Shakespeare in St. Louis Park

Outdoor theater can be dicey.  It can be hot (as it was on Saturday). The mosquitoes can be brutal (as they were on Saturday).  And sometimes an open air venue is simply not the best environment for soft stage whispers and Shakespearean dialogue (not the case at all this Saturday).

I don't remember how I found out about this performance.  An invite on Facebook? A conversation overheard at the Guthrie? I don't know who to thank but I'm happy to have somewhat-stumbled on the opportunity to experience an excellent production of Romeo and Juliet at Wolfe Park in St. Louis Park, performed by The Public Company of Minnesota.

Minnesota has no shortage of fine actors/actresses.  With the U's fantastic fine arts program, the Guthrie's prowess, and the family of smaller, independently fantastic theaters smattered across the Twin Cities, I've been awestruck by how much talent is pooled in this not-huge city. But that being said, I still had low expectations for the production on Saturday.  It was free, it was in a small outdoor ampitheater in the suburbs, and I'd never heard of the Public Company.  But low expectations sometimes yield happy surprises, and the Public Company is a perfect example of that serendipity.

The young cast was articulate and thorough in their understanding of the dialogue.  There were no awkward stumblings over clumsy iambs, leaving the audience to assume that the actor had no clue what he was talking about.  The actors made the dialogue lively and understandable, and Mercutio and Romeo in particular were exceptional in their roles. Mercutio's Queen Mab speech has to be one of the most difficult monologues to perform, but even with a somewhat sparky microphone, Mercutio was able to deliver the speech as I believe it was intended: sarcastic, patronizing, and at its heart, foreshadowing.

The chemistry between Romeo and Juliet was believable, if not palpable. Romeo's love was easier to believe than the young Juliet's, but that's partly Shakespeare's fault. While I wish Juliet had been a smidge more engaging, I do think her portrayal was pitch perfect in terms of Juliet's wide-eyed innocence and final desperation.

A fantastic way to spend an evening, especially with a grassy lawn perfect for a couple of lawn chairs, bottles of wine, and a hearty picnic.  The show continues until July 22nd, so make sure to head over to St. Louis Park this weekend!