I am obsessed with Shakespeare, I love to see his words come to life. Since, I have moved from Southeastern CT in 2005, I have not seen a performance. I saw this in the New London Day today, so thought I would pass it on.. If you are in the area at these times, I suggest going to see both of these plays.

Wilcox Park - is perfect, you can bring your own dinner, chairs and wine and enjoy your time with your loved ones, and actually enjoy learning more about what Shakespeare wrote.


"Shakespeare is a lot of things to a lot of people, but around here, Shakespeare means summer.

With two local companies staging annual outdoor productions, Shakespeare is a reason to pull out the picnic blanket and get out of the house for a sultry summer evening of entertainment.

Colonial Theatre of Westerly is presenting “As You Like It'' in Wilcox Park, and Flock Theatre of New London returns to the Arboretum at Connecticut College with “The Merchant of Venice.” Both productions open tonight and run through Aug. 3.

The Bard may be old, but he's not outdated.

If you showed a movie these days with a story line based on a young man who borrows money so he can visit the woman he loves and uses his own flesh as collateral, you might have a hit on your hands.

Four hundred years ago, you had Shakespeare.

Derron Wood, executive director of Flock Theatre, is hoping his updated version of Shakespeare's “The Merchant of Venice” will resonate with modern audiences. Wood has set the play, which examines the vast disparity between the rich and the poor, in contemporary times.

”We pulled things from modern fashion magazines (for costumes),'' says Wood, who is directing the production. “Antonio and his clique of boys are very much trying to live life to the fullest extent on credit cards.”

He's also updated the loan-shark character.

”Shylock is a much more conservative and religious individual,” says Wood.

Wood says the play, with a cast of 18, looks at prejudice, hatred and tolerance. It deals with people who live on credit and those who take advantage of them. Shakespeare wrote it as a comedy, but the dark themes make it seem more like a tragedy, says Wood.

”For me, when I look at it, it's still fascinating when you realize that even today there's still a lot of prejudice and those attitudes are out there,'' he says.

For the first time in the theater's 15-year history, the play will be free. With the price of gasoline so high, Woods hopes that the free admission will lure people to the show.

”We hoping for larger crowds and (that) people who might not have been able to go before because of the cost will come now,'' he says.

In Westerly, the Colonial Theatre has opted for a more traditional adaptation of “As You Like it'' for its 17th season in the park.

”We're not using old English accents,'' says Harland Meltzer, producing artistic director. “But we're keeping it pretty much to period in the 1600s.''

Last year, the theater company cancelled its summer production - much to the chagrin of hundreds of people who attend the outdoor performances - after a dispute with the Westerly Public Library, which owns Wilcox Park.

The theater company wanted a longer run, which meant the stage and support towers stayed in place for four weeks. Meltzer says he needed the time to make the show profitable. The library, wanting to protect the grass in the Victorian park from overuse, offered the space for a shorter period of time.

Meltzer says he gave in to the library's concerns this summer because he didn't want to miss another year.

”As You Like It” will be performed over three weekends, but Meltzer says he is also looking for space to possibly extend the run.

”This is our comeback year,'' he says. “And we're happy to be back.”

Admission is free, but the company seeks donations at each performance.

Headlining the cast of 15 is David Birney, a Broadway, television and movie star. Five years ago Birney played Shylock when the Colonial Theater put on “The Merchant of Venice.'' He's directed “The Diaries of Adam and Eve'' for PBS and over the years has appeared in the movies and on television, including in “Bridget Loves Bernie,” “St. Elsewhere,'' and “Serpico.''

Also, Flav Martin, a Westerly resident, instrumentalist and composer, has created an original score for the production.

”We have an interesting and varied cast,'' says Meltzer.


”Merchant of Venice,” Flock Theatre, Arboretum at Connecticut College, Williams St., New London; opens tonight and runs through Aug. 3, with shows at 7 p.m. Thurs.-Sun.; free, 443-3119; flocktheatre.org.

”As You Like It,'' Colonial Theatre, Wilcox Park, downtown Westerly; opens tonight and runs through Aug. 3, with shows at 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sun.; free; (401) 596-7909; colonialtheater.org.