Support the Arts
I’ll be expanding on this idea Tuesday, but I want to get things started today: IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT TONIGHT, GO SEE SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK TONIGHT AT THE MYRIAD GARDENS!
I know, I know, it’s hot out there. But the performance starts at 8 p.m. and with the sun hitting the horizon it’s just another summer evening in Oklahoma. For $10 you get some great live theater and you’re doing your part to create a great downtown. The box office opens at 7 p.m. and the performance is on the Myriad Gardens Water Stage, which has seen significant improvements the past couple years thanks to donations by Devon Energy.
Folks, if you want a vibrant downtown, if you want to see the momentum continue, you can’t just say “that would be great to see someday …” – enjoy this performance today and show these folks some much earned love.
One more tidbit … you will see “Thunder” at tonight’s game… the voice of the NBA will be speaking the King’s English tonight.
For more about Shakespeare in the Park, visit http://www.oklahomashakespeare.com.
About tonight’s show:
OSP’s first show of the season is As You Like It. Rosalind, the daughter of a banished duke, falls in love with Orlando at a wrestling match. Her usurping uncle, jealous of her popularity, banishes her from court.
Duke Frederick has usurped the title and throne of his elder brother, Duke Senior. Duke Senior has taken up residence in the Forest of Arden with his band of loyal followers, leaving his daughter, Rosalind, behind at the court. Into this situation, enter Orlando and Oliver de Boys, two brothers divided by enmity. Orlando has long been mistreated by his brother; when Orlando enters a wrestling match sponsored by Duke Frederick, Oliver tells his opponent, Charles—a champion wrestler—that he wouldn’t care if Charles were to break Orlando’s neck.
To the surprise of all, Orlando wins the match. In doing so, he attracts the romantic attention of Rosalind and the ire of Oliver. Orlando and his servant, Adam, flee Oliver’s wrath into Arden. Duke Frederick decides to banish Rosalind to Arden as he did with her father. Celia, Frederick’s daughter and Rosalind’s best friend, declares that she will accompany her in exile. Rosalind disguises herself as a boy named Ganymede, while Celia assumes the part of “his” sister, Aliena. They are accompanied by the clown Touchstone.
Orlando eventually finds himself in the company of Duke Senior’s men, pining for his lost Rosalind. Rosalind, meanwhile, purchases a flock of sheep and a pasture, and sets out to lead a pastoral life. Before long, however, Orlando’s habit of carving Rosalind’s name in the trees and leaving love poems scattered about the forest tip her off to his presence. Still disguised as Ganymede, Rosalind seeks out Orlando to get a better sense of his feelings for her. She promises to cure Orlando’s heartache by letting him pour his feelings out to Ganymede as if “he” were Rosalind. Rosalind also attempts a match between Silvius and Phebe that goes awry when Phebe falls instead for Rosalind’s Ganymede. Meanwhile, Touchstone courts a country girl named Audrey, adding to the multiple romance plots.
The resolution begins when Oliver enters the camp. Orlando has saved him from an attack by a lion, and the two brothers have reconciled. Upon meeting Celia, now Oliver falls in love; Duke Senior promises to join them in wedlock the next day. Rosalind makes Phebe promise to marry Silvius if she can’t have Ganymede, then tells Orlando that Rosalind will marry him that day as well. When all have gathered for the wedding, Rosalind reveals herself as the erstwhile Ganymede. She and Orlando are happily reunited, and Phebe agrees to marry Silvius. Touchstone will also marry Audrey. As the pledges of love are exchanged, Orlando and Oliver’s brother enters the scene. Jaques brings news that Duke Frederick, upon meeting a holy man, has repented his ways and opted for a monastic life. Duke Senior is restored to his rightful position, and all live happily ever after.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
To those of you like Casey who have their own blogs/followings, please help get this word out… OSP needs to see people in those seats.
Hi Steve. Can’t tell you how “spot on” your post on the arts is to our community and to our state. Thank you for your support for the arts and I look forward to reading on Tuesday too. Thank you Steve!
Well, I was hoping to have a column for this Tuesday. But a bad refer bug in today’s paper may lock me into another topic
YES, everyone needs to go see Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park (OSP) as much as you can. I caught a few plays last year and it was great. I look forward to many more great nights this summer.