they feel their character would."
Emi Sigrist, a giggly recent high school graduate from Upper Arlington, plays the lead character of Jim Hawkins seamlessly. She plans to further her theatre career at the College of Charleston in South Carolina this fall.
It's the perfect date spot for a young couple to have a picnic and do some cuddling, while still being family-friendly and open to all ages. And did I mention that it's free? Five-dollar donations are requested, not required - but should be strongly considered. I've already made plans to return for the performance of Much Ado About Nothing in July.
Originally Published: July 1, 2010
