By Pepper Parr
July 18th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
August is going to Shakespeare month for those who enjoy the bard.
Othello will be on an outdoor stage in Lowville where Thinkspot sponsors the Driftwood Theatre Company annually,
The single performance will be on August 2nd – 7 pm; bring an outdoor chair.
Later in the month, Trevor Copp will direct the Merchant of Venice at the RBG Rock Garden.
Last year, the first that Copp used the RBG location, was stellar in several ways.
Last year’s production of Midsummer Night’s Dream was the first time Trevor Copp mounted a play at the RBG – it was an outstanding success. Audiences loved the outdoor setting.
The cast of Midsummer Night’s Dream was fresh, energetic and used the outdoor location to great effect.
Weather and traffic did its best to hobble the event but the audience was true and they put up with the rain delays.
A QEW accident presented the cast from getting to the location – no problem – just re-schedule.
The Merchant of Venice will run from August 14 – September 1, 2017. Monday – Friday, 7:00PM (No Saturday shows.)
Copp sets out the story line:
Money: Portia has it. Bassanio wants it. Shylock lends it. Antonio owes it. And it will cost him dearly.
Dark in its humour and bawdy in its romantic hijinks, The Merchant Of Venice takes audiences on a journey of love, mercy and (in)justice. And for the second consecutive year, Trevor Copp will direct the production; Copp is the founder and Artistic Director of the Tottering Biped Theatre.
The Shakespeare at the Rock ensemble create a strikingly physical, playfully contemporary, abridged re-imagining of one of William Shakespeare’s classics.
Shakespeare at the Rock began with a simple idea: that audiences and emerging artists alike need not quench their creative thirsts in Toronto or elsewhere; that beautiful and captivating work is done right here in our own backyard; that local artists can stay local and still be paid for their work.
Last year’s inaugural production was a unanimous success in this respect: sold-out crowds, a total attendance of over 2000 patrons, and a cast comprised of many recent graduates from McMaster, Brock, Waterloo, and Sheridan Theatre programs.
Returning to tell this season’s tale of ‘a monster made not born’ are the ever-talented Jesse Horvath, Zach Parsons, Claudia Spadafora, Alma Sarai, and Micheal Hannigan. In addition, this year’s ensemble is enlivened by the artistry of newcomers, Chris Reid, Jamie Kasiama, and Shawn DeSouza-Coelho.
Tickets through the RBG Box office.
Hamlet; a previous Driftwood Theatre production performed outdoors in Lowville. Othello will be produced this year – August 2nd.
Othello is a Driftwood Theatre production. The troupe travels the province each summer doing a different Shakespeare play.
Thinkspot has sponsored the company for a number of years.
