By Barbara Arnstein
The Shakespeare plays in Delaware Park this summer are perfect for a tree-filled park setting because the main events in both happen mostly in the woods. In “As You Like It” various characters have adventures in a forest, including a man so love-struck he covers trees with love poems, while in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, four love-smitten people are hilariously bewitched and bewildered by magical beings.
Other intriguing elements in these plays include a woman pretending to be a man who is pretending to be a woman, in “As You Like It”, and a man who is temporarily transformed into an amusing half-human beast in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.
“As You Like It” runs from June 23rd-July 17th, while “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” runs from July 28th-August 21st. The annual free plays in the Buffalo Park, now in their 47th season, offer wonderful summer evenings outdoors. Many families make a habit of seeing one every year and bringing a picnic. For an even more special evening out, you can attend the Opening Night Reception, held under a tent from 5:45pm-7:15pm, which promises to be fabulous. To begin with, there will be hors d’oeuvres provided by The Terrace at Delaware Park, along with a Freedom Run wine tasting, and finally delicious desserts from the Fairy Cakes Cupcakery. All of it will be enjoyed to the music of the Queen City Strings. The founder of Shakespeare in Delaware Park, Saul Elkin, will be honored by having a stage named after him. After the reception, the first performance of “As Like It” will and place with complimentary reserved seating for the ticket-holders. Tickets for all this are $45 for Shakespeare in the Park (SDP) members, and $55 for non-members.
“People think Shakespeare is daunting but he wrote his plays for everyone to enjoy”, said Lisa Ludwig, the Executive Director. “They have both visual and verbal humor. The atmosphere in the park is always like an amazing community picnic, and everyone has fun.
The touring production from July 9th-August 22nd, ‘The Bard’s in Our Yard”, features some of Shakespeare’s best lines. It’s an hour long and has a cast of four.”
The tour will be in Amherst on June 14th, the Central Terminal in Buffalo June 15th, in Lewiston on June 16th and at the Five Points Bakery in Buffalo June 17th. It will be in Tonawanda June 18th at 4:30pm & 7pm, Amherst June 19th at 4:30 pm & 7pm, Orchard Park on June 20th, in Amherst July 20th, Orchard Park July 21st, Blasdell on July 22nd, Grand Island July 23rd at 4:30pm & 7:30pm , on July 24th in Cambria 4:30pm & 7pm, July 26th in Hamburg, July 27th in West Seneca, on August 3rd at the Locust Street Arts in Buffalo, on August 15th in North Tonawanda and in Lackawanna on August 22nd.
The plays are performed at Lincoln Parkway by the Marcy Casino and Rose Garden in Buffalo. If you wish, you can rent a chair for $25. For more information: (716) 856-4533.