Shakespeare Works

Richard Wells (The classical actor), Toni Jourdan (The smart actress), and Jospeh Nenesh (The contemporary actor).



My sister in law sent me an email asking if we were interested in attending one of the many free activities at the Avondale City Hall Amphitheather. The City of Avondale offers a series of free concerts in a setting that is 100% designed for the complete family. While the concerts are held every third Thursday of the month this event was the first of it's kind and it was held Fridy night.

The name of the show was "Shakespeare Works an Introduction". While their little story was going to be based mostly on "Romeo and Juliet" they were to introduce excerpts from "Midsummer Nights Dream", and "Henry V", and "Hamlet".

Here's the complete program:

PROLOGUE
The Prince of Verona & The Audience

ACT I
THE TEMPEST
The Mariners on the ship.
~~~~~
ROMEO & JULIET
The Capulets' Party

ACT II
MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM
Demetrius, Herminia, Lysander in the forest
~~~~~
ROMEO AND JULIET
Romeo and Juliet, the moon in the garden

SONNET 130

ACT III
HENRY V
King Henry before battle
~~~~~
ROMEO & JULIET
Romeo, Mercutio (his friend), Tybalt (a Capulet)

ACT IV
HAMLET
Hamelt (considering ghosts, murder and suicide)
~~~~~
ROMEO & JULIET
Romeo, Juliet in the Capulets' cementery

EPILOG
ROMEO & JULIET
Capulets and Montagues, after finding their bodies

The show wasn't really a serious look at Shakespeare as it was more as an introduction to his works and they kept asking for audience participation, mostly kids. The kids were the performers during the battles, the dance, the prop movers and shakers while they did "The Tempest" and it just gave them a chance go out with the family and do something other than just sit at home and watch TV or play with their video games.

You are invited to bring yoursef snacks, drinks (non alcoholic) coffee, and of course your own chairs and blankets.



While some of us wanted to keep warm, and comfty. Others were wearing shorts, t-shirts and going bearefooted on the grass.



As part of the audience participation, they gave us glow-sticks and in this picture I am proudly holding my weapon. For one of the battle scenes, proudly hold my mighty sword.

Was the play fun? No not really but it was fun getting out of the house and enjoying part of our afternoon with the family. We decided that the concerts should be better and will try to attend next month.