The "It" Bard play du jour
...was "Hamlet." Now it's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Shakespeare Festival/LA is about to open tis annual production of "Dream" this coming weekend at Our Lady Queen of Angels church downtown, after which the production moves to the South Coast Botanic Garden.
I'll be at "Dream" opening night with young JRH, probably reluctantly in tow. Been seeing SF/LA shows since, gosh, practically before I started this critic stuff. I like the way they incorporate elements of present day or recent L.A. into their productions. This "Dream" picks up on the city's early jazz scene.
I also dig SF/LA's accepting canned food donations in lieu of admission for portions of the run (When the production goes to the South Coast Botanic Gardens July 25-29, it's money only). The company has raised more than $1.5 million worth of food earmarked for the homeless over the course of its history.
Tickets: 213-975-9891or visit www.Shakespearefestivalla.org.
The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum's oft revived "Dream" is playing in Topanga Canyon. That rustic outdoor space with the rock hard benches is just a beautiful spot to see any play, classic or otherwise. Given the heat, I prefer the evening shows ("Midsummer" plays 4 p.m. Saturdays through July 21, but then switches to a handful of Sunday at 7:30 productions in September).
Tickets: 310-455-3723 or www.theatricum.com.
And while I won't be able to see it, plugs should be plugged for "A Holtville Night's Dream." The Cornerstone Theatre Co. which goes into non artsy communities and creates adaptations of classic plays using community members and profesisonal actors, is traveling to Holtville, CA, population 6,000, the "Carrot Capital of the World" to stage Alison Carey's "Dream" adaptation at the Finley Elementary School auditorium. Aug. 2-4. Tickets are Pay-What-You-Can with a suggested donation of $10. (800) 409-5322 or www.CornerstoneTheater.org
But for the short run (not to mention the fact that it's playing 225 miles away), I'd be all over it.
If any of the vast CiC readers happen to see it, by all means give me the skinny.