Hello to all,
It's that time of year in St. Louis. The work of the Bard comes to Forest Park for the seventh year and it is all FREE. Yep, free. The timeless stories of Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, The Tempest, and Julius Caesar have all been enjoyed by tens of thousands of people on warm late spring evenings. This year - Much Ado About Nothing.
There is always a twist and this years production was no exception. Will's tale was set in the late 19th century town of Messina in the Wild Wild West. Cowpokes, sheriffs, saloon girls, barkeeps and desperados speaking lines sprinkled with words like cows, pardner, six shooter, and padre. English accents were replaced by the drawling speech of the west.
We are truly lucky here in St. Louis. Free Shakespeare in the beautiful setting of Forest Park. We like to bring some great munchies (Cajun shrimp salad, orange chicken, crackers and homemade wine jelly, strawberries and dark chocolate dip - and, oh yeah, wine), and our folding chairs or a blanket to sit on. The stage is set at the bottom of a natural amphitheater with thick green grass to cushion your behind.
For a couple of hours before showtime there are musicians, comedians, jugglers, small stage productions (this year it was Much A Doo-Wop About Nothing), food and drink vendors, and crowds of people to watch.
A fantastic way to spend an evening.
Namaste, Wayne
The view from our seat.
Lots of folks ready to be enthralled by the words of the Bard.
A view of the Green where vendors are set up. In the center of the picture is the back of the "Much A-Doo-Wop About Nothing" stage. A very funny twenty minute musical version of Much Ado.
The "Much A-Doo-Wop About Nothing" stage. Even Elvis got involved.<> <>
The stage was an old West town complete with saloon, jail and church.
Backstage looked like this.
String duet.
Shakespeare after dark.
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