Sal Attends a Shakespeare Play

Summer brings so many cool things to do al fresco!  One of those things is the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival - the opportunity to see Shakespeare plays in the great out-of-doors for free.  Unbeatable deal!  One of the Shakespearean players is a fellow uke player, so an outing to see one of the plays was planned for June 26th.  The show was Timon of Athens.  We had never seen this play before (and some of us had never even heard of it), but we all enjoyed it very much!

Sal and three friends waiting for the show to begin.

Timon and one of his "friends" with Sal.

Sal with a guy who can actually play her!  We enjoyed watching him bring the bard's words to hilarious life.

Sal Almost Sees "Romeo and Juliet"

After attending a Cleveland Shakespeare Festival performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream a few weeks ago, I decided I wanted to see their production of Romeo and Juliet, too.  I talked with some of my coworkers about it, and the party ended up consisting of Maryanne, Michele, and Heidi.   Coordinating our schedules was tough, but we found one night that would work for all of us.  Heidi and were working during the day, so Maryanne stopped to get us some goodies at Aladdin's, picked us up from the salt mine, picked up Michele at her house, and off we went to Lincoln Park. 

Friends and food from Aladdin's.  What could be better?

The weather was pleasantly cool and breezy, but there was a threat of rain.  We brought our umbrellas and Maryanne brought a tarp -- just in case.  We were pretty early, so as we ate our picnic we watched the Romeo and Juliet cast practice their fight scenes and heard them running through some of their lines.  Very cool.

Brian Pedaci, Operations Director of the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, and fellow Cleveland Jumping Flea, talked with us for a few moments.  The sky looked gloomy, but we were optimistic about seeing the show. 

A few minutes later, it began to rain.  We put up our umbrellas, and Maryanne covered the chairs with the tarp she had so wisely brought. 

Luckily we were finished eating when it started raining.  It was actually fun sitting on a quilt with umbrellas up in the company of these lovely friends.

The rain stopped, and we began anticipating the beginning of the performance.  Unfortunately, it was not meant to be.  Brian came out and announced that the show was being cancelled, due to heavy weather that was likely to hit very soon.  We sadly got our things together, walked back to the car, and drove away.  Maryanne dropped Michele off at her house, and Heidi and I at work.  As we were driving to our various home bases, the sky opened up and there was a terrific show of lightning and buckets of precipitation.  Good call, Brian!

Better luck next year!

Sal's Super-Busy Day: Part Two -- "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

I think I'm a reasonably intelligent person, but whenever I try to read a Shakespeare play, I don't know what the heck the characters are talking about.  Therefore, a Shakespeare fan I am not.  Saturday night, however, found me attending a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream, put on by the  Cleveland Shakespeare Festival at Lakewood Park.  Why would I do this?  Because my very British mother is a big fan of Shakespeare and doesn't often have the opportunity to do interesting things.  She is very particular about what she likes -- and what she doesn't -- so finding things she will want to do is pretty tough.  Whenever I come across something I think she will enjoy, I'm on it -- so Saturday night Shakespeare was it! 

I made the trek out to her house to pick her up, and my sister drove her back home.  In between we were all mightily entertained!  The production was a delight!  And we were lucky to have chosen to attend Saturday's performance, since the Friday night show had to be moved indoors because rain was coming down in buckets. Saturday's weather could not have been better -- and Lakewood Park was a perfect venue.

Thanks to Brian, one of the Cleveland Jumping Fleas, and Operations Director of the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival.  If it weren't for him, I would not have known about this delightful al fresco theater. Another good thing about playing the ukulele = you meet other ukulele players who connect you with even more life-enriching arts.

Brian and Sal before the show.

Sal enjoyed hanging out on this sign -- which was literally pointing the audience in the right direction.

Anne, Mom and Sal.  Don't even ask...  ;)

Before the play began Brian told me that there would be a ukulele in the show, so I was watching for it -- and here it is!   Sal and I were very happy, because we think ukuleles should be scattered liberally everywhere!

After the show the talented troop of actors walked through the audience collecting donations -- and agreeably posing for photos with Sal.  Here is Hillary Wheelock, who did an amazing job playing Puck and Philostrate.

The actors in the production played multiple roles -- changing their costumes a bit to indicate their change of character.  Sal is posing here with Alli St. John (Helena//Quince/Moth) and Jennifer Cull (Hermia/Snug/Peaseblossom).  Both of these ladies were wonderful in all of their roles.

Sal posing with the blushing bride, Titania -- charmingly played by Pamela Harwood -- whose other role in the play was that of Hippolyta.

The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival will be doing this show through June 29th, and then Romeo and Juliet in July.  Go if you can!  Details HERE.