The group boasts that it performs “Shakespeare the way you wish you learned it in high school,” and audience members can certainly expect plenty of the Fools’ own modifications to the centuries-old tale of twisted love, complete with “that’s what she said” and Twitter references.
“We definitely make it a lot of fun. We add in our own things – our director (Orléans native Al Connors) was really big on bringing it into this century,” explains Dream actress Kate Ryerson, who breaks into a little Spice Girls cameo when the mood strikes her. “But this actually must have been close to how they performed it in Shakespeare’s time. They would have thrown in ad-libs and little winks to the groundlings who paid a penny to come in and watch.”
Following the ancient tradition, the Fools “pass the hat” at the end of their shows instead of charging admission – a $10 contribution is suggested, although the group was particularly touched earlier this season when one man who depended on the food bank to get by expressed his deep gratitude for having the chance to attend a play free of charge since he otherwise couldn’t afford it.
That type of occurrence is why Orléans’ Wendy Rockburn decided to sign on for a second consecutive summer with the Fools, who held a Midsummer’s Food Drive earlier this week to support the Heron Emergency Food Centre.
As stage manager, Rockburn takes on many different functions, including setting up and dismantling – for the first time in the Fools’ 21-year history – “multipurpose reusable modular units of eco-friendly Canadian sourced birch plywood that represent an efficient use of resources.” Or, in less "fancy" talk – a stage, made up of “portable blocks that fit together like Lego,” jokes their press release.
Another one of Rockburn’s tasks is organizing the chaos in the backstage tent, which is not always the most desirable place when the weather turns foul.
“Between the heat and the rain, I’d take the rain,” says Rockburn, who benefits from the tent’s shelter on wet nights, but suffers on hot evenings since the tent does nothing but insulate the heat and block the breeze. “At least you can deal with the rain. The heat is just exhausting. Last week during the heat wave, the actors were sweating like pigs. And it was about 10 C hotter in the tent.”
Another hat Rockburn has worn is that of impromptu enforcer, which unfortunately came into play during last year’s Orléans show.
“It bugged me, because it’s my hometown, there was this gang of young guys in a car that would circle about every 15 minutes to yell obscenities out of the window,” recounts Rockburn, who plans to drop her long-time stage management career in favour of travel photography come this fall, starting with a trip to Ethiopia.
“I really got mad at one point and I took one of our really long sticks and a bottle of Coke and I stood out in the middle of the street and I thought if they drive by, I’m gonna throw the Coke and hit ’em with the stick!
“But they didn’t come by again. They must have seen me.”
Other than that one downer, last year’s show in Orléans had an excellent turnout and was great fun, Rockburn says, adding more the same can be expected this season.
“It’s fun to do it in the summer, to be outside and be at home. I love it,” adds Rockburn, whose group generally brings out around 250 spectators when the weather is nice for their nightly performances. “The shows have been going very, very well.”
Attendees are advised to bring a blanket or lawnchairs to sit on, as well as bugspray, for the 7 p.m. shows. Visit fools.ca for more information.
