April 19-May 5: New play at the Gladstone for Bear & Co.

Bear & Co in Hintonburg Park. Photo by Justin Van Leeuwen

The Taming of the Shrew is opening at The Gladstone, April 19-May 5, 2013.

Produced by Bear & Co., who performed in Hintonburg Park last summer, the show features an all male cast.

Review by Judith van Berkom:

Shakespeare’s comedy, The Taming of the Shrew, opened at The Gladstone on April 19. The all-male cast — playing male and/or female roles — entertained a full house with song, drama and comedic antics. The play runs until May 5.

True to Shakespeare’s times (1593), “the actors would have been singing a lot,” explains Hintonburg’s Rachel Eugster, musical director of the play. “Many of the songs we used are referred to in the script,” she adds. “These songs were familiar to Shakespeare’s audiences.” The intimate environment and actors’ use of and involvement with the audience in song, music and text lends the play an authentic Shakespearean feel.
Ottawa’s director, Eleanor Crowder, is a 20-year veteran of ‘Shakespeare in the parks’ of Ottawa orginally working with youth between the ages of 10 and 16, gradually evolving into professional theatre and currently presented by Bear & Co.
Crowds gathered for summer theatre. Photo by Justin Van Leeuwen
Open air theatre means picnics in the park and getting up close and personal with the actors. Photo by Justin Van Leeuwen

 

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