Shakespeare by the Sea
By Marli Guzzetta • Independent Arts Editor
In its third year, the Nantucket Arts Council's Shakespeare by the Sea festival has really begun fluffing out its collar and letting out its

Shakespeare on the Cape returns this summer with a children's workshop and performances of "Much Ado About Nothing" (pictured). For more information on their events and on the entire schedule for Shakespeare by the Sea, see the festival's ad on page 46.

robes.

Headlining this year, Nantucket's own Seaside Shakespeare takes over the Children's Beach stage for three performances of "Twelfth Night." The tangled love story follows a shipwrecked Viola, who, in a search for work in a strange land, dresses as a young boy and enters into page service (and falls in love) with Duke Orsino, who is already lovesick for Lady Olivia. When Orsino sends his page to deliver a missive to Olivia, the lady falls in love with the young cross-dresser, and the circuit for one of the greatest love triangles of all time is complete.

Last year, the island troupe performed "The Wit and Wisdom of Will's Women" at Bennett Hall. The company this year has incorporated players from Nantucket and players, composers and musicians from New York City and elsewhere.

"The language of the show is traditional - as is the beautiful and lyrical score by Kim D. Sherman," said producer Susan McGinnis. "But the show is set on Nantucket, and the costumes have a playful feel. It's reliant on traditional elements of Shakespeare, but with a modern twist to encourage accessibility." Directed by Lisa Rothe, the show runs Saturday, Aug. 11 at 5 p.m. upstairs at the Unitarian Church (as a preview) and Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at Children's Beach, 6 p.m. Admission is "pay what you will."

Returning for its second year at the festival, Shakespeare on the Cape performs "Much Ado About Nothing" - in which a miserable man's plot to thwart the happiness of two couples leads to a chain-reaction of tragic-comic miscommunications.

"It's more of a traditional show than we've done in the best," said Eliot Eustis, co-artistic director of Shakespeare on the Cape. "We brought on a new director in Minneapolis, Elisa Carlson, and she brought a lot of wisdom and professionalism to the process." The show lends itself well to the company's young age range, from 21 to 25. (The company is mostly comprised of recent graduates from the University of Minnesota's theatrical training company. )

PHOTOS COURTESY SHAKESPEARE ON THE CAPE

Since their performance here last year, the troupe enjoyed a half-page spread in The New York Times for their show on Tennessee Williams and opened the Guthrie Theatre's new experimental theatre space.

"Alot of families showed up, and this year, it's an even more family friendly show," Eustis said. of the show, which runs 8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 17 and 6 p.m., Sat., Aug. 18, in Bennett Hall. (Admission is $20 for NAC members, and $25 for nonmembers.) This year, Shakespeare on the Cape also offers a free "Midsummer Night's Dream" children's workshop at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18 (Bennett Hall).

Eminent, Harvard Shakespeare scholar Marjorie Garber revisits the island for this year's festival to present "Shakespeare and Modern Life."

LUCRETIA VOIGT/The Independent Members of Seaside Shakespeare rehearse a scene from"Twelfth Night," which they will perform for three sittings at Children's Beach.

New this summer is Mick Hales, the author of "Shakespeare in the Garden." He'll be presenting a slide show of his photographs of gardens from around the globe.

Nantucket Arts Council board member Philippe Schreiber has constructed a film series in conjunction with the Nantucket Historical Association and the Parks and Recreation Commission - 1955's "Richard III" and 1989's "Henry V" will screen at 8 p.m. at the Whaling Museum on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

"The festival has grown substantially from one troupe initially and one speaker to what it is now," said the festival's co-chair, Hadley St. John, who counts this year's fare at two troupes, two speakers, a film series and a children's workshop plus two benefit cocktail parties, the first of which was held at the home of Beverly Hall "and was a huge success,"

St. John said. I

See the festival's ad on page 46 for the full schedule of events.