Shakespeare Comedy with historic twist set to rock the East Bay
Photos available at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ASh0vH8-Dem964rTK0vk2uEwoh1JSlDe?usp=drive_link
On set photos will appear when available: https://sparctheater.org/photos/
Livermore – Shakespeare was known for slipping contemporary references into his plays, things local Londoners might be gossiping about. Americans frequently update the settings to reflect modern times. SPARC theater, formerly Livermore Shakespeare Festival, is taking their cue and setting this summer’s production, Sir John Falstaff and the Merry Wives of Windsor at the time of the founding of Livermore, in the late 1800s.
“It’s a great way to enjoy a little history and literature,” suggested Artistic Director Lisa Tromovitch, who is also directing. “We get a glimpse into our own history while enjoying the writing of arguably the greatest playwright in the English language.” William Shakespeare was not just a playwright, but also a shareholder in the theater company, so attending to an audience’s interests was paramount to producing successful shows. “He was brilliant at finding a character’s inner struggles and motivations, those things about being human that haven’t changed in over 400 years. We can easily identify with the characters. And he keyed into jokes we still find funny - usually scatalogical in nature! I’ve edited out the references to then-local news that don’t make sense to a contemporary audience, and replaced them with music appropriate to the 1800s in the new State of California. Shakespeare would want his audience to enjoy the show, not wish they had a textbook beside them to understand it.” Music from the period will surprise many audience members who will recognize songs like Listen to the Mockingbird from 1854. “I was surprised to learn many of the songs my mother used to sing to me as a child were from this era,” added Tromovitch.
People came to California from all over the world during the heady Gold Rush, 1849-1855. California joined the Union in 1850. Excitement was in the air. There was a sense of new beginnings. Cultures mixed, sometimes harmoniously, sometimes not. The railroad was heading toward San Francisco with the first stations opening in 1863. The Civil War ended in 1865. 1
Livermore’s first constructed railway station opened in 1870. It’s in this setting of endless possibilities that SPARC sets the story of a pair of merry wives and the disreputable Sir John Falstaff who thinks he can trick these savvy women into a tryst. Meanwhile, young love is the theme, as The Pages’ daughter Anne is beset by multiple lovers. It’s the fun-loving nature of these confident friends and neighbors that carries the day in this story. Confidence in true love anchors the relationships, and despite the hijinks, all ends well.
All four weekends in July, Shakespeare in the Vineyard will be performed al fresco, under the stars at the award-winning Darcie Kent Vineyards in Livermore. “There’s nothing more relaxing than glimpsing the sunset and moonrise while sipping a glass of Darcie Kent wine and witnessing the comedy unfold,” stated board chair Valerie Jonas, a long-time SPARC theater goer.
“There’s something special about sitting with friends and enjoying a play without a roof over your head,” added Bryan Balazs, board treasurer. “Being in nature has a calming effect, adding to the Vineyard experience the company sometimes calls “the spa version of outdoor Shakespeare.” That said, there will be 3 “family nights” with pre-show activities and reduced price tickets for the kids.
After the closing of CalShakes. SPARC theater hopes to serve those patrons longing for a cultural experience combining live professional theater and a natural setting in the East Bay. In order to be true to their name, (the “R” in SPARC stands for “regional”), the company is bringing the show to Danville’s Village Theatre and Art Gallery for three weekends in August. The second year in Danville welcomes patrons to Danville’s charming downtown, with free parking adjacent to the theater, air conditioning, and Sunday matinee options. This has been a welcome addition for some patrons who prefer indoors and a matinee.
Pre-show talks with the director and family nights with pre-show activities for the kids round out the festival atmosphere.
Information about the show and tickets, now on sale, can be found at SPARCtheater.org.
