by dick kerekes dickkerekes@yahoo.com
William is in the house! Yes, Shakespeare has finally arrived on the stage of Orange Park Community theatre. In its history, dating back to l969, the closest OPTC ever came to doing Shakespeare was The Boys from Syracuse, which was a musical adaptation of a play by the master.
Director Scott J. Smith has been a Shakespeare fan and devotee for many years and has appeared in a number of Shakespeare’s plays in the past with various groups.
This past summer, Scott and his wife Layla visited the Bard’s home in England, which no doubt fueled his desire to bring this show to fruition and Shakespeare to Orange Park.
The two and one half hour show (including intermissions) had three adapted selections, that including The Taming of the Shrew, Anthony and Cleopatra and Romeo and Juliet. In addition, three short monologues were done between the plays and included Jacque’s speech from As You Like It, Hamlet’s instructions to the Actors, and Prospero’s epilogue.
The flyer for the show indicated it features “sitcom” sized versions of plays, but that is somewhat incorrect. Sitcom refers to condensed versions of Shakespeare’s stories.
Douglas Anderson sophomore Nic Stephens was impressive as Petruchio, as was newcomer and recent Butler University graduate Alyson Mull as Katharina. Beware, Ms. Mull has a powerful right hand, just ask Mr. Stephens and his very red jaw.
The staging was simple for this selection, with the actors facing away from the audience and sitting on small wooden boxes when they were not on stage.
I was surprised at the choice of the 2nd offering, Antony and Cleopatra, which is not done often since it is a difficult play with a number of characters.
David A Thomas, who teaches English at Middleburg High School, was excellent as Marc Antony. Thomas is apparently new to local stages but has an impressive resume that includes major roles in musicals. He is older than the other actors and gave all the productions strength with his maturity.
University of Florida graduate Angela Sarabia was very good as well, in the role of Cleopatra. Ms. Sarabia had done a number of plays in the Gainesville area and I hope she has relocated to this area. She performed exceptionally well, in her first Shakespearian role.
Douglas Anderson freshman Caiti Wiggins did a Shakespeare role reversal. In Shakespeare’s time, women could not appear on stage so men did the women’s role. She plays a male, Octavius Caesar, and was very convincing. I have seen this attractive and talented young lady in other productions and she is extremely talented, so look for her to do a lot at DA in their theatre program.
Kristen Walsh has the unique opportunity to play two different beautiful women in the same play, in doing the roles of Charmian and Octavia. (Aren’t wigs and Velcro wonderful inventions?) She walked off the stage right as one character and thirty seconds later returned on the other side as the other character.
Gregory Miller is another young actor you are going to be in demand. He is a student at Lakeside Junior High, and has only been acting for l8 months, but was impressive as the messenger, Mardian. Shaun Saulsberry performed two cameo roles as Scarus and the Clown.
Roger Padgett, also a first time Shakespearean, did three roles, Lucentio, Agrippa and Dolabella.
Romeo and Juliet was done in modern dress with only four principal characters. Wes Womer, dressed like modern day minister, was Friar Laurence. Erin M. Gawera, usually seen on stage in musicals, played the important role of the nurse, and her extensive stage experience showed in her performance. Mike Kimball was Romeo and Michelle Lyman was Juliet. Both had pages and pages of lines to learn even though this was a shortened version of the play. I think they did well, but I did not get feeling of romance between them. The problem is that displaying love takes a little lingering pauses and looking into each other’s eyes. You get the idea.
Outside of a quick kiss in the balcony scene, there wasn’t much time for spooning. I mean there was that all-important death scene to do!
I was impressed with the sets in a couple of selections and the costumes gave us a feeling of being there. Wow, Cleopatra used a real live snake in her famous dying scene! If you are afraid of snakes, don’t worry. It was very small (probably a corn snake) and had its own little box.
The production is not a part of the regular Orange Park schedule and the cost is only $5.00 per person. No reservations are necessary and the final three performances will be April l2, l3 at 8PM and April l5th at 3 PM. Shakespeare’s work is alive and well on the Orange Park stage and has been well received for the first three performances.
Bard fans, get thee to Orange Park. I hope it will be back next year and I would suggest doing some of Shakespearean comedies. Orange Park Community Theatre is at 2900 Moody Road (behind the Wal-Mart on Blanding).
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