Not in Albany, where the upcoming mostly free show in Washington Park is Mel Brooks' The Producers, but up the road in Saratoga Springs, where The Merchant of Venice is playing in Congress Park. Some us prefer Saratoga's cultural offerings to its horse racing, notably the New York City Ballet and Saratoga Opera (which performs in the Little Theater at the state park, where the cheapest seats are fine). But those opera and ballet seats aren't free, and, more to the point, their seasons have concluded, whereas The Merchant of Venice continues through July 24, and they just ask for donations at the end.
It's an efficient production, with miked and thus audible actors, and a quick pace. Nor does it make concessions to political correctness -- or if so, they do not soften the effect. In fact, I felt the darkness overemphasized in the climactic scene, with Shylock treated more harshly than Shakespeare intended. It's worth seeing, though.
The persistence of free Shakespeare, along with the few hundred people attending tonight's performance, provides further evidence that civilization is not doomed, after all.
I remember an evening of free Shakespeare at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, with you and your niece, mid-late 1970s. Can't remember what we saw, though; do you? What I remember is conversation while standing in line and then while seated at a picnic table.
I don't think it was the night (in 1978) that Meryl Streep froze in mid-performance of Taming of the Shrew, for a couple of long minutes, near the end, to tease the audience. Would she or would she not grovel to her husband according to the script? The audience got all whipped up, screamed out to her. In the end she played it straight. Much fun. Meryl Streep and Raul Julia!
Posted by: Johannah | July 16, 2011 at 10:36 PM
Postscript to above: When I met you and Mary in the park, it was daylight. So: matinee, not evening, performance.
Posted by: Johannah | July 16, 2011 at 10:39 PM
It could still have been evening performance, as it stays light late in summer. Near us, Hubbard Hall has done (not sure if it's on this year) a touring free summer Shakespeare, in addition to the Saratoga Shakespeare annual production. I confess that last line of this post was a provocation to your innocent self, a bait which you have been too gracious to take.
Posted by: Bob Conner | July 17, 2011 at 06:15 PM
Here's the Hubbard Hall schedule for free outdoor performances of As You Like It:
Friday, July 22 -- Georgi Museum on the Battenkill, Shushan NY
Saturday, July 23 -- Park McCullough House, North Bennington VT
Sunday, July 24 -- Church Street Bandstand, Hoosick Falls NY
Monday, July 25 -- The Commons, Greenwich NY
Tuesday, July 26 -- Crandall Park (obelisk), Glens Falls NY
Thursday, July 28 -- Hildene, Manchester VT
Friday, July 29 -- Cambridge Guest Home (behind IGA), Cambridge NY
Saturday, July 30 -- Salem Art Works, Salem NY
Sunday, July 31 -- Skidmore College (near the pond & Tang), Saratoga Springs NY
Posted by: Bob Conner | July 20, 2011 at 07:31 PM
7 p.m. start times for all.
Posted by: Bob Conner | July 20, 2011 at 07:32 PM