LA/OC Theatre 101: Summer storm of Shakespeare

June 24, 11:38 PMLA/OC Theatre ExaminerJordan Young

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The Bard may be a man for all seasons, but come summer he’s invariably in full bloom. From the mountains to the sea, there’s more you know what than you can shake a speare at the next three months. Here's a partial rundown:

The seldom staged and much maligned Cymbeline continues through September 27 at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga Canyon, along with A Midsummer Night's Dream (July 4-September 7), and Julius Caesar (through September 26). Call (310) 455-3723.

Ellen Geer’s first-rate production of Cymbeline makes it clear most critics and scholars who dismiss this late work as a failed play have probably never seen it performed. Love triumphs over treachery in this experimental blend of comedy and drama. Among the standouts in the large ensemble cast are Willow Geer as Princess Imogen; Jeff Wiesen as her would-be suitor Cloten; Samara Frame as her feisty long-lost sibling; Aaron Hendry as an Iago-style villain, Iachimo; and Earnestine Phillips in a powerful performance as Belarius, a banished noble.

By pure chance—presumably—The Actors' Gang is offering the zany, family-friendly adaptation Cymbeline the Puppet King in Culver City's Media Park July 25 through August 30. The free shows take place Saturday and Sunday mornings, and admission is free. Call (310) 838-4264.

Meanwhile, the Independent Shakespeare Co. is staging free performances of The Bard’s final play, The Tempest, in repertory with Henry V in Hollywood’s Barnsdall Park. The shows run Friday through Sunday evenings June 26-August 30. Call (323) 836-0288.

San Juan Capistrano will see its own production of The Tempest in the city’s Historic Town Center Park (July 10-26), courtesy of Camino Real Playhouse; call 949-489-8082. In Fullerton, Hunger Artists Theatre will counter with The Taming of the Shrew (July 10-August 16); call 714-680-6803.

Shakespeare Orange County’s hilarious production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare-Abridged continues through June 27 at the Festival Amphitheatre in Garden Grove. It will be followed by As You Like It (July 9-25) and The Merchant of Venice (August 6-22). Call (714) 744-7016.

OC’s newest storefront theatre, Mysterium, raises the curtain September 3 on its black box venue in Orange, with Marla Gam-Hudson’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Call (714) 771-5436.

More on the Bard:

Shakespeare Orange County parodies Bard’s ‘Complete Works’
Obscure Shakespeare hits the southland

More from Jordan:

Growing the legacy at Theatricum Botanicum
‘Stage Beauty’ brightens Costa Mesa Playhouse

Visit Jordan’s new website: actingsolo.com.

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