The bard sure is busy. There are multiple Shakespeares in the Park these days. Starting Tuesday, New York Classical Theatre will put on Romeo & Juliet in Central Park near 103rd and Central Park West. Performances start at 7 p.m. and are free, no tickets required.
Apparently, the audience follows the actors through the park from scene to scene, which looks kind of fun! See the video below:
The more formal Shakespeare in the Park performances take place at the Delacorte. Now showing: Othello.
Just for the records, “wherefore” means WHY? not where. In the context of the day’s language and the play itself, “Wherefore art thou Romeo” means “Why did you have to be Romeo?” Because Juliet wasn’t allowed to date Romeo or anyone from his family. They were feuding. Her saying “Damn, why did you have to be a Romeo?” is what she is lamenting. She was not asking where he was. FYI
Thank you, Jezbel, for that excellent interpretation, worthy of the best “Teacher of English” in the NYC schools.
B/T/W: there is a wonderful series of easy-to-carry inexpensive paperbacks, “Shakespeare Made Easy” in which each book offers the original text on a left-hand page AND the modern English version of that text on the right-hand page!
Thus enabling students to easily understand the meaning of The Bard’s words, and the teacher can then guide them to see the magic of how he expressed those ideas in the language of his time, erasing their frustration and allowing them to appreciate the beauty of his word-smithing.
Thanks! See that’s why West Side Rag isn’t Shakespeare.
Though not on the UWS, Shakespeare Downtown is another excellent company doing Shakespeare in Battery Park at Castle Clinton. They are doing Midsummer Night’s Dream starting next week, I believe.
Just so those know who plan on attending performances at the Delacorte Theater. There is *NO* downtown service on the 8th Avenue trains between 59th Street and 125th due to construction. Last downtown train is around 915PM or 930PM. This is all due to construction.
Suggest checking the MTA’s Twitter feed or other sources if planning on taking an 8th Avenue line subway downtown after the performance.
Suspension runs until around 5AM next morning IIRC.
Those going downtown must take uptown “A” or “C” trains which are stopping at 81st and 86th Streets, up to 125th street, then walk over to downtown side of station to catch a train going that way.
Missed the last downtown train past Thursday and apparently plenty of those just coming out from seeing Othelo at the Delacorte Theater had no clue about the subway not running downtown.
86th St station is closed for renewal till October.
“Break a leg !” n.b. Stratford-upon-Avon, England : there was an article @ needing economic help in some ways; a few years ago. Many schoolmates have acted at the Delacorte Theater; &, also, teacher – Rene Auberjonois.[spelled olk. ?]. “Oh, to be in England…” : London chez The Old Vic; &, the West End; &, the “modern” Globe Theatre. Joseph Papp, R.I.P..
Spelling is close enough. I used to be friends with Rene and his former wife Judith when they lived in a townhouse-style apartment building on W. 93rd St between CPW and Columbus. My former bother-in-law and his wife lived next door. All four were working actors. They all moved to LA in 1975. They had gone to school together at Carnegie in Pittsburgh. He’s a lovely guy and fine actor.
Hudson Warehouse Theatre group is also performing Romeo and Juliet at the Soldiers & Sailors Monument 89th Street and Riverside Drive at 6:30 p.m. June 7th to July 1st Thursday through Sunday. Admission free with past the hat at the end of the performance.