Spreading the gospel of the Bard of Avon is what Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is all about, and in July and August they make more than 30 performance stops across the Tristate to do just that. Six freshly minted professional actors, several of whom have local roots and recently joined the theater’s resident ensemble, are presenting two productions — the rollicking comedy of The Merry Wives of Windsor and the classic romantic tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Performances at parks, community centers and other venues are free and open to the public. Last summer these shows were attended by more than 10,000 people.
Actors take on multiple roles in productions. Scripts are reduced to less than two hours, retaining important story elements. Simple portable sets are used, as well as sound systems that enhance the actors’ voices in outdoor settings.
Merry Wives is a new summer touring production, adapted and staged by Cincy Shakes veteran Jeremy Dubin. The company’s first season in its new Over-the-Rhine theater opens in September with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, so another light, entertaining title was in order.
It’s been suggested that Queen Elizabeth I was so entertained by the lecherous Falstaff from Shakespeare’s Henry IV history plays that in 1597 that she urged him to write a play featuring the character. Whether or not that’s true, Dubin acknowledges the lovable fat soldier’s appeal. He’s a memorable comic invention, especially in Merry Wives.
“What really grabs people is that this play is about common people,” Dubin says. “There are no royals; they’re all middle-class folks. It sounds very modern. This could be an episode of The Honeymooners. It’s a straightforward, silly play that everyone can relate to.”
The production is enhanced with music.
“We’ve tried to create a traveling, ‘Renaissance Faire’ feel,” Dubin says. “Ten minutes or so before we start, the cast will be out there for some songs. The raucous tone is enhanced with an electric ukulele.”
Playing Falstaff is a new company member, actor James Alexander, a first-year performer from New York City. Although he studied theater in college, Alexander spent several years recently with the New York Police Department. Dubin reports that Alexander “was tired of bullying people” and wanted to get back into theater.
He has landed one of Shakespeare’s most hilarious roles. Falstaff thinks he’s quite the ladies’ man and that he can have his way with the “merry wives.” But they more than best him when they decide to teach him a lesson. In particular, they hide him in a basket of stinking laundry to avoid detection by one of their jealous husbands.
Dubin points out the challenge this moment presents for Cincy Shakes’ traveling production: “How do you carry this basket containing a pretty large man? Usually it’s on wheels. We don’t know what kind of terrain we’ll be on from day to day — lawns, maybe gravel — so we have to be creative. We have a little hole in the bottom that he can put his feet through. In fact, we don’t try to disguise it, which is funny, too.”
Merry Wives will also tour to schools this fall, as well as similar productions of Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth. Dubin expects Merry Wives will be popular with schools Cincy Shakes has visited in the past. “Some schools are eager for something new and different,” he says.
Cincy Shakes’ tour is one of the largest programs for free outdoor Shakespeare in the nation, both in number of stops and the size of the region reached. There are no admission charges or advance reservations for the park tour performances. It’s open seating, so lawn chairs or blankets are recommended. In order to be finished before dark, shows commence at 7 p.m. It’s a good idea to arrive a bit early for the best views.
For questions about weather or rules regarding bringing food and drink along, you should contact the specific park or venue. This week’s performances happen at Linden Grove Cemetery in Covington (Thursday), Vinoklet Winery in Northgate (Friday), Clovernook Country Club in North College Hill (Saturday) and Upper Millcrest Park in Norwood (Sunday).
For a complete list of SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK’s shows, dates and venues, visit cincyshakes.com/shakespeare-in-the-park.
This article appears in Jul 19-26, 2017.
